GOLF GOOD SCORING IN EASTER TOURNEY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 15

GOLF GOOD SCORING IN EASTER TOURNEY

Murray-Harvey, FoxtonClements Semi-Finals

It was a distressing week-end for Canterbury’s Frey berg Rose Bowl selectors. Three candidates for the team failed to qualify for the match-play at the Christchurch Club’s Easter golf tournament, and half-way through the first round yesterday morning, all but one of the remaining top players were being beaten.

Order, however, was ultimately restored, and the semi-finalists this morning are as reputation would have them—R. C. Murray, L S. Harvey, K. D. Foxton and R. E. Clements. All four played fine golf yesterday afternoon, and for the first time this year there were grounds for mild confidence about Canterbury’s rose Bowl prospects.

The weather could hardly have been better for golf, for with Saturday’s sunshine there were light breezes, and yesterday was, in the main, warm and windless. But the course at Shirley is in a sad state of disrepair.

It looks, in fact, rather like the photographs sometimes used by Chinese herbalists showing the victim of some dreadful skin complaint, before treatment, or, perhaps, a picture of the other side of the moon. There are two temporary greens cut into fairways, the other greens are all raddled and worn, and the whole course fell far below the standard Shirley sets. Yet the scoring was as good as is customary at such tournaments, perhaps because the considerable group of rising young Canterbury golfers has made a further advance.

Among those whose performances attracted particular attention were R. S. Wakefield (Timaru) and M. B. G. Thomson, both 23; A. C. Browne, who is 22; G. D. Brown (Timaru), who is 20; R. Bradley • 19). P. J. Amos (18), and C. V. Stokes (17). Stroke Title Shared

The stroke championship, from which the qualifiers for the match play were found, was shared by Clements and Murray. Clements, whose tong game is under tar better control than it used to be, led the way in the morning with a lovely round of 71, two under scratch.

His persuasive putter had the ball up and around the hole all morning, and his only fault was an occasional chip which failed to run on. It was such an error which cost him a stroke at the sixteenth, but it was beautiful, relaxed golf which brought him three birdies in the firs', five boles, and an eagle 3 at the eighth with a putt of 20 feet. Although he played far more accurately than on many occasions. Clements is still the man for the spectator, because of his penchant for attack. and his ability to meet a challenge. At the fourteenth, he was off line for once, in rough behind the trees at the left of the fairway on this difficult 441-yard hole. But a magnificent 9-iron carried trees and bunkers and put him on the green. Foxton's golf was Immaculate in the early stages of his morning round. His timing and touch were perfect for the first eight holes. In which he had three birdies. He three-putted the ninth, however, and although he kept two under for the rest of the round, it was much more of a struggle for him. Murray Hits Back Murray's golf took the opposite course. He was often in difficulties going out. and at the turn he had dropped four strokes; but from the tenth, he began playing the powerful, accurate golf for which he is noted, and his three-under scratch half gave him third place with 74. With Foxton, C. W. Caldwell and Browne all slipping shots early In the afternoon. Clements and Murray were left to fight it out together, and Clements did not have the best of luck He had some dreadful bounces from the parched rough fairways. but it seemed he would win comfortably when Murray had a shaking experience on the sixth, where he fourputted—an approach putt, a small one which missed, and then an unsuccessful attempt to hole out by leaning across the hole and knocking the ball in. Murray three-putted the next hole but came home with another storming finish, and he actually led by a stroke before playing the last hole, where Clements, with a tremendous drive and a perfect chip, had scored his birdie easily. Murray also sent away a lovely drive, but his chip was short and the title was shared.

Stokes, regarded as the best prospect of all the good young golfers in Christchurch at present, had a sad morning with nis 85. and he was five over going out in the afternoon. But he turned on the best half of the dav with birdies at the tenth twelfth thirteenth, fifteenth and eighteenth holes, to come back in 32 (four under! Harvey Has 85

There were six players on 162. the lowest score to qualify, end among them was Harvey A count-back put him out of the match play—he had had an execrable afternoon 85—but it was then discovered that a bestround system should have been used, and Harvey was in again Perhaps drawing by lot might be a better system It was disappointing that three former rose bowl players. B. A Colquhoun. J. G. Scott and A W Robinson, failed to qualify The match play yesterday nearly provided an upset with the bold effort made by R. S. Wakefield in his match with Murray Wakefield, some years ago. was a sensation tn Christchurch tournaments with his tremendous hitting. He still wins vast distances from the tees, and although he has had very little golf, he is clearly a fine player—and still only 23. Cheerful and spectacular, and one whose putting does not seem to be torture to him Wakefield was two down after two holes but fought ba-k suoerbly. He was out in 33. two under, to Murray's 38 and although he missed a little putt for a win

at the thirteenth, he boldly holed a 20-footer for a one-up lead at the fourteenth.

