Avondale Open To W. I. Tucker

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32383, 24 August 1970, Page 11

Avondale Open To W. I. Tucker

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R. T. BRITTENDEN)

W. I. Tucker, of the Christchurch Golf Club, won a battle of endurance to take the Avondale Club’s open tournament title yesterday, in appalling conditions. Vet he won so well, and played with such skill, that he might have been having a friendly game on a (till, spring day. Tucker, with rounds of 71 and 73, four over the card in all, gave a remarkable display, for there is very little of him, and the weather was dreadful. Tucker, who weighs under 10 stone, coped with the rain, the hall, the bitter cold, the blustering southerly -—which checked even the best-struck ball or urged it on to distances difficult to assess the unornamental lakes on some of the greens and the sloppy mud-heaps which some of the tees became, to win his drat open title as a senior player. A ncrktcb player not long ago, but now on 3, Tucker attributed the quality of his golf to the coaching of the former New Zealand cricket captain, 1. B. Cromb, whose Judgment of the best methods of hitting a stationary ball is as keen as it is of the moving one. For the last few months Tucker has been advised regularly by Cromb, and has often practised in the indoor net which Cromb has in an enclosed porch at his Fendalton home—a facility also enjoyed by the New Zealand representative, R. C. Murray, and even by some Christchurch professions!* seeking to sharpen up their games. A Big Hitter For one so slim end light, Tucker strike* the bell *n astonishing distance, end le probably among the biggest hitters In Canterbury. Apert from s brief, rough period soon after the turn in hl* afternoon round. Tucker hit the green* with great regularity and putted with euperb ektll. Although th* Avondale green* are In beautiful condition, there were always problem* caused by surface waler and varying pace*, but Tucker did not threeputt once. In fact,, he started the day with six successive oneputt greens, which put him two under the card. He was out In 34. one under, but dropped two ehots coming homo. He hit the green at the long tenth in the afternoon some 470 yards—ln two, and fin-

Ished a testing day splendidly, with a grand 3-iron to the last green, the ball landing 4ft from the hole and spinning back a further two feet, It wee an outstanding performance for golf yesterday was only for the stout of heart or the light of brain. Five strokes behind Tucker came G. L. Tltmus, who would have been Very much closer had he putted with more certainty. He three-putted live greens during the day, but got the bait out well and found IS greens In regulation figures In his afternoon round, Third was D. J. Gaudln, who also hit the ball well from the tees and with his fairway shots but who also faltered on the greens. In his second round, he started at the tenth and covered this difficult run in 37, two over. But he three-putted the first from 10ft, and In all missed dve putts of 3ft or less In his second 13 holes. Results were: CHAMPIONSHIP* Senior 144: W. I. Tucker, 71. 73. 143; G. 1,. Tltmus. 77, 73. 160: D J. Gaudin, 74, 73. 153; U McMillan, 77, 75. 133; G. Ward, 76. 73; A. McMaster. 73, 77. 135: L McKinley, 73. 73. F- W. Roberts 78. 7|; G. Madden, 73, 78, Senior IBS: F. stack, S 3, 84; W. A, Ayers, 81, 85; C. BUgh, 85, 81. Bl gh won on a count-back. 137: J. Biand. 87. 30 IBS: T. A. Sopor, 88, S 3.

xe»: R. Eyre, 88, 81; R. M. Hinson, 86. 88. Other event* A grade, as hole* net, W. Sibley, 139; L. McKinley, 141. Morning net: J. T. Mitchell. 77. Afternoon; I. Hareldeane. 48. Morning gross: D. J. Gaudin, 74. Afternoon: R F. Smith, 74. Senior B. as holes net: J. stack. 140; J. Bland. 143 on a count-back from C. Ntmmo, R Eyre, and M. Jackson. Morning net: M. Jackson. 71. Afternoon: R. Eyre, 68. Morning gross: G. Orchard, 83. Afternoon: T. A. Soper. 80. Teams’ match: W. p. Hoy, R Keetley, R. W. Cowley, R. Franks 293.