Golf trophy won again by Waikato

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33538, 20 May 1974, Page 3

Golf trophy won again by Waikato

/By R. L. SCHUMACHER)

After the bewildering run of upsets on the first three days of the Freyberg Rose Bowl golf tournament it was too much to expect that the overnight leader, Hawke’s Bay, would retain its half-point advantage for the final two rounds at Mount Denby, Whangarei, on Saturdav.

The favoured Hawke’s Bay team suffered an early set-back when it was held to a tie by Wellington, which allowed its main rival, Waikato, to draw level on the points table.

And worse was to follow.

It was expected to beat the lowly-placed Bay of Plenty side in the final round and gain enough individual wins to take the trophy even if Waikato did manage to beat an in-form Otago team. But after nine holes it was very apparent that Waikato was set to win its third Freyberg tournament in four years. Hawke’s Bay had made a disastrous start against Bay of Plenty — not one of its members was ahead — whereas the Waikato players were all leading their opponents, and by big margins in three matches. Hawke’s Bay rallied slightly on the inward half, but it was not sufficient to achieve a win. Waikato faltered a little near the end but eventually attained the vital three matches to ensure its victory.

Although Waikato had won the trophy in 1971 and 1972, only its top man, the New Zealand representative, E. J. McDougall and T. A. Ormsby, the No 3, were left from those successful sides. The three new members did very well in their first Freyberg tournament. It was necessary for them to withstand pressure from their Otago opponents in the final round. S. Morpeth, the No 5, and C. Taylor, at No 4, both established early leads; Morpeth was 3 up after 14 against K. McDonald, and Taylor was 2 up on J. G. Mackay at the same stage. DISAPPOINTING

They felt the strain over the final holes and hit some loose shots, but they escaped with halves. The third member to have his Freyberg baptism, S. F. Reese, looked and played in a relaxed manner to easily beat the disappointing Otago No 2, C. H. Alldred at the fifteenth.

In spite of losing three consecutive holes, Ormsby had B. E. Newall well beaten. G. E. Clarke contributed Otago’s sole win. The sagacious No 1 was down to McDougall after 14, and they halved the fifteenth in bogeys and the sixteenth in birdies.

Clarke squared the match when McDougall failed with an Bft putt for a par at the seventeenth and a similar situation occurred at the last. Both bit tremendous drives and Clarke was safely on the green, about 15ft from the pin, with his second. McDougall went through the back with his pitch and failed to make his par

Hawke’s Bay looked far too formidable for Bay of Plenty on paper. But it was a different story when the action started. S. G. Jones was unable to match the brilliance and power of M. N. Nicholson, P. A. Maude was 2 down to the steady No 5, E. Carswell, and K. A. Southerden was finding a stubborn opponent in P. Wells. SPECTACULAR Jones and Nicholson provided spectacular fare especially for the first nine [holes. Jones, whose putting over the four days lacked its jususal finesse, three-putted [the first two holes and lost them both.

The fourth and fifth were halved in birdies, Nicholson reaching the fifth — a par-5 lof almost 500 yards — with a drive and 4-iron. Jones ■ got his birdie with an 18ft [downhill putt. Nicholson failed by lin to ;get his third successive birdie at the sixth, and Jones, [with his ball submerged in a bunker, exploded to within p foot for his par.

Jones recovered to be 1 down after 13, slipped back by three-putting the 14th and stared in disbelief as the

national champion holed a 20ft uphill putt for a half at the fifteenth. After again being buried in a bunker at the sixteenth, Jones, pursuing and coaxing his par putt until the final roll, failed narrowly, and was beaten 3 and 2.

In the morning round, Waikato had some tense moments before beating Auckland, 3-2. Ormsby recovered over the final holes to halve with P. M. Burney, and the Waikato victory was ensured by the wins of McDougall and Taylor.

Hawke’s Bay had 21 wins from three matches against Wellington, but J. D. Durry and R. C. Coombes, who finished 1 under par, balanced the ledger in the top positions.

Canterbury lost to Otago in the morning round but redeemed itself in the final round by inflicting the fourth consecutive loss on Auckland.

Against Otago, P. E. Hartstone holed a testing putt of 7ft on the eighteenth to halve with B. E. Newall and retain his undefeated record. D. N. Turner was also back to his best form with Alldred again the sufferer.

G. C. Saunders, B. C. Taylor, and J. W. A. Whitaker failed to take their Otago rivals beyond the sixteenth. Hartstone, Turner, and Saunders, who for the first time retained an advantage seized early, led Canterbury to victory against Auckland. The performance of the Mid-South Canterbury No. 2. C. Alexander, was followed with interest. After the fifth round on Friday he was the only player to have the possible five victories. Playing impeccable golf each time, Alexander did not disappoint. He beat the capable Northland left-hander, B. Day, and R. Rei (Taranaki) to complete the perfect record. Hartstone, with five wins and two halves, was the other unbeaten player at the tournament. His contribution for Canterbury was considerable.