STRONG FIELD FOR GOLF TOURNAMENT AT RUSSLEY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 9

STRONG FIELD FOR GOLF TOURNAMENT AT RUSSLEY

AN unusually strong field —there are 33 players with handicaps ranging from plus two to fourwill be taking pert in toe Russley Golf Club’s 72-hole event which begins this morning. With Canterbury’s

defence of toe Freyberg Rose Bowl now only eight weeks away, particular interest will be taken in the event. Russley’s new watering scheme has the course in fine order, and toe tournament should produce good golf. It may mean much to toe Canterbury selectors, who have a moat difficult task this year.

The winning team la* season was: R. C. Murray, L S. Harvey, K. D. Foxton, B. A Colquhoun, A W. Robinson and R. E. Clements. The top three players are certain to retain their places, but there will be intense competition for the last three. In 1962 C. W. Caldwell would have been selected, but had to withdraw; in anythin*! like his best form, he would be chosen to play at number three, with Foxton * four. It Caldwell returns to the team, it means one of la* year's side mu* be omitted. But toe claims of A. C. Browne (reserve la* year), J. G. Scott, G. P. Verty (both of them played in 1961) and D. F. Williamson have to be considered.

The South Island interprovincial tournament produced some interesting results. Harvey showed good form in beating Murray, but there was more interest, perhaps, in Browne's feat in winning all four of has games. Among those he be* were Foxton and A. R. Timms, the fanner South Island champion. Caidwell also had four wins and so did Colquhoun, but Clements’s record was not impressive. Robinson to* one match, and halved another, but Scott had four wins. Verty lost two matches, one of them to

CaldwelL Robinson and Harvey are not in the field today. Since then, one round of Woodward Cup matches has been played, and in them Clements strengthened his claims by beating Murray, and Browne also increased his chance with his defeat of Foxton. Caldwell lost his match with Colquhoun, and Williamson, who had a fine record in Canterbury golf te* year, lo* to McGavock.

It is a somewhat confused picture, among the tower orders. But the Russley tournament, and the Easter championship * Shirley, may help resolve the problems.