Another Open Golf Win By R. M. Ferrant

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 18

Another Open Golf Win By R. M. Ferrant

A flawless last round of 70, two under par, was not quite good enough to give R. K. Atkinson (Russley) his third successive win in the Rangiora Golf Club’s open tournament yesterday.

Instead, the title went to the most consistent player of the day, R. M. Farrant (Waitikiri), who returned two 73s to beat Atkinson by two strokes.

Farrant goes forward to the South Island championship at Avondale next week-end with the most recent open titles in the Canterbury district under his belt—Windsor and Rangiora.

The fate of yesterday’s tournament was settled on the greens. Many of the leading contenders for the title came to grief there, and although they struggled throughout the 36 holes to gauge the pace of the greens, most of them ended the day with only limited success. SAFETY IN TWOS

The greens were fast, especially for the putts of about four feet, and they were also tricky in the afternoon when sprigs had made their marks. Farrant gained his good figures by concentrating on nudging the ball up close to the hole for a safe two putts. Other players who went boldly for the cup with a long putt often found themselves missing an awkward return putt of about three or four feet. Atkinson. D. R. Hope. B. L. Clegg, and R. H. Bradley all had between five and eight three-putts for the day while

Farrant went methodically about collecting par figures at most of the holes. His only blemish was at the second in the afternoon; with the glittering promise of an eagle before him, he missed from four feet. Farrant played the first two holes in the morning a little roughly, but from that point he settled into the swing of his game. His accurate, smoothlyhit woods and irons set him up soundly for good scoring and his careful putting and good chipping, when the occasion demanded, rounded off an impressive performance. COMMANDING FIGURE The first round score of 73 by Farrant was matched by Clegg, the leading Rangiora player, but Atkinson, who had three-putted on five greens, was five shots behind, in sixth equal place. For the next 18 holes, however, Atkinson was a commanding figure. He has always been respected for the accuracy of his iron play to the greens, and yesterday afternoon he gave a splendid exhibition of this particular accomplishment, hitting every green in regulation figures. His return was 16 pars and two birdies at two of the par five holes. Atkinson had a chance to draw level with Farrant in the concluding stages when he was faced with six-foot birdie putts, at the fourteenth and fifteenth holes. But he missed both, and his bold fight-back was over. Apart from a grisly eight at the seventh hole, Clegg showed excellent form in the opening round and raised great hopes for a home town victory. He had five birdies in his round and he was three under par coming home. In the afternoon, however, he was gripped by the three-putt malady—he suffered six times—and, perhaps as a consequence, his normally ad-

mirable iron shots lost some of their sting. DISASTROUS NINE Three members of the Canterbury Rose Bowl team were in the field—Atkinson, Hope and E. H. M. Richards—but neither Hope nor Richards were sufficiently successful with their putting to catch the two leaders Richards handled his irons firmly on most holes, but he swallowed hard when he recorded a nine on his card There were distinct signs of a resurgence in Hope's golf in the second round. He timed his tee and fairway shots well, and after 11 holes he was two under f»ar. At this stage he was playng with a calm confidence that boded HI for the leaders, but just when it appeared he had come to grips with the greens, he had three three-putts, and his bold charge petered out. A birdie on the final hole, however, sent him home in a good frame of mind for the South Island championship. J. E. Monk (Kaiapoii battled on gamely to tie with Hope for third place, but B. B. Helm (Rangiora) faded in the afternoon. R. E. Hobbs (Amberlev) was unspectacular but steady in returning two scores of 78, while Bradley chipped and putted with aplomb in the second round to improve his position by four places. Another steady performer was J. Lawson, whose rounds of 78 and 76 enabled him to tie with his fellow Rangiora player, Clegg, in fifth place. Results: Senior Thirty-six holes gross: R. M. Farrant, 73. 73—146; R. K. Atkinson, 78, 70—148; D. R. Hope 79. 74—153: J. E. Monk, 77, 76—153; B. L. Clegg, 73, 81—154; J. Lawson, 78, 76—154: E. H. M. Richards, 76. 80—156; R. E. Hobbs, 78, 78—156; R. H. Bradley, 80. 76—156;; B. B. Helm 76, 82—158; S. Dixon. 82. 77—159 Thirty-six holes net: J. E. Monk. 74 73—14’7: J. Lawson, 75, 73—148 Morning net: B. L. Clegg, 72. on a count-back from B B. Helm Afternoon net: S. Dixon, 72; D R. Hope. 74.

Intermediate Thirty-six holes gross: C. Reid, 77, 79—156; T. McGowan. 82,.78 —160, on a count-back from L. S. McKinley, 79 81—160 Thirty-six holes net: L. S McKinley 70, 72—142; C. Fenwick, 74, 70—144. Morning net: G. Forward, 72. on a count-back from J. Lineham. Afternoon net: D. Henderson, 71, on a count-back from E. Gillman. Teams' match: I. S. Ivory, A. Forward, B. Cob-den-Cox, D. Henderson, 300. WoMjt:,s4B 36U1 ‘Uh