Otago, Combined lose in Russell Grace golf

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33213, 1 May 1973, Page 22

Otago, Combined lose in Russell Grace golf

(New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA. Frances Pere, the young New Zealand junior representative from Gisborne, sounded a warning that she will be tough to beat as she swept to a convincing 5 and 4 win over Mrs Marion Guy (Otago) when the national Russell Grace women’s interprovincial golf tournament began in Tauranga yesterday.

And her team, Hawke’s Bay - Poverty Bay, showed it will be well in the hunt for the major honours as it beat Otago by four games to one.

Miss Pere, aged 19, a stockily-built player, exudes nonchalance on the golf course, but this masks intense determination and natural flair.

Her main strength is her power off the tees, which enables her to gain a considerable advantage over her rivals.

“She hits the ball further than most men,” a middleaged man who caddied for her in a practice round on Sunday said ruefully. Miss Pere is the youngest No. 1 player in the tournament. but she seems certain Ito carry the burden lightly. She was well supported by (her team-mates yesterdav. • The only Otago player to win I was the No. 3. Mrs D. Gilifett who beat Mrs P. Oates, 3 and 1.

Plav yesterday was contested by the six teams which i have byes either today, to!morrow, or on Thursday. All I matches resulted in conclusive wins.

Southland made a good start by beating the “United Nations” — Nelson - West Coast - Marlborough—3l to 11, and Wellington trounced Taranaki, 4-1. ;

“Our girls had some really bad putting lapses,” a Taranaki official said later. One of the worst affected by bad putting was Mrs S. Priest, who lost 4 and 3 to Mrs J. Donald.

Taranaki’s sole win was gained by the experienced

Mrs J. Urbahn, wife of a former All Black half-back, Roger Urbahn. Playing at No. 2, she easily beat Mrs D. Seiringer 5 and 4. And another relative of a well-known Rugby personality had a win for Wellington. Mrs H. Batty, the No. 5, who is related to the New Zealand wing, Grant Batty, beat young Miss A. Maskellyne, 3 and 2. RECOVERY

It seemed that Miss J. I Hanratty would romp to an 'easy win over Mrs H. Sykes when she won the first five holes. But Mrs Sykes staged

a great recovery and by the tenth she had trimmed Miss Hanratty’s lead to 1 up. Miss Hanratty won the twelfth and thirteenth, Mrs Sykes the fourteenth, but the Taranaki No. 1 had to concede defeat after Miss Hanratty took the sixteenth hole. BIGGEST WIN The biggest individual win of the day went to Mrs R. Guttery (Southland), who beat the Combined No. 3, Mrs J. Adams, 8 and 7. Mrs Guttery, who is playing in her seventh Russell Grace tournament, was one under the card after nine holes and square when the game finished at the eleventh. Results;—

Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay 4, Otago 1 (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bav names fir-t). —Miss F. Pere beat Mrs J. Guy, 5 and 4; Mrs R. Hokianga beat Mrs V. Cullen, 4 and 3; Mrs B Oates lost to Mrs N. Gillett, 3 and 1: Miss C Rlvett-Carnac beat Mrs A. Ellis. 1 up: Mrs M. Bennett beat Miss S. Armstrong, 3 and 2. Southland 31, Combined U (Southland names first).—Mrs W. R. Douglas beat Mrs W. A. Helleur. 4 and 3; Mrs M. N. H. Hawkes and Mrs D. W. Roberts, all square; Mrs K. Guttery beat Mrs A H. Adams, S and 7; Mrs R. J. Bishon beat Mrs J. Liddle, 4 and 3: Miss R. Low lost to Mrs D. W. Strickett, 1 up.

Wellington 4, Taranaki 1 (Wellington names first).—Miss J. Hanrattv beat Mrs M. H. Sykes, 3 and 2: Mrs D. Seiringer lost to Mrs R. J. Urbahn. 5 and 4; Mrs I. Bull beat Mrs H. T. Symes. 4 and 2; Mrs H. Donald beat Mrs D. A. Priest. 4 and 3: Mrs J. Batty beat Miss A. Maskelyne, 3 and 2.