Eighth successive golf win by Russley

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 14

Eighth successive golf win by Russley

The Murrays and the Foxtons are long since gone, but the Russley Golf Club’s senior team is still inexorably mopping up championship titles. Yesterday, at Shirley, it won the Woodward Cup for the eighth successive year h\ beating one of its two closest rivals, Waitikiri.

The possibility of a triple tie involving Russley A, Waitikiri and Templeton disappeared early as the experienced Russley men gained a grip on the matches against their Waitikiri rivals.

Waitikiri made up a little ground in the later stages, chiefly through some inspired putting by J. P. Devine and some adventurous play by G. J. Ward, but Russley A had enough in hand to win comfortably, 5-3.

Much of the interest was focused on the game between the two top players, B. C. Taylor (Russley A) and D. R. Griffith (Waitikiri)— which Taylor won after a hard struggle—but, once again, Russley had cause to be thankful for its mature men in the middle.

E. H. M. Richards, T. M. Stout, and A. K. Hynd were as solid and reliable as ever; all three won their games, and Stout had the added distinction of giving J. W. Jackson (Waitikiri) his first Woodward Cup defeat since June, 1969. Russley B also finished with a flourish, beating Rangiora convincingly while Christchurch, at full Strength, accounted for Avondale. Templeton drubbed Waimairi Beach to gain second place in the competition and it headed Russley A in the aggregates of games won and halved. One of the features of the day’s golf was the narrow win gained by M. W. Small, the tall Rangiora No. 2, over L. S. McKinley (Russley B). Both players were unbeaten before the game, and Small’s victory made him the only competitor this year with a perfect record of seven wins.

Filial match points, with individual aggregates in parenthesis, were:—Russley A 6 (331) Templeton 5 (35), Waitikiri 4 (311), Russley B 31 (29). Christ, church 31 (221). Rangiora 3 (271). Avondale 11 (23J), Waimairi Beach U (211). PUTTING TROUBLES

The spring-like weather was tailor-made for good golf, but many players displayed wretched form on the greens. One of the unhappiest of them was Griffith, who three-putted the first three, and never looked confident with his putter. In other respects, his golf was splendid: his driving and iron play evoked admiration from the small gallery, and it seemed that the strength of his long game might carry him through. But Taylor, after languishing in the rear for a good part of the game, started hitting the ball with authority at the twelfth, and his approach shots, most of which finished pin high, gave him the upper hand. “I’ve invented a new type of game—its called 'tee to green,* ’ said Griffith grimly as he marched down the fifteenth fairway. By the sixteenth he did not have even that in his favour: his scorching drive caught a willow tree and the ball fell into a ditch. Taylor was steadiness personified over the last nine holes, which he played in one over par, and he clinched the game on the seventeenth green. FAIRWAY THEFT Jackson's ability at chipping and putting was not enough to save him from a substantial loss to Stout, who hit 15 of the 18 greens in regulation figures and finished only two over the card. Stout was ealm and confident

throughout his round, except st the twelfh hole, where sn urchin emerged from the trees and stole his ball.

"He was out of sight by the time I reached the spot.” Stout said. "I was pretty upset—lt was one of those balls u hich lasts for 10 years.”

Hynd. who has not missed a match throughout Russley’s eight triumphant years, Richards, who appreciated the roomier layout, and M. W. Strange all won well, although J. F. Hardie proved a tenacious opponent for Richards.

However, the Rose Bowl player. J. F. Logie, did not have one of his best days: he pulled some of his long irons and missed putts that he should have been able to get with one hand tied behind his back. DEBUT FOR CLUB ! His opponent. Ward, was making liis first appearance for Waitikiri after representing Buller. Westland-Nelson-Mari borough in this year’s Freyberg tournament He started the game under a cloud—he hurt an akle when he slipped down some steps on Saturday—and a new driver led him into trouble at some holes. But he scrambled out of his predicaments and Ids attacking approach brought its reward. The left-handed G. Salt (Waitikiri), who finished the competition with four wins and three halves, was too steady for D. G. Crombie, while Devine’s late putting burst turned a potential loss into a spectacular win.

C. J. Smale (Russley Al led by two holes at the thirteenth tee, but then Devine rolled in putts of 15ft. 30ft, 20ft. and 15ft at the next four to gain a winning lead.

Templeton’s big win against Waimairi Beach included an Impressive performance by the Rose Bowl player. G. 1.. Tilmus, who quickly and clearly outdistanced the promising F. J Poskitt.

G. Urlwin (Russley B) gained a meritorious win against the Canterbury representative, D L. Beggs (Rangiora). while Christchurch showed evidence of increased depth by downing Avondale after its two leading players, G. C. Saunders and W. 1 Tucker, had been beaten.

Results were:— Russley A 5, Waitikiri 3.

B. C. Taylor beat D. R. Griffith, 2-1; J. F. Logie lost to G. J. Ward, 2-1; E. H M Richards beat J. F. Hardie, 2-1; T. M. Stout beat J. W. Jackson, 5-4; C. J. Smale lost to J. P. Devine. 2-1; A. K. Hynd beat J. W. Johnston. 5-4; M. W. Strange beat P. D. Mott 4-3; D. G. Crombie lost to G, Salt, 5-4. Russley B 6, Rangiora 2.

G. Urlwin beat D. L. Beggs. 21; L. S. McKinley lost to M. W. Smail, 1 down; J. R. Broadhurst beat B. L. Clegg, I up; G. N. Martin halved with J. Barnes; W. K. Hitchon halved with J. L. Allin; B. J. Cotton beat J. L. Lawson, 1 Up; L. P. Martin beat W. Gilmour, 5-4; B. W. Johnson beat F. B. Leech, 5-4. Templeton 6], Waimairi Beach I],

G. L. Titmus beat F. J. Poskitt. 7-6; R. F. Smith halved with P. Lineham; J. W. Prebble beat J. Williams, 4-3; R. I. Donaldson lost to W. Pltcaithly. 3-2; R. P. Newbum beat D. Pickering, 3-2; A. J. McMaster beat G. Mclntosh, 3-2; J. D. Teehan beat L. Connor. 3-2: I. O. Parkinson beat B. Smith, 2-1. Christchurch 5, Avondale 3. G. C. Saunders lost to L. D. McMillan, 1 down; W. I. Tucker lost to G. E. Nahkies. 2 down; M. R. Blank beat D. J. Gaudln, 3-1; A. W. Robinson beat J. Mitchell, 2-1; S. C Rutherford beat F. W. Roberts, 1 up; I. D Dobson lost to C. H. Johnson, 1 down; D. H. Cummack beat P. E.

|Neal. 3-2: S. S Robinson best F ;Alexander. 2 up. BLANK CUP Harewood (6) won the Blank Cup competition. one pom’ from Kaiapoi <5). Ruftdey had 4J. Chnatehurch 4. Waitikiri 2|. Waimairi 2, Templeton 2. Avon dale 2 Yeaterdav s results were. Harr wood 4|, Kaiapm 31. Waitikiri sj, Templeton 2|; Russley Avondale Ij, Christchurch 7. Waimairi 1.