But then his short game went astray; three putts at the fifteenth, a chip and two putts at the next, and Murray had him shut out. Murray was one under scratch for the round. Wakefield one over Bunkered. Beaten Stokes, with his almost lyrically easy swing and a near-perfect short game, was out in 36 against Browne, reserve for the Rose Bowl team last year, and he was then four up. Browne is no veteran, but he is vastly more experienced than Stokes, and slowly Stokes lost control of the game. Browme. tightening his game admirably under pressure, reeled off scratch figures after the turn and had the game squared at the seventeenth only to lose the last when his second went deep into the new soft sand of a green-side bunker. Harvey started brilliantly against R. K. Atkinson, faltered, but recovered and won, but Caldwell was thoroughly exextended by M. G B. Thomson, whose flat fast swing gives him tremendous length. Foxton played par golf to beat D. F. Williamson, who was much below his best, and Bradley, not long out of school and still wearing his first eleven cap, had a sensational success against A. K. Hynd. Bradley missed short putts at each of the first two holes, but Hynd. although three under scratch after five holes—mainly through his splendid short game —was then only two up. Thereafter Bradley was irresistible. He sways on the swing far too much for the purist, but he hits the ball really hard, and with fine iron play>and sound putting he was round in 70—three under scratch—a superb effort for a boy of 19. Hynd’s comparatively modest scratch round was not good enough. Four Up—Loses A former Rose Bowl player, E. H. Richards, was eliminated by the steady chipping and putting of G. D. Brown (Timaru) and Clements all but went down to Amos, who led by four holes with only five to go. Amos was sound off the tees and played some excellent irons, supporting this With accurate chipping and putting. But again youth fell to experience, Amos dropping into error and threeputting the last green for Clements to square the match. Amos had another chance at the nineteenth and Clements, after so many reprieves, applied the axe at the twentieth with his first birdie of the round.

In the afternoon Bradley could not reproduce his morning form and soon fell victim to Foxton. whose stylish stroke production took him round in two better than scratch. Stokes also fell away against Murray, but fought back courageously to take the game to the seventeenth. Murray again playing sub-scratch golf. Brown, although maintaining the high standard of his short game, made too many errors off the tee to contain Clements, but Harvey and Caldwell had a stern tussle, productive of much excellent golf. These two. perhaps the best stroke makers in the province, were locked in the closest combat for most of the round. Harvey, whose putting has improved vastly, had quite cast aside the ineptitudes of Saturday. and looked a good player in form. Caldwell's unhurried rhythm never faltered, and when they turned in 36. one under, they were square. Caldwell’s flne iron second at the part-5 tenth gave him a birdie and the lead, but he had a

dreadful position in a bunker at the next hole, which Harvey won with a birdie.

The fine standard of the game was lost at the short fifteenth, where Harvey hit his tee shot on the head yet won with a four Caldwellk tee shot landed in a bunker so ctoae to the outside edge that he could hardly get his club into sand before striking the ball. Tbe match ended quite dramatically. Harvey, one up, hit his drive too far at the seventeenth and it crossed the creek but stopped far down the very steep bank of thick grass on the far side. He had a difficult task to get a club to the ball without falling into the water, so sharp is the incline at that point. But he got his ball out wide of the green, pitched over a bunker perfectly and holded a tricky four-foot putt. So Caldwell, just on the «Sge found his two-footer was tor a half and not a win; the ball ran round the cup and out.

This morning in the semifinals Murray will play Harvey, and Clements will meet Faxton Results:—

Strake: R. E. Clements. 71, 73 —146; R. C. Murray, 74, 72—146; E. K. D Foxton. 72. 79—151; C. W. Caldwell, 74. 77—151; A. C. Brown, 75. 78—153: G. D. Brown. 76, 10-156; R. K. Atkinson, 75, 82—137: R H Bradley. 81. 76-157; R. S. Wakefield. 79. 78— 157; M. B. G. Thomson. 79. 79- P. J. Amos. 90. 78—158; D. F. Williamson. 77, 82—159; C. V. Stokes. 63. 75—160: E. H. M. Richards. 84. 77—161; I. S Harvey, 77. 85-162; A. K. Hynd. 84. 78—162.

Match play, first round: Murray beat Wakefield, 2 and 1; Stokes beat Browne. 1 up; Harvey beat Atkinson, 2 and 1; Caldwell beat Thomson, 2 and 1; Foxton beat Williamson, 5 and 4; Bradley beat Hynd, 2 and 1; Brown beat Richards, 3 and 1: Clements beat Amos at the twentieth.

