Young N.Z. girl fails in final round

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 24

Young N.Z. girl fails in final round

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Miss J. Bourassa, a French-Canadian physical education teacher and public relations officer, won the New Zealand women’s stroke play golf championship for the Mellsop Cup at Akarana on Saturday.

She finished one stroke ahead of the young New Zealand representative, Miss M. Smith (Shandon), who had a great chance of winning with 18 holes to play.

But Miss Smith had a disappointing final round of 81 —three strokes worse than Miss Bourassa—after having gained a lead of two in the morning. The British players, Miss M. Everard and Mrs B. Robertson, followed, on 307 and 308, respectively. LAST 36 HOLES Going into the final 36 holes on the windswept I course. Miss Bourassa held a one-stroke lead over Miss 1 Smith and the title-holder, Mrs J. Whitehead (Palmersiton North), with Miss Everlard a further stroke away. After the morning round, the 19-year-old Miss Smith !was on 225, two shots clear ,of Miss Bourassa. On 230 came Miss Everard, and then ! there was a bunch headed by Mrs Whitehead, 231, Mrs Robertson, 232, and another Canadian, Miss M. Palmer, 234.

Unfortunately for Miss Smith, things did not go well for her, and after four holes she was four over par. OUT IN 37

Miss Bourassa, meanwhile,! was playing par golf, and although she was later to drop shots at the fifth, sixth and eighth holes, a magnificent iron to within four feet of the pin at the ninth gave her a birdie two and an outward half of 37. Miss Smith had 42, and was three strokes behind the Canadian with nine holes to (Play-

Mrs Whitehead was out in 40 and had dropped out of contention, while outward halves of 39 by Miss Everard and 38 by Mrs Robertson were not good enough to make anv impression on the leaders. When Miss Smith dropped yet another shot at the tenth and Miss Bourassa got her par 5, the Mellsop Cup looked to be safely on its way to Quebec. But a birdie two at the eleventh by Miss Smith and a 5 to Miss Bourassa’s 6 at the twelfth, reduced the latter’s lead to two. Miss Bourassa, however, as she stood on the fifteenth tee, was again four ahead. However, this hole almost cost her the title. As she stood in the fairway, which runs parallel with Richardson Road, and addressed her ball, a car load of youths sped past the course and yelled and screamed at her. Miss Bourassa walked away from her bail, and when she stepped up the second time, she proceeded to carve

i the shot out of bounds. This] f cost her two shots, and with I three holes to play she was ■ only two ahead of Miss i Smith. • CONCENTRATION UPSET : The Canadian said the . noise from the car had not 1 worried her, but clearly it ! upset her concentration. : Both had 3s at the six1 teenth, but at the next, Miss 1 Smith made four, Miss Bourassa a 5, and the difference ' was only one. , As Miss Bourassa came to the eighteenth, she was told: she needed a four to win.: J But she surprisingly three-, putted and thought she had: i given the championship away. But the information; . was incorrect. Miss Smith! I had dropped vet another. I stroke on the last hole, so ! I that Miss Bourassa was home’ . by one shot. I The big disappointment of! the final day was the British 1 champion, Miss M. Walker. i She went into the final 36 I holes only three shots behind ! Miss Bourassa. However, a disastrous third round of 90 (42-48), including a 9 at the 490-yard twelfth and five 6’s! put her right out of the reck-1 oning. 305. Miss J. Bourassa (Canada), 79, 71, 77, 71. 306. Miss M. Smith (Shandon), 77, 74, 74, SI. 307. —Miss M. Everard (Britain), 78, 74, 78, 77. 308. Mrs B. Robertson ' (Britain), 80, 75, 77, 78. I 311.—Mrs J. Whitehead . (Palmertson North), 76, 75, 80, 80. r 312.—Miss D. Oxley (Britain), r 82, 76, 79, 75; Miss M. Palmer > (Canada), 78, 77, 79, 78. 318.—Miss H. Booth (Orange), • 86, 76, 78, 78. 1 319—Miss C. Blair (Australia), 80, 80, 80, 79. . 322.—Miss S. Williams (Australia), 81, 77, 84, 80. 323.—Miss S. Hamilton I (Russley), 81, 79, 83, 80; Mrs J. i Howe (Australia), 77, 75, 87, 84. 1 324.—Miss M. Walker (Britain), ’ 76, 77, 90, 81. 327.—Miss C. Sullivan (Avon- , dale), 79, 79, 79, 90. 329. Miss J. Lawrence (Scott land), 82, 82, 79, 86; Mrs B. O. t Middleton (Matamata), 82, 82, 83, 82. 330. Mrs R. C. Blake (Tauhe), 87, 80, 79, 84,