MISS SULLIVAN’S LAST-GREEN WIN Dramatic finale in golf title

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33049, 17 October 1972, Page 30

MISS SULLIVAN’S LAST-GREEN WIN Dramatic finale in golf title

Two prominent names in Canterbury women’s golf—Miss C. Sullivan (Avondale), and Mrs N. D. Cullen (Russley)— fought out a sterling battle in the annual champion-of-champions tournament at Shirley yesterday.

Miss Sullivan won the title for the fifth time by one stroke from Mrs Cullen after a dramatic final hole.

The experienced Mrs Cullen was the only golfer to break 80 in the morning round, and her 78—six strokes ahead of Miss Sullivan—seemed sufficient to give her the championship. Miss Sullivan pegged back two strokes on the outward half in the afternoon, dropped a shot at the tenth, and the deficit was back to five. Then came the storming finish by Miss Sullivan, climaxed by her victory on the thirty-sixth green. Birdies at the twrlft and thirteenth with putts of 12ft and 20ft reduced Mrs Cullen’s lead to two strokes. They halved the fourteenth in pars, but when Mrs Cullen chipped weakly at the fifteenth, and Miss Sullivan rolled in another birdie putt at the sixteenth the scores were level. It was Miss Sullivan’s turn to chip poorly at the seven-

teenth and she trailed by one stroke coming to the last hole. Both drove splendidly on the short par 4 and were on the green with their second shots. However, whereas Miss Sullivan was only four feet away, Mrs Cullen had left herself a downhill putt of about 25ft. Three putts Normally very assured on the greens, it was almost unbelievable that Mrs Cullen

should charge the hole and finish seven feet past. She still seemed a little shocked when she missed the return. Miss Sullivan holed her birdie putt and their grand match had finished. Miss Sullivan was understandably thrilled with her play in the afternoon and praised the excellent condition of the course. She had her share of driving and putting problems in the morning, but gained good distances from the tee and confidently sank some telling putts in the afternoon.

Mrs Cullen was well on top I for 29 holes, but faltered over * the later stages, although z some crucial putts missed | very narrowly. Apart from Mrs H. B. Drin- j nan (Waitikiri), who scored | 82 in the morning, the rest I of the field was never in con- I tention. She slumped with a I 91 in the afternoon, but com- ’ fortably held third place by • six strokes from Mrs R. M. ■■ Parker (Templeton), who re- : turned the best net. Scores Leading scorers were:— 158— Miss C. Sullivan (Avondale), 84, 74. 159— Mrs N. D. Cullen ; (Russley), 78, 81. 173—Mrs H. B. Drinnan * (Waitikiri), 82, 91. 179— Mrs R. M. Parker $ (Templeton), 90, 89. 180— Mrs I, Corich (Kai- i apoi), 88, 92. 182—Mrs J. Allan (Amuri), \ 89, 93; Mrs G. Kaiwai (Bum- s ham), 87, 95; Mrs J. Oldfield 1 (Lincoln), 86,96; Mrs R. Stan- 1 bury (Ellesmere), 89, 93. Best 36 holes net: Mrs Parker, 77, 76—153; Miss W. Hattersley (Rawhiti), 75, 80 —155.