Mrs Cullen national champion, 4 and 3

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32458, 19 November 1970, Page 28

Mrs Cullen national champion, 4 and 3

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL.

“I thought I had a real chance when I got back to one this afternoon, but my game, let’s face it, wasn’t as good today as it was earlier in the tournament. I just lost to a better player.”

That was how Mrs J. i Whitehead (Manawatu) ’ summed up her defeat to J the Russley title-holder, Mrs V. Cullen, in the 36- ' hole final of the national, women’s golf champion- < ship at Otatara yester- < day. Mrs Cullen, a former i Southlander who moved to I Christchurch via Whangarei, i two years ago, won 5 and 4 1 on a course where she had dominated Southland women’s golf tor a decade. “After Jean had won the I last three holes in the mom- i ing and another couple early i in the afternoon, I knew I' would have to steady myi game. My aim from there on I was to try to play par golf. I thought if I could do this I i would win,” Mrs Cullen said. I "Perhaps the turning point 1 was when Jean missed a <

short putt at the fifth hole in the afternoon. She didn’t seem to be quite as good after that." Mrs Whitehead, who had won the stroke-play title last week-end, also lost the 1958 match-play final on the same course, to her cousin, Miss N. Campbell, at the 37th hole. For the 33 holes of yesterday’s match, Mrs Cullen had a total of 137 strokes—7s in the morning and 62 in the afternoon. At 140, Mrs Whitehead was three over. With a regulation 4 to Mrs Whitehead’s one-over 5 at the first hole, Mrs Cullen took a lead she never again surrendered. She was three up after five, lost the sixth, won the eighth and ninth, and turned for the first time four ahead. Mrs Cullen increased her advantage to a massive six holes after 15, but suddenly lost her grip on the game. She cut her drive badly at the sixteenth, also lost the next to a birdie and then was only three up when Mrs Whitehead almost holed her bunker shot the. eighteenth. Nor were these the end of Mrs Cullen’s troubles. Mrs Whitehead then won the second and third holes in the afternoon to reduce the deficit to one. However, this was the closest she got to squaring the match, and Mrs

Cullen was back to three up after 27 holes. Mrs Whitehead brought some life back into the match by winning the twenty-ninth with a par, but she then lost the thirtieth and thirtysecond and it was all over soon afterward. Results of other finals: Plate.—Mrs R. C. Blake (Waiuku) beat Mrs K. Guttery (Invercargill), 2 up. Waddell Rosebowl. —Miss A. Miles (Levin) beat Miss D. Low (Otago). 1 up. Waddell Rosebowl Flight.— Mrs J. Lees (Templeton) beat Mrs E. I. Harris (Wanaka), at the twentieth.