NATIONAL GOLF LEADER Greenkeeper (20) takes limelight

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33974, 15 October 1975, Page 36

NATIONAL GOLF LEADER Greenkeeper (20) takes limelight

(New Zealand Prest Alation) NELSON. While most eyes turned to the established players, the young North Aucklander Rick Barker stole the lead in the New Zealand amateur golf championship at Tahunanui in Nelson yesterday.

The 20-year-old WeJlsford greenkeeper blasted his way to a three-under-par 68 to lead by two strokes after the first 18 of 36 holes qualifying stroke play.

Barker flirted with the course for an ordinary, one-over-par outward nine, but stormed home with a four-under-par 31. to lead the field of 120.

He is two strokes clear of ; another young player, the 21-year-old New Zealand representative, Stuart Reese, from Hamilton. These two were the only competitors to break par. The 38-year-old Ted McDougall, of Tokoroa, eased down after a roaring start for an even-par 71 with five players — lan Donaldson (Greymouth). Pat Gamer (The Grange), the defending champion, Rodney Barltrop (Miramar), a three-time winner, John Durry (Paraparaumu), and Steven Transom (Maraenui) — grouped on 72. Players were treated to a reversal in weather conditions with the previous day’s rain and winds breaking into sunshine. The course dried out considerably although

the greens were a little rough because they were unable to be mowed. Barker’s 68 — a course record for the new lay-out at Nelson — included six birdies and three one-overs. Barker, who played No. 2 for Northland in the Freyberg Rose Bowl, highlighted hi. round with five birdies on the homeward nine, including chipping in from 40 metres out on the par-4 fourteenth. Reese played tightly, holding his game together at the edgy opening holes and having a stuttering finish, but holing four superb birdies as he came home in a two-under-par 33. Faltered McDougall looked as though he would take the course apart, going to two under after four and three under after 11. But he faltered with four one-overs in the last nine, before finishing with a fine birdie on the seventeenth.

Barltrop played very steadily, dropping only two strokes, but picking up one birdie in his 72. John Durry could easily have had a sub-par round but for poor putting. Several times almost measly short putts twisted out of the cup after he fired many approach shots close to the pin. The New Zealand reserve, Alex Bonnington, of North Auckland, had a disastrous time, collapsing to a 12-over-par 83. Bad day The 1973 winner, Mike Nicholson, of Tauranga, also had a bad day, shooting an eight-over-par 79. He will need to score low today if he is to qualify for the match-play. A 10-over-par tally of 152 is likely to be the cut-off mark for the final 32 players to contest the match-play championship starting tomorrow. Scores: 68—R. Barker (Wellsford). 70— S. F. Reese (Hamilton). 71— E. J. McDougall (Tokoroa). 72— R. I. Donaldson (Grey, mouth), P. F. Garner (The Grange), R. M. Barltrop (Miramar). J. D. Durry (Paraparaumu), S. Transom (Maraenui). 73— P. M. Burney (Manukau), I. F. Cull (New Plymouth), G N. Dafnes (Rarangi), A. Hema (Turangi). 74— R. P. Bell (Ashburton). D. S. Templeman (Miramar). J. H. Lapsley (Invercargill), K. L. Martin (Wanganui). J. F. Wilson (Pukekohe). N. H. Johnson (Tauranga), S. W. Street (Harewood). 75— D. L. Beggs (Rangiora), R. P. Burns (Napier), J. R. Fellowes (Nelson), R. Martin (Remuera), T, B. Scott (Takapau), I. D. Woodbury (Hutt). P. A. Reid (Muriwai), B. J. Jamieson (Hastings), C H. Lacy (Paraparaumu), S. Morpeth (Manawatu), R. A. Bradley (Miramar). A. Winterburn (Otaki), A. Smith (Carterton). 76— K. A. Roberts (Shandon). S. Barron (Paraparaumu), M. G. Brown (Waltiklri), R. A. Godso (Pukekohe), B. Laurence (Taliunaj, W. J. Martin (The Grange), B. Hall (Remuera), P. W. O’Neill (Hutt). S. S. Robinson (Christchurch).

77— G. R. Hildyard (Rarangi) P. McLaughlan (Hutt). G. Moyle (The Grange), W. Murtha (Reefton), B. J. Webster (Otaki), J. L. Allin (Rangiora), P. S. Bidwell (Harewood). G. R Lummis (Nelson), R. W. A. Stuart (Greenacres). R. J. Hall (Westport), G. W. Girvan (Motueka), G. McLean (Marlborough), R. C. Murray (Timaru), J. I. Dixon (Harewood), B. M. Silk (Wanganui) 78— G. P. Alien (Westport), A. W. Herbert (Waimarino), M. R. Pitman (Russley). B. R. Player (Te Marua), B. E. Smith (Harewood), D. L. Woon (Pupuke), K. J. Gardiner (Nelson), M. E. Howat (Nelson). C. K. Wilson (New Plymouth), R. H Glading (Pupuke). F. T. Hobbs (Westport). A. J. Mullany (Napier), J. E. Webber (The Grange), G. Reid (Paraparaumu). 79— K. C. August (Hutt), C. M. Bird (Masterton), N. A. Burt (Westport), R. L Cunningham (Waverley), J. E. Davis (Waimarino). M. N. Nicholson (Tauranga), R. J. Carr (Manukau), T. Morrin (The Grange), I. C. Redshaw (Wairoa).

80— J G. Gatley (Waimartao), T. Tahi (OtakD. I. H. Taylor (Christchurch), M. W. Small (Rangiora), R. Wells (Tauranga). 81— J. A. Sharp (Otaki) I. Strickett (Nelson), B. Whitiwhiti (Tokoroa), R. W. Mcßride (Tokoroa), A. H. Fulton (Miramar), M. Senior (Nelson), T. H Campbell (Wellington). 82— S. W. Boon (Whakatane), W. L Cathie (Miramar), K. W. Frazier (Ashburton). C. Halsey (Manukau), M. K. Johansson (Waitakere), M. D. Piper (Miramar), P. B. Truscott (Nelson), S. G. Tunnicliffe (Napier), B. Lovell (Rarangi), P. Mahoney (Hutt). D. J. Fitzpatrick (Palmerston North), N. Cross (Blenheim), J. T. Betts, W. L. Poka (Waimarino). 83— A. Bonnington (Wellsford), W. A. B. Burnett (Nelson), A. J. McMaster (Templeton), B. J. Thomas (Greenacres) 84— R. A. Bristowe (Otaki). 85— P. K. Keenan (Levin), G. Russell (Narrows), F. Ladds (Motueka). F 86— S. Creighton (Parapara. umu), W. Rainbird (Marlborough).

87— G. A. McClintock. 88— R. p. - Newburn (Templeton)