Richards Returns To Golfing Form

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31649, 8 April 1968, Page 14

Richards Returns To Golfing Form

Displaying reassuring form after his recent illness, E. M. H. Richards won the Bumham open golf title yesterday, with a 36-hole total of 149.

After the morning round, Richards was one stroke behind the leader, but his second round of 76 was sufficient to gain him the principal honours by two shots. His victory ended R. E. Clements’s great run of three successive wins in the event. J. R. Broadhurst finished strongly with a second-round 74, to finish second equal with the young Burnham player, Mark Stokes. The head prefect at Lincoln High School, Stokes gained considerable credit by returning the best round of the day, a one-over-par 72 in the morning. Trouble With Trees The fine weather and the well-groomed parkland course provided perfect conditions for good scoring, but several players found the rows of trees strategically placed to catch their tee shots. Even the leading players in the senior section did not escape the clutches of the trees, and this was reflected in the final scores: Richards, who had the best total was seven over par for 36 holes.

For the most part, Richards hit the ball well, and his short game was very steady. Broadhurst, too. attacked his drives with purpose and his putting was splendidly judged, both for weight and line. Clements, notwithstanding some adventures off the tee, finished a clear fourth, his steadiness on and around the greens contributing to his scoring. R. B. Townsend, however, could not recapture his good form of recent weeks and failed to break 80 in either round.

Stokes’s tidy golf in the morning marked him as a possible winner, but he could not maintain the pressure after lunch. His display, however, indicated that he could be a strong candidate for the next Canterbury under-21 team.

Scores: Senior 36 holes gross: E. H. M. Richards, 73, 76—149; J. R. Broadhurst, 77 74—151; M. Stokes. 72, 79—151; R. E. Clements, 77, 78— C. Reid. 75, 81—156; N. H. Mabey, 77, 81—158. 36 holes net: M. Stokes, 139; D. Cherry, 142. Stableford: E. Gallen, 40 points; R. K. Baty, 39. Bogey: P. Stanton. 3 up; J. Woolley. 1 up. Intermediate 36 holes gross: R. Edwards. 78. 79 J. Tonkin, 86, 77—163. 36 holes net: J. Kaiwai, 133; M. Griffin, 136. Stableford: A. McCabe, 41 points, on a count-back from G. P. Walker. Bogey: B. Thornton, 6 up; F. R. Miller. 5 up. Junior 36 holes gross: B. Alfield, 87, 84—171; G. Sandford, 85, 89—174. 36 holes net: I. Narbey, 140, on a count-back from W. R. Wilkinson. Stableford: W. Tentori, 42 points; L. Grant, 41. Bogey: R. Crouch, 3 up, on a count-back from W. Waru. Teams* match: M. Stokes, J. Phillips, H. Griffin, J. Tonkin. 279.