Russley has stayed firm

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33929, 23 August 1975, Page 48

Russley has stayed firm

(By

BOB SCHUMACHER)

Russley has weathered the persistent rain this week remarkably well, and provided no more rain falls overnight, the course should be in good order for the inaugural Peter Stuyvesant golf tournament at the week-end.

Russley’s reputation for drying quickly convinced the organisers to press ahead with the tournament, and their decision seems to have been right. There were a few pools of surface water and two greens were a little snmi

but if the wind continues these areas should have dried out today. Th. green-

— renowned for their excellent putting surface — are in surprisingly fine shape and there should be no complaints from golfers in that respect.

Nearly all the 54 amateur I golfers 'selected in the two is-an-’ teams tad a paeti.t' round yesterday, including New Zealand’s two representatives at the international tournament in Bogota, Colombia, led McDougal! (Waikato) and Rod Barltrop (Wellington). Barltrop, a little travelweary, was satisfied to have broken 300 in the 72-hole international event. His main concern was his driving. Barltrop and McDougall finished equal sixth on 298. Ross Murray (Mid-South Canterbury), one of the first amateurs to arrive at Russley, finished very close to par in his practice round on Thursday, and he spent most of the day on the course yesterday. The Hawke’s Bay evergreen, Stuart Jones — one ;of the. favourites to win the Peter Stuyvesant trophy for ithe best gross aggregate lover 54 holes — found yesterday’s cold discomforting. Jones said that he expected to know the distances at Russley, even though the last time he played the course was in the 1973 Freyberg tournament. However, several important trees — especially at the eighth and

sixteenth — were lost in the storm, and much of Jones's time was spent in re-assess-ing distances. I’he threesome of McDougall. the Canterbury •reyberg Rose Bowl No. 1, "•tul Hartstone, and the Hamilton youngster. Davis Rush, is certain to attract much attention. There will also be fol'owers for the threesome of Barltrop, the national representative and Otago No. 1, Geoff Clarke, and Kevin Martin (Wanganui), who last year won the North island and New Zealand junior championships. With the loss of so many trees—local rules will apply and cleaning and placing will be allowed—the course should play somewhat easier, although the course record of 64. helld by John Lister and Ted Ball, is unlikely to be threatened. A common prediction is that three par rounds of 73 or a total around 220 will be sufficient to win the resplendent Peter Stuyvesant Cup. The Royal and Ancient Rose Bowl is at stake for the winner of the inter-island match. Adults will be charged $1 a day or $1.50 for a season ticket for admission to the tournament. Children aged 15 years and under will be admitted free.