Second Round—Murray beat Stokes. 3 and 1; Harvey beat Caldwell, 2 and 1; Foxton beat Bradley, 6 and 5; Clements beat Brown, 3 and 2.

Senior Match.—First round: I. D. Dobson beat I. J. Campbell, 2 and 1; B. A. Colquhoun beat D. F. Logie. 4 and 3; H. J. Gosset beat S. N. Crump. 4 and 3; D. R. Hope beat R. B. Grey, 3 and 2; P. J. Rackley beat E. S. Holland, 3 and 2: C. J. Ward a bye; E. S. Henderson beat J. G. Scott. 6 and 5; C. L. Jacobsen beat O. Ford, 3 and 2. Second Round.—Dobson beat Colquhoun. 1 up: Gosset beat Hope, 5 and 4; Warr beat Rackley. 5 and 3; Jacobsen beat Henderson, at the twentieth. Easter Plate.—Browne beat Wakefield, 6 and 5; Thomson beat Atkinson, 5 and 4: Hynd beat Williamson, 3 and 2; Richards beat Amos, 4 and 3. Intermediate Stroke.—Net: H. V. Rossi, 146; W. K. Dougall, 149; J. W. Goddard, 149; B. C. Taylor, 151; A. I. Charles, 151; J. W. McLean, 151; S. G. Tunnlcliffe, 153; J. D. Bull, 153; F. Littler, 154; A. L. Smith, 156; H. M. Elliott, 158; R. Blunden, 159; K. L. Rowlands, 160; R. A. Roberton, 161; G. S. Harrison, 162; P. R. HoUings, 163. Match Play.—First round: Rossi beat Littler at the twentyfirst; Rowlands beat McLean. 4 and 3; Harrison beat Bull, 1 up; Dougall beat Elliott, 5 and 4; Taylor beat Blunden at the nineteenth; Tunnlcliffe beat HoUings. 1 up; Charles beat Roberton, 1 up; Smith beat Goddard. 1 up. Second Round.—Rowlands beat Rossi 1 up; Harrison beat Dougall, 1 up; Tunnlcliffe beat Taylor at the nineteenth; Smith beat Charles, 5 and 3. Junior Stroke—Net: D. R. Bennie, 139; B. G. Willey, 146; D. Ferguson, 147; H. M. Mtnson, 148; R. P. Williamson. 148; P. R. Bunden, 150: J. Bradley, 151; P. C. Venter. 151; B. R. Guthrie, 152; R. L. Harper. 152; J. W. Adams, 153; J. Blance, 154: R. H. Ridgen. 154; R. D. Sharp, 155; R. Gardiner. 155; H. N. French. 155. Match Play.—First round: Guthrie beat Bennie, 3 and 2; Williamson beat Ridgen, 6 and 5; Bradley beat Gardiner, at the nineteenth: Ferguson beat Adams, 2 and 1; Blance beat Minson, 3 and 2: Venter beat French at the twentieth; Sharpe beat Burden, 1 up; Willy beat Harper at the twenty-second. Second Round.—Guthrie beat Williamson, 2 up; Bradley beat Ferguson. 3 and 2; Venter beat Blance, 3 and 2; Sharpe beat Willy, 1 up. Easter Handicap.—B. G. WiUy (net 146) from H. V. Rossi (143). loams Cup (left-handed playrs): E. G. Keenan 151. Intermediate Gross.—M. B. G. Thomson, 158. Junior gross: D. R. Bennie, 169. Stroke Handicap.—A grade, morning: C. W. Caldwell, 73. Afternoon: C. V. Stokes, 71. B grade, morning: W. K. L. Dougall. 71. Afternoon: B. C. Taylor. 74. C grade, morning: P. R. Burdon, 71. Afternoon: J. Bradley. 68. Cross Flight.—First round: A. G. Paterson beat J. R. Cameron, 1 up; F. Reavey beat C. Angas, 2 and 1; S. Bennett beat G. W. Riley. 6 and 5; M. Atkinson beat K. F. Cuttie. 7 and 6; W. P. Bell beat T. M. Jamieson, 6 and 5; G. M. Turrell a bye: R. GeoChegan beat B. Register, 1 up; R. T. Higgins beat P. K. Richardson, 4 and 3.

Second Round. —Pattison beat Reavey at the nineteenth; Atkinson beat Bennett, 2 and 1; Turrell beat Bell. 1 up; Geoghegan beat Higgins, 4 and 3.