30ft Putt Was Cup Winner For N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 26

30ft Putt Was Cup Winner For N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. No single act typified New Zealand’s splendid, 7j-4|, win over Australia in women’s golf at Heretaunga on Saturday more than a magnificent 30ft putt for a birdie two on the fifteenth by Mrs J. Whitehead.

New Zealand had fought strongly to gain a position where victory in the Tasman Cup—a victory last won in 1938—was a chip and a few putts away.

The two leading players— Mrs Whitehead and Miss B. Dalgleish (Australia)—were locked in a stem struggle. Mrs Whitehead was two up playing the 15th, when Miss Dalgleish holed a 35-footer for a birdie two. Without a trace of nerves, Mrs Whitehead lined up her own 30-footer for a two and stroked it firmly into the hole. VALUABLE EXPERIENCE The countless rounds she has played, and the four previous Tasman Cup matches in which she has represented Ns.( Zealand—everything that adds to experience—were called upon as Mrs Whitehead sank her vital putt. . Miss Dalgleish holed a 12-footer for a half at the sixteenth, but Mrs Whitehead

had no intention of allowing the Australian to recover and her 2 and 1 victory ensured that New Zealand had won the Tasman Cup. It was fitting that it was Mrs Whitehead, the New Zealand champion, who won both her matches on Saturday, who holed the winning putt. Every phase of Mrs Whitehead’s play on Saturday bore the stamp of class, and she never gave Miss Dalgleish a moment’s respite. When the Australian gained her twohole lead, Mrs Whitehead found the determination to recover and finish the stronger. That was something Miss Dalgleish could not match. But it was also a matter of great moment that as Mrs Whitehead knocked in the winning putt at the seventeenth, Miss G. Taylor, the New Zealand number four, was bolting to victory to in-

crease the over-all winning margin. Miss Taylor, also won both her matches on Saturday—and she won them well, her short game rising to considerable heights. The finishing touch to the clash between the two countries was provided by Mrs J. Howe, the Australian, who won the last three holes against Miss N. I. White, for a one up win. Her desperate finish was prompted by the thought that she needed a victory to save the Tasman Cup for Australia. Alas, it had been lost long before she reached the eighteenth. Mrs J. Perkins won her second round singles against Miss U. Wickham to prevent the New Zealand side from having an even more convincing victory. HALVED IN HALVES In the first round of the singles, Miss White and Miss H. Kerr had a magnificent battle. Miss Kerr won the first and eleventh. Miss White took the fourteenth, and all the other holes were halved in par figures. At the seventeenth, Miss White, amid great excitement from the large gallery, holed a difficult putt to win the hole and square the match. Two good drives to the last hole were followed by a fine second to the green by Miss White and an even better one by Miss Kerr. Both took two putts and the match ended all square with both golfers one under the card. Miss Dalgleish started so well against Miss Wickham—and Miss Wickham started so badly—that the Australian was four up after five although Miss Wickham won the first thr j holes of the homeward nine she could not maintain the pace. Mrs Perkins was able to get Mrs Whitehead back to square by winning two successive holes, but Mrs Whiteheal replied with a birdie on the thirteenth and then played wonderfully controlled golf to retain her lead. - Results of the singles (New Zealand names first) were:—

Morning Round. —Mrs Whitehead beat Mrs Perkins, 2 and 1; Miss Wickham lost to Miss Dalgleish, 2 and 1; Miss White halved with Miss Kerr; Miss Taylor beat Mrs J. Howe, 3 and 2.

Afternoon Round.—Mrs Whitehead beat Miss Dalgleish, 2 and 1; Miss Wickham lost to Mrs Perkins, 1 up: Miss White lost to Mrs Howe, 1 up; Miss Taylor beat Miss Kerr, 4 and 3. New Zealand won the' foursomes, 3-1, on Friday.