Canterbury golfer in N.Z. team

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 24

Canterbury golfer in N.Z. team

The young Canterbury golfer, D. R. Griffith, will leave Christchurch today en route to Australia with the New Zealand under 18 team. The six-man team will play Wellington at the Miramar course before departure, and while in Australia for 10 days will have an intensive series of matches and rounds.

This week-end, all members of the team will compete in the South-West junior 72-hole championship at Tumut, in New South Wales. The “test” against New South Wales Juniors is on Wednesday at Bonniedoon Golf Club, and on the next day wijl be the New South Wales schoolboys’ open medal —though none of the visitors are still at school.

Then, next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively, will be matches against Illawarra Juniors, Brisbane Water Districts Juniors, and Newcastle District Juniors.

“I’ve found it hard to' keep form, as I have had a bit of a lay-off since the Freyberg Rose Bowl tournament,” said Griffith yesterday. “But I played pretty well for a 71 at Russley on Sunday, and I was particularly pleased with my short game.” He said it had been difficult to practise, however. “I*ve been out a little at

nights, but that has meant practising under car lights. "Also, Des Turner, a former Australian champion who had a round with me at Waitikiri, said that most of the courses we will play on are about 7400 ft. So I have had three or four rounds at Coringa, which is a good, long course.” i