GOLF Browne’s 72-70 Takes Rangiora Open By One

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 6

GOLF Browne’s 72-70 Takes Rangiora Open By One

With R. E. Clements, K. D. Foxton and E. H. M. Richards among the absentees, a comparatively weak field contested the Rangiora golf dab’s open tournament yesterday. But in winning the title with two fine rounds of 72 and 70, A. C. Browne, of Ashburton, scored well throughout, and his total of 142 was one shot ahead of the New Zealand representative, R. C. Murray.

In the morning both Murray and I. B. Cromb had matched Browne’s opening round of 72, and they were followed by J. E. Monk (74), I. Dobson (75) and B. L. Clegg (76).

Cratxio had played very •teadily, being always up the centre o< the fairway and in little trouble. He had several birdies but a sound competent round was spoiled by three three-putt greens. When Cromb dropped six •hot* in as many holes in the afternoon, an absorbing twoman contest developed between Browne and Murray. But Browne finished well ■while Murray surprisingly took three on the green at both the fourteenth and sixteenth, when with his opponent already in the clubhouse he seemed well positioned to win by at least one stroke Browne's splendid long game functioned well all day. He achieved his usual length from the tee* and he pitched to the greens accurately. And once he reached the putting surface he looked a very different golfer than at Templeton last week.

Patting Practice He chipped well when he did miss a green, and probably aa a result of much intensive putting practice during the week, he had only occasional difficulty with the little putt* that have been his downfall recently. Murray’s game was uneven, and although he hit some magnificent shots, and with the putts of medium length he displayed the surety of touch that has been absent for some months, his irons were seldom convincing. Murray, like Browne, always seemed able to secure birdies at the long holes, but be had trouble all day in getting the ball up to the hole. Hi* irons, while mostly finding the greens, were often a little loose and short, and he frequently left himself very long approach putts and few real chances for birdies.

One under after 12 holes in the morning, Murray faltered a little and he finished badly again after lunch. It was unfortunate

that when be found some confidence when within reasonable distance of the hole, his approach putts were so consistently short and towards the end, well througn. For he was never happy with the little ones of ony a foot or two, and had 37 putts tor the afternoon round. Close Struggle Both Browne and Murray began the afternoon with fine birdies at the first (the seventh hole of 472 yards). From then on there was never more than one shot between them. Par for the afternoon card was 70 (35, 35) and they were both out in scratch figures. Browne had his only threeputt green at the tenth to fall one behind, but they were square again when he holed a 10-footer for a birdie two at the next. They both birdied the twelfth, a bogey five, where Browne was again dose to an eagle, while Murray, well wide with his wood second, had to hole a putt of 20 feet Browne played the fourteenth badly but Murray obliged by three-putting, and when he repeated this error two holes later he was one shot in arrears and in trouble. Another bad approach putt left him struggling for his bogey four at the seventeenth, and he came to the

last needing a birdie two to tie, or the first hole-in-one of his career to win.

His three-iron, pulled a little, just cleared a bunker to find the edge of the green 40ft from the cup. Producing easily his best approach putt, Murray made a great effort to force a play-off. But the ball finished inches short of the centre of the hole. Senior Championship: A- C. Browne. 72, 70—142; R. C. Murray, 72, 71—143; J. E. Monk. 74, 75—149; L B. Cromb. 72, 77 —149; I. Dobson, 75,77—152; B. Helm. 77, 78—155: J. W. Jackson, 77, 78—155; J. D. Lawson, 78, 77—155; B. L. Clegg, 76. 80 —156.

Intermediate Championship: D. R. Began. 82, 74—156; J. Oakley, 83, 78—161; M. L. Ryan, 86, 79—165; A. Forward. 84. 82— 166; R. Reid. 85. 81—166; D. S. Harper, 84, 82—166.

Senior Net.—J. E. Monk. 72. 73—145; B. Helm, 72. 73—145: I. Dobson, 72, 74—146. Intermediate net: D. S. Harper, 72, 70— 142; B. Rogers. 72, 72—144; A. Forward. 74. 72—146. Stroke Rounds. Senior:

morning. L B. Cromb, 72—1. 71; B. L. Clegg, 76—4, 72. Afternoon, D Clark, 77—5, 72; E. G. Legge, 77—5, 72. Intermediate: morning, B. Register, 85—12, 73; J. Adorian, 85—12, 73; T. Tomlinson, 85—12, 73. Afternoon. M. L. Ryan, 79—9, 70: J. Jamieson. 83—11. 72; S. T. Midgley. 80, 8, 72. Teams match: D. R. Hagen, T. Tomlinson, B. L. Clegg. A. C. Browne, 289. Junior A.—Championship: T. McGowan, 82, 84—166; I. Smith. 90, 86—176; G. Simpson. 90. 88 —l7B. Net aggregate: A. W. McKenzie. 72, 70—142: D. Lowery. 75, 70—145; B. Williams. 76, 73—149. Morning stroke: M. Boulton, 89, 16—73; P Cherry. 88. 13—75; P. Mullins, 90, 15—75. Junior B.—Morning stroke: F. Barrett, 88, 20—68; W. Chisnail. 92, 34—68; C. Ferguson. 94. 2273. Afternoon stroke: L. Southern. 91, 24—87; R. Webb. 93, 34 —69; A. Cornish, 99, 21—69. Teams' match: W. B. Henderson. T. McGowan, D. Lowery, C. McAuley. 290. Junior A.—Afternoon stroke: B. J. Peters, 88. 18-70; A. G. Moore, 87. 15—72; B. Mason, 91. 18—73. Junior B.—Championship: K. Davidson, 92. 88—180; W. Davidson, 92. 92—184; C. McAuley, 90 94 194 Junior B.—Net aggregate: I. Cowperthwalte, 71. 69—140: S. Gimblett, 71, 69—140; W. Chlsnall 68, 73-141.