Atkinson Has First Major Success

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 3

Atkinson Has First Major Success

The perennial runner-up in Canterbury golf tournaments, R. K. Atkinson (Russley), gained his first major success when he beat R. H. Bradley (Amberley) in the final of the Christchurch club’s Easter match play title at Shirley yesterday afternoon.

Atkinson’s . victory in the 18-hole final came after the defeat of the favoured finalists, R. E. Clements (Templeton) and E. H. M. Richards (Russley) in the morning.

Atkinson beat Richards and Bradley beat Clements, both by unexpectedly large margins.

In a final of fluctuating fortunes, Atkinson beat Bradley, 2 and 1. It was an absorbing game, for the contestants appeared to take turns at holding the whip hand. When the match finished on the seventeenth green, Atkinson had won seven holes and Bradley five, and both were one over par. LEAD FLUCTUATED Atkinson had become almost resigned to accepting second place in a final. Yesterday, however, he was jolted out of this frame of mind when he found himself three up after three holes. Thereafter, the size of his lead fluctuated as Bradley attacked and Atkinson counter-attacked. At the end, it was the Russley man’s initial advantage which tipped the scales in his favour. The strength of Atkinson’s game lies in his all-round consistency and the accuracy of his long irons, and these attributes brought him to victory yesterday. His putting was not convincing but a splendidly stroked 30-footer on the thirteenth green atoned for previous lapses and gave him a two-hole lead at a vital stage of the match.

Atkinson reserved his finest iron shot for the tenth hole. His second shot split the pin throughout its flight, the ball stopping 4ft short of the hole. His successful putt gave him the only eagle of the round. Bradley is now the greenkeeper at the Amberley club, and with a good deal more play under his belt than at previous tournaments, he looked a player to be reckoned with. He drove zestfully, played some attacking iron shots and putted with purpose. He met no more than 50 per cent success on the greens, and needed more than this to get the better of Atkinson. Four times between the seventh and fourteenth holes, Bradley reduced Atkinson’s lead from two holes to one, but on each occasion his opponent’s resilience pre-

vented him from bringing the match to square. Atkinson was under severe pressure when Bradley gained birdies at the ninth, tenth and eleventh holes—a 20ft putt from just off the green securing him the honour at the eleventh. Then Bradley’s putting average caught up with him and Atkinson regained the initiative. The game ended in anticlimax, with Bradley’s drive at the seventeenth finding the creek while Atkinson reached the green safely in two. Bradley’s ball was retrieved and he hit a crisp iron to the green, but both men missed their putts and the match was over. LOST FORM The elimination of Richards and Clements in the semifinals was most surprising, but neither player was able to reproduce the form which gained them places in the first three of the Canterbury Rose Bowl team. Richards was unconvincing on the greens against Atkinson, who was one under par at the finish. Clements was always trailing Bradley and he was unable to make the most of the opportunities to win back some leeway. Results were:— SENIOR Championship. Semi-finals: R. H. Bradley beat R. E. Clem-

ents, « and >; R. K. Atkinson beat E. H. M. Richards, 4 and 3. Final: Atkinson beat Bradley, 2 and 1. Hate.—Semi-finals: B. F. Franks beat C. J. Ward, 4 and 2; R. Hobbs beat B. T. Quirke. 3 and 2. Final: Franke beat Hobbs, 3 and 2. Scratch—Semi-finals: A. L. Castle beat W. I. Tucker, 1 up; P. K. Cleland beat M. Palmer. 3 and 2. Final: Cleland beat Castle, t and 4. Scratch Plate.—Seml-finala: J. C. Mclntyre beat R. Norton. 4 and 2: P. W. J. Searle beat A. C. Martin, 4 and 2. Final: Searle beat Mclntyre, 4 and 3. INTKRMKOIATS Championship —Semi finals J. W. Lincham beat P. B. Vincent. 4 and 3: M. D. Ruddenklau beat .1. H. Alexander at the 23rd. Final: Lineham beat Ruddenklau. 2 and 1. Plate.—A. T. Hopkins beat P. K. Richardson, 4 and 2; W. S. Bennie beat R. W. Garven, 2 up Final: Hopkins beat Bennie, 2 up. Handicap.—Semi-finals: D. J. Marshall beat C. B. Mclntosh. 3 and 2; G. S. Harrison beat B H. Thompson. 3 and 2. Final Marshall beat Harrison, 4 and 3. Handicap Plate.—Semi-finals: J. D. Taylor beat D. Beswarick at the 19th: M. Woods beat F. R Nicol by default. Final: Taylor beat Woods, 4 and 3. JUNIOR Championship.—Semi-finals: L. J. Hartley beat K. O. M. St. John, 4 and 3; J. E. Crew beat R. G. McGowan, 5 and 4. Final Hartley beat Crew, 5 and 4. Plate.—Semi-finals: K. J. Southen beat E. G. Keenan. 3 and 2; R. H. Hansen beat R. P. Butler by default. Final Southen beat Hansen, 2 and 1.