Tough Freyberg golf draw

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 32

Tough Freyberg golf draw

(BY

BOB SCHUMACHER)

Canterbury, as it has for the last two years, has struck a hard draw for the Freyberg Rose Bowl golf tournament at the Levels course, Timaru, from April 7 to 11.

In regard to the seven teams that Canterbury will meet, the draw — more so than last year — would seem reasonable based on finishing positions in the tournament last year. But some of the teams that fared poorly at the national tournament have greater depth this year and will be difficult opponents for Canterbury to overcome. On the first day, Canterbury will strike Northland, ninth last year, and MidSouth Canterbury', which failed to gain a win and finished ahead only of Gisborne in the 14-team tournament.

Canterbury', equal fourth on points last year but relegated to eighth on a count-back of individual matches won, will be hard-

pressed to record two wins. The Northland team will be led by Alex Bonnmgton. a young golfer of considerable ability who finished second to Ted McDougall in the inaugural Peter Stuyvesant 54-hole stroke tournament last year and who was named as reserve for the New Zealand team for the international tournament in South Africa last November. Mid-South Canterbury, in spite of its dismal showing last year, has firmed in favouritism since winning the South Island interprovincial championship on the same course a fortnight ago.

Although eight players were concerned on that occasion, and the match was tied four-all, Canterbury did finish ahead 3-2 in the top five positions. In the single rouhd-on the second day. Canterbury will meet Waikato, the winner in 1971, 1972 and 1974. Waikato accounted for Canterbury, 31-11, last year, and with the' internationals, Stuart Reese, the national amateur champion, and Mc-

Dougall, in the top positions, this will be an imposing task.

If Canterbury is able to maintain its unbeaten record through the first three rounds, there will be no respite on the third day. The title-holder, Auckland — a team which Canterbury strongly extended but faltered in the closing holes last year — will be its first opponent, and Bay of Plenty, led by the former national champion, Mike Nicholson, will provide the opposition in the afternoon. And to complete Canterbury’s invidious assignment. Wellington and Otago, both of which finished ahead of the province last year, are the rival teams for the final day. The draw is.— FIRST ROUND Auckland v. Bay of Plenty; Buller - Westland - MarlboroughNelson v- Wellington; Canterbury v. Northland; Gisborne v. Southland; Hawke’s Bay v. Otago; Manawatu-Wanganui v. Mid-South Canterbury; Taranaki v. Waikato. SECOND ROUND Auckland v. Taranaki; Bay of ?lenty v. Waikato; Buller-West-

land - Marlborough - Nelson v. Otago; Canterbury v. Mid-South Canterbury; Gisborne v. Mana-watu-Wanganui; Hawke’s Bay v. Wellington; Northland v. Southland. THIRD ROUND Auckland v. Manawaiu-Wanga-nui; Bay of Plenty v. Mid-South Canterbury; Buller - Westland-Marlborough-Nelsou v. Taranaki; Canterbury v. Waikato; Gisborne v. Otago; Hawke’s Bay v. Northland; Southland v. Wellington. FOURTH ROUND Auckland v. Canterbury; Bay of Plenty- v. Wellington; BullerHawke’s Bay; Gisborne v. Northland; Manawatu-Wanganui v. Waikato; Mid-South Canterbury v. Southland; Otago v. Taranaki. FIFTH ROUND Auckland v. Buller-Westland-Marlborough-Nelson; Bay of Plenty v. Canterbury; Gisborne v. Waikato; Hawke’s Bav v. MidSouth Canterbury; ManawatuWanganui v. Northland; Otago v. Southland; Taranaki y. Wellington. SIXTH ROUND Auckland v. Soutliland; Bav of Plenty V. Buller-Westland-Marl-borough-Nelson; Canterbury v. Wellington; Gisborne v. MidSouth Canterbury; Hawke’s Bay v. Waikato; Manawatu-Wanganui v. Otago; Northland v. Taranaki. SEVENTH ROUND Auckland v. Hawke’s Bav; Buller - Westland - MarlborougliNelson v. Gisborne; Boy of Plenty v. Northland; Canterbury v. Otago; Manawatu-Wanganui v. Wellington; Mid-South Canterbury- v. Taranaki; Southland v. Waikato.