GOLF QUARTER-FINALS Griffith fails at the 20th

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 22

GOLF QUARTER-FINALS Griffith fails at the 20th

(New Zealand Preu Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH.

Two Freyberg Rose Bowl players, last year’s runner-up and the Wanganui champion, yesterday qualified for the semi-finals of the boys’ national golf championship at Hokowhitu.

The Rose Bowl representatives, M. Nicholson (Bay of Plenty) and W. Martin (Auckland), meet in one semi-final, and the other will be between C. Owen (Wanganui) and the beaten finalist last year, R. Johnston (Dunedin).

In the most tense quarterfinal, Martin scraped home, at the twentieth, against the Canterbury Freyberg player, D. R. Griffith.

Martin started very badly, and after nine holes was 5 down. He then showed tremendous concentration tp reel off three birdies and cut the deficit to two. The Aucklander claimed a win at the thirteenth when Griffith inadvertently picked up a three-inch putt. BUNKER TROUBLE The match was squared at the fifteenth, and each hole was halved after this until the twentieth when Griffith’s second went into a bunker and he blasted his third through the green. Nicholson, on a plus one handicap, played magnificently controlled golf to beat C. Alldred (Dimedin), 3 and 2.

He thrust home his advantage at the fifteenth when he sank an Bft putt for a birdie and took a 3-up lead. He also recovered well from a bunker on the sixteenth to half the hole and take the match.

Another tense quarterfinal, which featured some fine golf, was between Johnston and P. Hore (Master-

ton), before Johnston took the match, 1 up: Johnston, who is also the Otago open and schoolboys champion, gained his narrow lead with five holes remaining, and although Hore applied heavy pressure, Johnston did not crack under the strain.

In the morning the titleholder, B. Webster (Paraparaumu Beach), was beaten by Griffith. The Canterbury player allowed his opponent few opportunities, held the lead throughout, and eventually won 3 and 2. Results were:— FIRST ROUND P. Hoar Masterton) beat K. Soutberden (Hawke’s Bay), 5 and 4; C. Owen (Wanganui) beat M. Johansen (Paraparaumu). 7 and 6; R. Johnston (Dunedin) beat R. Coombe* (Lower Hutt), 3 and 2; S. Morpeth (Manawatu) beat S. McCrea (Dunedin), 5 and 3; C. Alldred (Dunedin) beat C. Richards (Tlmaru), 9 and 8; M. Nicholsnn (Bay of Plenty), beat S. Wilson (Masterton). 5 and 4; W. Martin (Auckland) beat D. Badger (Hamilton), 4 and 3; D. Grifflfth (Canterbury) beat B. Webster (Paraparaumu), 3 and 2. QUARTER-FINALS Johnston beat Hoar, 1 up; Owen beat Morpeth, 2 and 1; Nicholson beat Alldred, 3 and 2; Martin beat Griffith, at the twentieth.