GOLF WON IN PLAY-OFF

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 3

GOLF WON IN PLAY-OFF

Canterbury’s golfer of, the moment, R. H. A. Bradley, had victory in his grasp almost throughout an oppressively hot week-end at the Waitikiri course, from Saturday morning until late yesterday afternoon.

But it was finally denied him when R. C. Murray produced a last round worthy of his reputation and went on to beat Bradley for the Canterbury stroke championship at the first hole in a sudden-death playoff.

It was Murray’s fifth victory in the event and, as an embellishment, he equalled the course record of 68, set recently by R. J. Charles. Temperatures climbed into the 90s yesterday morning, but during this trying period a little-known player from the host club, J. F. Hardie, also equalled Charles’s mark. He finished fourth, behind the defending champion, B. C. Taylor (Russley). SPECTACULAR FINISH

Bradley set the pace almost throughout the 72 holes, but Murray caught him at the last gasp with his brilliant 68. Needing a par three at the ninth hole (he started at the tenth) to tie with Murray, Bradley almost wrecked his chances by cutting his tee shot into the rough, about 20yd from the lofty green. But he played a remarkable shot with his putter across the bumpy ground burnt bare by the sun, and his subsequent 6ft putt crept in the “side door” to give him his three.

The two players were tied at 288, four under par exceptionally good scoring in comparison with some of the winning aggregates of past years. The play-off was a dramatic affair, and the good standard of play was maintained. Murray played a magnificent drive to a perfect spot in the fairway, but Bradley’s tee shot had a little slice on it and bis ball came to rest behind a row of trees. COSTLY PUTT

A small gap in the trees offered him a slight chance of recovery, and he took it boldly, landing his ball sft from the hole. Murray responded by hitting a pitch and run shot to within 4ft of the hole.

Then, to his great mistfortune, Bradley putted a little shakily and missed. Murray made no such error, and the title was his.

The gradual improvement in Murray’s play during the week-end was not surprising, for the international from South Canterbury has had little golf because of a persistent muscle injury. But after three warming-up rounds, Murray was ready to reveal himself in his true light yesterday afternoon, and his 68 was full of splendidly hit woods and irons. His driving was a particular feature; he scored top marks for both distance and placement. His iron play, as usual, was excellent. IMPROVED PUTTING

But the most heartening aspect of his game was his putting. In the past, Murray has not been regarded as a man for all greens, but yesterday he was most convincing with a putter in his hands. His 68 contained an eagle and four birdies; five other birdie putts hit the hole and stayed out.

Bradley, on the other hand, did not putt as well as usual in the concluding stages as he did in the first two rounds, which brought him sub-par scores of 70 and 71. But his powerful drives and accurate seconds held his game together in the tense final stages.

Like Murray, Bradley has been troubled by injury, but ' he bore up bravely in the heat to consolidate the reputation he has been building up the last few weeks. Taylor made a strong defence of his title, and although Waitikiri’s trees caused him some bother, he played some remarkable recovery shots from amid the gnarled and twisted roots. ■ Taylor is a stylish player and i he was at his best yesterday, I his immaculate iron play and : sound putting bringing him well-deserved scores of 72 1 and 70. i NEWCOMER EXCELS . It was a proud week-end i for the Waitikiri club, for, as . well as Bradley’s fine effort, . Hardie, a member of two weeks’ standing, equalled the course record. A native of Aberdeen, ; Hardie was probably bom ' with a golf club in his hand, : for he showed a wonderful touch on and around the i greens in his two middle rounds of 71 and 68. He had seven birdies and two onei overs in his record-equalling ■ score and his approach shots and his putts had a look of quality about them. But for a succession of hooked and sliced drives in the first round, he might have been much closer to the top. The Freyberg players, J. F. Logie and J. R. Broadhurst—both former title winners—played reasonably sound golf without ever appearing likely to effect a dramatic advance to the leading group. But inconsistency paid off for M. W. Small, the tall, young Rangiora player. After a moderate first round of 78 he produced a sensational 69 on Saturday afternoon, then slumped to 79, but finished splendidly with a 71. • After all these adventures he found himself in fifth place, ahead of a considerable number of players of greater renown. SENIOR Championship.—R. C. Murray. 74, 73, 73, 68—288; R. H. A. Bradley, 70, 71, 74, 73—288; B. C. Taylor, 74, 76, 72, 70—292; J. F. Hardie, 80, 71, 68, 76—295; M. W. Small, 78, 69, 79, 71—297; M. W. Strange, 72, 76, 76, 75—299; G. Urlwin, 77, 76, 77, 73—303; W. L. Maw, 75, 78, 77, 73—303; D. L. Beggs, 74, 80, 75, 75—304; J. F, Logie, 77, 75, 77, 7&-305; T. M. Stout, 75, 78, 74, 78—305; A. C. Browne, 76, 75, 82, 73—306; J. R. Broadhurst, 76, 75, 80, 76—307. 72 holes net.—R. H. A, Bradley, 274. 36 holes net—Saturday: M. W. Small 141. Sunday: B. C. Taylor 140, on a count-back from J. F. Hardie. 36 holes gross— Saturday: R. H. A. Bradley 141. Sunday: R. C. Murray 141. Stroke rounds.—SaturdayMorning: A. de Joux, 74, 3—71. Afternoon: J. F. Hardie, 71, 2—69. Sunday—Morning: J. F. Hardie, 68, 2—66. Afternoon: M. W. Small, 71, 3—68. INTERMEDIATE Championship.—C. H. Johnson, 74, 80, 75, 76—305; R. F. Smith, 76, 80, 75, 79—310; D. W. Marks, 74, 78, 80, 79—311; G. Salt, 76, 80. 77, 79—312. 72 holes net.—G. Salt 292. 36 holes net —Saturday: C. H. Johnson 142. Sunday: L. P. Martin 147. 36 holes gross—Saturday: > D. W. Marks 152. Sunday: C. H. i Johnson 151. Stroke rounds.—Saturday— , Morning: G. Salt, 76, 5—71. Afternoon: B. M. Alexander, 76, 6 70. Sunday—Morning: R. F. I Smith, 75, 4—71. Afternoon: G. i Hurcombe, 75, 5—70. JUNIOR Championship:—G. Carbine, 75, I 82, 82, 84—322; R. L. Kingston, 83, 78, 82, 83—326; W. Head, 80, 85. 81, 81—327. 72 holes net.—G. Buchan 291. 36 holes net—Saturday: P. Cowen 138. Sunday: M. K. Rodgers 140. 36 holes gross—Saturday: G. Carbines 157. Sunday: R. M. Devine 158. Stroke rounds.—Saturday— Morning: G. Sanson 69. Afternoon: D. T. Hubbard 71. Sunday—Morning: D. T, Hubbard 70. Afternoon: W. Head 71.