GOLF Miss Grigg Loses Top Qualifying Position

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30109, 18 April 1963, Page 12

GOLF Miss Grigg Loses Top Qualifying Position

For the first time in three years, Miss S. Grigg, the defending title-holder, failed to lead the qualifiers when the Canterbury women’s golf championship began at Shirley yesterday. Her place at the head of the list was taken by Miss B. Stafford, of Timaru, whose two-round total of 170, led Miss Grigg by two strokes.

Scoring generally was high as players found difficulty putting on the soggy greens. No one broke 80, and the best score of the day was 83, achieved by Miss Stafford and Miss Grigg in the afternoon round.

However, there was some excuse for the high scoring in the morning. Heavy, driving rain and a bitterly cold wind made unpleasant golfing conditions, but in the afternoon, when the wind dropped and the sun shone, the scaring improved. The greens were still heavy from the soaking they had received on Monday, and the heavy downpour early yesterday morning made them almost Waterlogged. But the fairways were in excellent order and it was around and on the greens that nearly every player foundered. Four Share Lead In the morning round Miss Stafford returned an 87 to share the lead with Miss W. Morgan, Miss J. Hanratty, and Mrs A. I. Charles. In the afternoon she played steady golf, having eight bogeys and one birdie at the 410-yard seventh hole. Miss Stafford p hits the ball hard, wjth a I fast swing, and the distance she was gaining with her tee I shots and seconds gave her a decided advantage over most of her opponents. On the greens she had her moments of purgatory but in the afternoon round she was never more than two over on any one hole. Miss Grigg played disappointing golf in the morning. She was not swinging into the ball and it was only the basic soundness of her play that brought her an 88. But in the afternoon, after a hesitant start and the loss of strokes at the fourth hole when she went out of bounds, she began to display the standard expected from her. Faulty Finish

Starting at the sixth she reeled off Sve holes in par figures and looked as if she would regain her normal position as leading qualifier, but on the last four holes she dropped flour strokes. In her golden patch, Miss Grigg was superb. Her wood shots were lengthy and accurate. and on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes, when she decided to use a four wood to play her approach shots, she laid the ball near the hole. On the greens, however, she became fallible, but twice was robbed of birdies by a fraction of an inch when the ball stopped on the rim of the cup.

Mrs J. Lees, always a sound player, had a 90 in the first round, which included a birdie at the seventh, and in the afternoon improved to an 85 to be only three strokes behind Miss Grigg. Last year she was 18 strokes behind the title-holder. Mrs L. A. Watson, with a smooth swing and an equable temperament, played consistently for her total of 176. Her driving and approach shots were very good, but her putting cost her valuable strokes.

Player Impresses One of the best efforts of the day was that of Miss J. Hanratty. a 19-year-old player from Hutt. She has a good swing and with all the confidence of youth she hit the ball really hard. The result often was spec-

tacular, but occasionally it got her into serious trouble. In her first round of 87 she had an eight at the eighth hole in between five bogeys, and in the afternoon she had two more disastrous holes.

Another young player to impress was Miss M. E. Boyce, whose scores of 88 and 93 did not do full justice to her long and aggressive hitting. But her indecisive chipping and putting nullified much of the advantage she gained from her long game. However, probably the best performance of the day came from Miss E. White Parsons, whose 84 in the afternoon gave her a net 68 for the round — by far the best net score of the day. Results were:— Championship Qualifiers 170—Miss B. A. Stafford, 87, 83. 172—-Miss S. Grigg. 89, 83. 175 Mrs J. Lees. 90. 85. 176 Miss E. White Parsons, 92. 84; Mrs L. A. Watson, 89, 87: Miss J. Hanratty. 87, 89. 178— Mrs J. Bissett 91, 87. 179 Mrs R. G. Edwards, 93, 86: Mrs T. G. Lister, 92, 87. 180— Mrs A. I. Charles. 87. 93. 181— Miss L. Hillis, 97, 84; Miss M. E. Boyce, 88, 93. 182— Miss B. Murray, 90. 92. 183— Miss H. Buchanan. 93, 90; Mrs J. S. Royds. 91, 92. 186—Mrs L. F. Evans. 92, 94. Shirley Trophy The following players qualified for the Shirley Trophy on net scores :

154—Mrs J. B. Hay. 78, 76. 157—Mrs L. J. Roy, 78 79. 159—Mrs E. G. Mitchell. 81, 78; Miss M. Ensor, 77, 82; Mrs J. McQuilkin. 75, 84.

161— Mrs R. Parker, 80, 81. 162 Mrs A. L. Smith. 80, 82; Mrs G. E. Beetham. 77, 85. 163 Miss J. Ockenden 86, 77

165—Mrs E. Whiteside, 81. 84. 167 Miss D. McMillan. 90. 77; Mrs L J. Moorhouse, 85. 82. 168— Miss E. B. M. Nutt, 88. 80; Mrs H. Dymond, 86, 82: Mrs N. W. Urquhart. 85, IB; Mrs J. H. Ensor 85. 83. 169 Mrs A. Nicholls 91. 78. Other Events Morning medal, first division: Miss J. Hanratty, 87, 9—78: Miss B. Stafford. 87. 8—79. Second division: Miss J. McQuilkin. 100, 25—75; Miss E. White Parsons. 92, 16—76. Afternoon medal, first division: Miss B. A. Stafford, 83. 8—75. Second division: Miss E. White Parsons, 84. 16—68. Miss E. B. M. Nutt trophy, best gross: Miss B A Stafford 87. 83—170.Long driving competition first division; Miss E. McLeod. Intermediate: Miss M. Ensor.