Templeton summer open was memorable event

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32521, 3 February 1971, Page 16

Templeton summer open was memorable event

(By

R. M. CAIRNS)

'The Templeton Summer Open on Sunday will not necessarily be remembered for the quality of the golf played over the 36 holes. The mere fact that only one professional, R. M. Farrant, and two amateurs, B. C. Taylor and J. F. Logie, could play par rounds made sure of that.

What left an indelible impression, however, was that the club had spared no effort to make the tournament a big and important occasion. The Dine and Dance, the fashion parade Kaia-poi-Petone was so pleased with the response to this that it has promised similar support in future—and the dance were all resounding successes in the week of social functions.

The social evening after the tournament capped it all off. The trophy table was bedecked with an impressive green cloth bearing the club’s name; and there was a handsome array of trophies. There was also a sumptuous buffet for the players and officials.

All the right people made speeches: the winners, D. Clark, the Rotorua professional, and Taylor; the Canterbury president, Mr R. C. Townshend; C. W. Caldwell on behalf of the visiting professionals and the club’s president, Mr P. Nelson.

Mr Nelson paid particular tribute to the enthusiasm and drive of the club’s captain, Mr J. E. J. Crew, and there is no doubting that Mr Crew was the real force behind the increase in importance of the tournament. In turn, Mr Crew paid his own tribute to his club’s professional, T. F. Kelso, and secretary-manager, Mr W. Weatherhead, for their contributions.

Clark, who was presented with a special jacket shades of the United States Masters as professional winner, introduced a touch of his breeds special brand of humour when he said he hoped he would be back next year “to play in the Templeton $lOOO or $l5OO or whatever it was.” This year, the tournament prize-money was increased from $lOO to $5OO.

There was much to remember on the golf course,

as well. Those few who were there will not forget the brief dialogue between R. H. A. Bradley, who was eventually third equal, and his 10-year-old caddie, Craig Pitman.

When Bradley landed under a small pine tree at the fifteenth, young Craig, man to man, said in a suggestive and inquiring manner, “Wedge?” "Eight-iron, or I’ll never clear the bunker,” countered Bradley, equally formally, and promptly landed his second a foot from the pin. 'There was the down-to-earth comment of Clark after the tournament: “That will help feed the wife and family.” And there was the sight of the determined E. H. M. Richards stumping doggedly round the 36 holes in his first two full rounds of golf since he tore all the ligaments in an ankle more than two months ago.

He made no secret of his desire to fight his way back into the Freyberg Rose Bowl team, and this was the first step to golfing form and fitness. It mattered not that he scored rather poorly; at least Richards was back on a golf course and into tournaments.

There was a great deal to admire in the courageous play of the other walking wounded, Bradley, who has a mysterious hip ailment, which causes him a great deal of pain when he tries to swing into a shot. First in the Terry Kelso pro-am late last year, and second in the Waitikiri New Year Open a month ago, Bradley is one player who is in consistent early-season form, and already he must

be a strong contender for a place in the Freyberg team.

Certainly, Taylor and Logie, two incumbents, did their chances no harm with their results on Sunday, and a fit Richards has an imposing past record to warrant further selection.

Bradley must then be next favoured, a little ahead of the regular selection, J. R. Broadhurst, and the young Templeton player, G. L. Titmus. The selectors were there in force on Sunday to view their talent. One thought Templeton must entertain for future years is the size of the field. This year the entries were such that only the first paid entries were accepted, but even then, there were 132 in the draw. These included sponsors and their guests, who must obviously be catered for, but there was a feeling that this field is just a little too large.

The last group in the morning had a four-and-a-half hour round, which is much too long, then four hours in the afternoon and finished in fairly murky light. Also, the professionals and sponsors, and some of the amateurs, had played on Saturday, and before very long on Sunday, the greens were rather bumpy.

This was no fault of the green-keeper, because with such heavy traffic, deterioration was inevitable. It is just that a little lessening of the traffic flow could ease the demands on the course.

A final side-benefit of the tournament: at the function after the tournament, it was

announced that the Russley professional, J. H. Brooker, would hold his own pro-am late in the winter. It does seem that Templeton and Kelso have started something.