GOLF Christchurch Stroke Title To R. C. Murray

Press, Volume C, Issue 29706, 27 December 1961, Page 12

GOLF Christchurch Stroke Title To R. C. Murray

A fine first round of 71—the best gross score of the day—gave the New Zealand representative golfer. R. C. Murray, enough latitude to include two sevens in his afternoon card and still win the Christchurch amateur stroke championship at Shirley yesterday. Murray's score of 149 for 36 holes was two better than that of I. B. Cromb, who took six strokes at the last hole of the day. a par four, to lose a splendid chance of at least sharing the honours with Murray. The weather was exceedingly hot for golf, the fairways were bone hard and the championship course was longer than before; alterations to the fifth, sixth and seventh holes increasing the total disance by 206 yards to 6480 yards. Scores generally reflected the trying conditions and the time taken to play a round became greater as the day wore on. Murray showed the way to the championship field in the morning with a good round of 71, one under the par figure

for the day and two below the course's new standard scratch score of 73. His drives and approach shots were executed with power and judgment and his putting was beyond reproach. At 14 holes he was down in bogey figures; at the fifth, eighth and tenth holes he gained birdies and he dropped a stroke at the sixth. The Russley man began his afternoon round as if in the middle of a bad dream. He dropped three strokes at the first hole, after being bunkered twice, three-putted the third green and then hit his second shot out of bounds at the long fourth hole. It was an unusual experience for Murray to be six over par in playing the fifth hole Murray suddenly came on his game at the fifth hole. He played a spanking straight drive and with his second shot, a No. 4 iron, placed the ball on the green, about 35ft from the pin. His bold putt missed narrowly, but he still gained a birdie four. The remainder of his round, however, was marked by mixed fortunes. He threeputted the ninth and seventeenth greens, losing a stroke at each, yet obtained birdies at the eleventh and fourteenth holes; the latter effort being a particularly fine one. made possible by a beautifully judged approach shot which left him a putt of 12ft. Richards In Form The former Freyberg Rosebowl player. E. H. Richards, produced a particularly good morning round of 73. It was marked by several booming drives—Richards is one of the longest hitters in Canterbury —and some good chipping and putting. He had birdies at the fourth, eighth, tenth and thirteenth holes and covered the last nine holes in 34—two under par. His form was not quite as convincing in the second round. He was in bunkers on five occasions and it was some time before he was able to hit the ball as well as he did in the morning. But his 79 was nevertheless sufficient to give him third place equal with W. Rainbird. the 17-year-old player from Reefton, who played consistently well in his first tournament in Canterbury. Added colour was given to the tournament by the appearance of two of Canterbury’s great players of recent years, M. W. Stanley and D. L. Woon. Stanley, who plays seldom now. produced some flashes of his former brilliance but generally his lack of practice showed through his game. However, his two rounds of 78 enabled him to qualify comfortably for the match play championship, which starts today. Woon was not as fortunate as Stanley, failing by only one stroke to gain inclusion in the group of 16 for the match play. His play, too, lacked its former lustre although there were occasions when his clubs weaved their old magic. At the twelfth, for instance, he hit the ball from an uphill lie in a bunker across a second bunker and on to the green, sinking a putt of 12ft for a birdie. His driving was powerful, 1 it he showed a tendency to slice his tee shots. R. D. Kearns, of Dunedin, did not defend the stroke play championship, but last year s winner of the match play title, B. A. Colquhoun. qualified comfortably. He wi'l play Cromb in the first round this morning Leading scores were:— ,J? en ‘ or —«• C. Murray. 71. 78— J*®; 1 _?■ Cromb. 74. 77—151; E. H. Richards, 73. 79—152; W. Ratnbfrd. 74. 78—152; R. J. Ram’•y. _«0. 73-153; W. S. Rennie. 78—155; G. D. Brown. 77, 78—15 a: W. McGavock. T 9. 75 155: J F. L Hartley. 78. 77—155; J. G. Scott. 76. 80—156, M. W. Stanley, 78. 78—156; E. S. Henderson. 80 . 76—156: B. A. Colquhoun. 79 , 77—156: B W. Cleland. 79 . 78—157; D R. Hone. 79. 78—157; C. J. Ward, 78. 83— 161; R H. A. Bradley. 78. 83— Intermediate —H. V. Ross: 82. 87—169: B. R Hope. 81, 91—172; P. Meier. 89 , 86—175; E. J. Crossman. 86 89—175; J F. Russell. 87 . 90—177; G. Lochhead. 89. 89—178; R du Vaile. 87, 91—1'18; R Geoghegan. 91, “0—181: Mrs C. J. Ward. 90 , 92 182; F. Littler, 94. 88—182: A. J. Alldred. 96. 92—188: W. G. Porter. 95. 100—IMS: L. E. B. Graham. 106. 94—200. Junior —B. J Maguire. 84 . 85— 179; D. R Bennie 93 . 86—179: E.-w. Turrell. 95 . 85—180; K. O. M. St. John. 88, 96 IM: D M. Grover. 96, 91—187; T P. Vile. 97 . 95—192: Miss J. Maefarlane. 96. 98—‘94: J. G. Barnes. 99. 98 —197; R. A Stewart. 101. 96 197; N. Todd. 97. 101—198; G. M. Turrell. 94. 104—198: J. A. Sullivan. 96 104—200: N. W. Davies. 104 . 97—201; J. R Cameron. 114. 94—208; T. J. Thin. 107. 102—209; J. P. Rawson. 100, 110—210. WAFTTKIRI GOLF CLUB OPEN TOURNAMENT. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 31. 1961. 36 Holes. 3 Grades. ENTRIES TO MR BATSTONE. •Phone 46-414; MR DOBSON, 'Phone 68-331; BOX 1592, CHRISTCHURCH. —Advt.