Golfer’s future in balance

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 22

Golfer’s future in balance

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

The playing future of the outstanding Canterbury golfer, Miss C. Sullivan, is in the balance. She is under suspension for a breach of the rules governing amateur status.

Unless the New Zealand Golf Association receives a letter from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews, before the association’s management committee meets on Monday, Miss Sullivan is almost certain to miss the Russell Grace interprovincial tournament at Auckland, which begins on May 4, and the New Zealand trials later. GOVERNING BODY The letter from the R. and A. which the association—and no doubt Miss Sullivan —is awaiting is a reply to one asking whether it, or the New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union, has jurisdiction in the matter.

Should the letter not reach the association before its meeting on Monday, it is most unlikely that a decision on Miss Sullivan’s application for reinstatement will be made before the management committee meets again, some weeks hence.

The breach of the rules occurred last month, when

Miss Sullivan’s photograph appeared in an advertisement for a Christchurch golf shop. It was reported to the N.Z.G.A., which gave her a verbal clearance to play as an amateur. No written clearance was received.

ALTERNATIVE RULING In the meantime, an official of the N.Z.L.G.U. had written to the R. and A. asking for a ruling, with perfect clarity being required before the playing of the Russel) Grace tournament and othei events. The R. and A. ruled that a breach had been committed and< that Miss Sullivan had forfeited her amateur status.

The R. and A. need not have stated that her amateui status had been forfeited. Under rule 2 of the Rules of Amateur Status in the N.Z.L.G.U.’s handbook for 1971, it is stated that a player violating the definition of an amateur golfer may forfeit amateur status, or "shall be required to refrain or desist from specified actions as a condition to retaining amateur status.”

The N.Z.G.A. has also asked the R. and A. whether it recognises the N.Z.L.G.U as a separate governing body for women golfers.