FOUR TIMES WINNER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31020, 28 March 1966, Page 3

FOUR TIMES WINNER

Clements Stroke-Play Champion By 1 Shot

(By

R. T. Brittenden

For the fourth time in its nine-year history, the Canterbury stroke championship was won yesterday by R. E. Clements, who scored 296, four over par, at Russley for 72 holes, in conditions which varied quite spectacularly.

Clements played with skill and assurance, and deserved his success; his fourth victory puts him equal with R. C. Murray in this event.

But J. D. Broadhurst was distinctly unfortunate to finish a stroke behind him.

Broadhurst led the championship—held in conjunction with the Russley open—by two strokes after 36 holes, and held a one-stroke advantage over Clements only three holes from home.

But he fell victim to the strangely acquisitive trees which threatened players on the sixteenth.

Broadhurst was one of three who hit balls into the trees and could not find them. All three apparently lodged in the branches: with Broadhurst so popular a player, there was no shortage of searchers for his ball.

About 50 people trampei through the rough, withou success. D. R. Hope and J. A Orr were others who succumb ed in similar fashion. From the back tees, Russlej played even longer than iti 6627 yards and it was by n< means easy to master. Clements, at the prize giv ing, said it was at present the hardest course in the South Island, and the many low handicappers who failed tc play anywhere near what seem to be flattering marks would probably agree with him. Wind And Rain There was a strong wind on Saturday, and yesterday morning a steady drizzle which made conditions highly unpleasant. Wet bunkers and heavy greens added to the players’ difficulties, and although the course was in excellent order, Clements’s winning total was a highly creditable one. The scratch score was beaten only three times in the tournament, equalled four times. Clements, not at all happy with his game, started the tournament indifferently, and the way was led by the strong and resourceful E. H. Richards, with a fine 72, from the very experienced M. W. Stanley, 73. Broadhurst and Hope, two strong candidates for the Freyberg Rose Bowl team, scored 745, and so did B. L. Clegg, who played his irons with his usual skill. Superb chipping and putting gave B. A. Colquhoun 75, and with him was F. R. Bradley. Long, Accurate On Saturday afternoon the eager, long-striding Broadhurst went to the front with a splendid 71. It was a delightful round to watch. Broadhurst hit the ball a golfer’s mile, he played crisp, accurate irons and displayed a lovely putting touch. There were other attributes —the fighting quality which in the morning had seen him convert a score of four over after five to one over at the finish: and a most commendable briskness about his golf. He took care, but he did not take excessive time. Clements, back at his best, had a 72 and Hope had another good round of 73, so when play began yesterday Broadhurst led Richards and Hope by two, Clements by three. The best rounds of the morning were the 73 by R. B. Townsend, the tall Avondale player, who was thoroughly in command of his game, and 74 by the powerful young Orr, who kept his drives straighter than on the first day. Broadhurst, Clements and Hope were all out in par 37, the development of a stern struggle. But Broadhurst slumped tragically at the short tenth where he took two to leave a bunker —and then entered another one. Again he fought back sup-

erbly, with birdies at the twelfth and thirteenth, but this recovery was followed by his worst golf of the tournament—five holes in which some loose shots were expensive and he was five over at the end.

Clements, playing well within himself, recovered his three-stroke deficit while Richards, out of bounds at the second, struggled hard to keep within reach. He was two behind with 18 holes to Play. Hope also faltered badly on the second half, which cost him 42 and he trailed the leaders by three. R. K. Atkinson gained some ground with his 75, which included a 6 at the par-4 eighteenth when he hooked his drive into a singularly uninviting position under a tree.

Clements made a splendid start to the final round, lip'ping the cup for a birdie at the first, scoring one at the second, having a par on the short third, and lipping the hole with another birdie putt at the fourth. Broadhurst stayed with him, after three putting, most uncharacteristically, at the second. Under very stern pressure, Broadhurst played extremely well, starting the homeward half with three bogeys and having a birdie at the 470yard thirteenth. But there Clements demolished distance with a 2-wood, a 5-iron and a putt of useful length for an eagle. Broadhurst went ahead again when he had a safe 4 at the difficult fourteenth, but then the sixteenth all but ended his chances. It is a testing tee shot at the end of a tournament and he elected to take the safer line, down the seventeenth fairway, with a 3-wood. Title Lost

His 3-iron, designed to put him within pitching range of the green, was struck perhaps a little confidently and the hook lost him the ball and the championship. His 7 at the hole left him needing a birdie and a bogey to tie and to his great credit he did not sit back on his final tee shots. Both of them were magnificent, and at both holes he played straight, firm irons to the green. The final putt was a few inches short—but the one at the seventeenth was half an inch from the hole. Clements was also admirably steady in the final stages. He finished with four pars and scored them safely. He was through the seventeenth green, but his chip back hit the hole. It was unlike him to three-putt three times during the round. OTHER EVENTS Senior 36 holes gross, Saturday. J. D. Broadhurst, 145. Sunday. R. E. Clements, 148. Intermediate, Saturday: A. I. McNish, 154; Sunday, A. I. McNlsh, 155. Junior: Saturday, S. Dixon, 170; Sunday, A. W. Higgins, 169. Senior 36 holes handicap net: Saturday, E. H. Richards, 145; Sunday, R. K. Atkinson, 147. Intermediate: Saturday. P. Neal, 147; Sunday. G. R. Cooper, 145. Junior: Saturday, A. W. Higgins. 150; Sunday. D. J. Marshall. 148.

Stroke Rounds—Senior: M. W Stanley. 73. 1—72: S. C. Cliff 75, 3 —72: R. B. Townsend, 73. 2—71; P. Cleland, 75, 2—73 Intermediate: N. J. Forward, 80. 7—73; D. C. Watson, 77, 6—71; R. Hopkinson, 77, 8 —69: R. D Jones. 75, 6—69. Junior: A. T Hopkins, 84, 11—73; G. W. Black. 83 9—74; D. Forbes, 83, 10 —73; K. T. Newton. S 3. 10—73.