GOLF Clements, Murray Share Stroke Title

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29983, 19 November 1962, Page 13

GOLF Clements, Murray Share Stroke Title

In a blanket finish unparalleled In recent golf in Canterbury—three strokes covered the first six players—R- C. Murray and R. E. Clemente yesterday tied for the 72-hole Canterbury stroke championship, one stroke ahead of K. ». Foxton, R. H. Bradley, and B. A. Colquhoun. .R. K. Atkinson was a stroke away in sixth place. The championship was played at Shirley and Waitlkirl during the week-end. Foxton, Murray and Clements have been the only winners since it was inaugurated hi 1958.

The cream of Canterbury’s golfers could perhaps have been expected to produce better scoring in fine, sunny conditions on two wellgroomed courses. But if the scoring caused disappointment, the tenseness of the final 18 holes at Woitikiri yesterday afternoon more than compensated. Any one of seven players could have won the title, and the issue remained in doubt until all bad completed the eighteenth. The championship was decided more on the errors of some of the fancied few in the vital last holes than by any streak of brilliance by Clements or Murray at this testing period.

Bradley, aged 18 whose golf as a member of weitlkin plays a secondary role to bis captaincy of the first Xi’s in both cricket and soccer at the Shirley Boys' High School, could conceivably have emerged as the champion. He led the field at halfway, was but a stroke behind Murray at the start of the last round and finished In a similar positon after being out of bounds at the seventeenth. On the previous green his putt for a birdie from 15 feet turned aside at the last moment. Had fortune been on his side in these two incidents the prize would have been his. The others, however, ware not without misfortune. Atkinson, who is noted at Russley for the soundness of his short game three-putted the sixteenth and seventeenth greens when in full cry for the championship. Yet Foxton, who had drifted out of calculations after second and third rounds of 79 and 78. accepted all his chances boldly to storm home in ft, the best round of the championship. He finished with a flourish by finking ft 20-foot putt. Murray, seeking his third successive Canterbury stroke title, found that a two-week lay-off since the national championships had affected his game. Many of Me shots were superb, but he struggled with others. The UM champion. Clements found hte old course to hie liking yesterday morning. He covered the first nine holes in two under per and saved a further stroke on the inward journey for a splendid M; a score which brought him back Into the reckoning after two modest rounds at Shirley. But at the twelfth Clement* failed

to hole a two foot putt: and in three subsequent practice shot* from the seme spot he failed each time. Clear A four-under-par M enabled A. W. Robinson (Christchurch) to lead the field by a dear margin after the first round at Shirley on Saturday morning. But the first hols of ths afternoon round required six strokes, and he had a sorry round of 83. He dropped four strokes in the last four holes. Foxton had three series in the first 36 botes; th* frustration* Included five three-putt greens and one ball out of bounds. He had particular cause to recall with horror the first hole, where he three-putted from 14ft, and the sixth, where his hopes were raised by a brilliant bunker recovery and then clashed bv a recurrence oi the three-putt malady. Bradlev reeled off three 74's tn succession before ■ final round of 75 for a highly satisfactory total of 297 On Saturday at the fifth and sixth hotaa he gained an eagle and a birdie. In the midst of some very fine golf yesterday he played two memorable shots, which enabled him to reach the green of the 55Oyd thirteenth an achievement in itself.

The intermediate championship waa won by X. Netebum by three strokes fro* O. G. Crombie, and R. M Farran* headed the junior field. Leading score* in the senior championship were:— R. C. Murrey, Tt. 18. 10. 75 396; R. E Clements. 79 . 76, 60, 72—206; R H Bradley. 74. 74. 74, 75—297; K. D. Faxton, 72, 79, 78, 68-287- B. A. Colquhoun. 72. 77. 73. IS—MT; R. K. Atkinson. 74. 78. 71. 75—298; A. W. Robinson. (W. 82. 74, 78—308.