Golf Ban Unlikely To Affect N.Z. Open

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 17

Golf Ban Unlikely To Affect N.Z. Open

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Fears that the entry for the New Zealand Open golf championship this year would be seriously affected by the ban placed on Australians competing were discounted by Mr D. O. Whyte at yesterday’s meeting of the New Zealand Golf Council.

“There have been a lot of indications in the press which have been untrue,” said Mr Whyte. “Every indication I have is that we will have a particularly satisfactory field. “I cannot see the Australian Professional Golfers’ Association (it imposed the ban) saying to Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle, ‘You shall not play at Paraparaumu in the New Zealand Open.’ “They are life members of our club, and Thomson holds the New Zealand Open tide.” The chairman, Mr G. P. Roberts, said: “We have had

no notification from Australia in any form.” A revision of the Freyberg Rose Bowl set-up was proposed by Mr I. McFarlane (Bay of Plenty-Gisborne). At present two associations are excluded each year, and the number of teams limited to 12. Mr McFarlane proposed a reduction in team personnel to five players and the acceptance of all 14 teams. Other suggestions made included the extension of the tournament to four days, with eight matches being played, or two matches on each of the first three days and a grand final on the Saturday. Mr V. C. Hollis (Waikato)

also suggested converting the Freyberg into a two-day stroke competition. It was resolved that the management committee examine the present set-up. Australia will play New Zealand for the Sloan Morpeth Trophy at the Manakau Club, Auckland, on October 14 and 15. Both teams will leave Auckland for Mexico and the Eisenhower Cup event on October 17. Mr R. F. Mackie, of Waipukurau, was elected nonplaying captain of the New Zealand team for the Eisenhower Cup. Originally, there were five nominations for the post, but Mr A Scouler (Dunedin) and Mr C. J. Ward (Christchurch) withdrew before yesterday’s ballot. The other candidates for the position were Mr B. M. Silk (Wanganui) and Mr K. W. Stephen (Wellington).

The New Zealand team will be announced after the national amateur championships at Russley on September 10.