Two Freyberg players seek title

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 46

Two Freyberg players seek title

After the excitement and tension of the final rounds of the Freyberg Rose Bowl golf tournament last Saturday, the Canterbury match play championship at Waitikiri this week-end will be an anti-climax for Bruce Taylor and Geoff Saunders. They are the only two members of the victorious Canterbury Freyberg team to attempt the provincial title. Dennis Beggs and Colin Hoole are elsewhere occupied, but Simon Robinson was forced to withdraw after innoculations for his overseas trip had stiffened his arm.

Robinson will not be without friends when he plavs in the British amateur cham-

I pionship, starting on May 31. Taylor too, has entered the major tournament, and they will be joined by a former Canterbury Freyberg representative and champion, Des Turner. The match play event, to be held on the old course at St Andrew’s, has attracted a field of 256. Turner, who now lives in Birmingham, was instrumental in obtaining places for Taylor and Robinson ' in the draw. There will be no qualifying rounds, and no consolation events for those who fall by the wayside. Taylor’s participation in the championship will be incidental to the main purpose of his overseas trip: a holiday in Britain and the Continent with fiis wife. But Robinson will maintain a sharper profile; he hopes to qualify for

. the British Open at Birkdale. ! If they have retained the • same degree of physical fit- • ness and mental sharpness • that was a; feature .of their ; Freyberg success, Taylor and Saunder§ will be strong challengers for the Canterbury championship. However, Taylor, who won the title in 1971 and 1972 and has also been the provincial stroke champion three times, admits that he will not be surprised if he makes an early j , exit from the event. Saunders, who had a rewarding Freyberg tournament at No. 2, has yet to win the match-play title, although he has been successful in the stroke championship. He shot 69 — four under — at Waitikiri when finishing second to Hoole in the New Year 36hole tournament. James Angus, unbeaten ini

. four matches for Canterbury ! this season, will be difficult ■ to overcome. He is at the > peak of his form, winning the • Russley open convincingly I last month and finishing sec- • ond equal in the Coringa open. Last year he was beaten by Whitaker, 1 down, ■ in the semi-finals. Other prominent players in a strong field include the unbeaten Christchurch Woodward Cup' player, John WilHiamson, Ricky Vincent. Barry [Smith, Gary Maw. Barry Alexander and Chris Neill. Two low-handicap amateurs from Rem.eura, B. Hall and R. Martin, will add interest. Qualifying play over 36 i holes will be held today, and the leading 16 players will advance to the match play I eliminations tomorrow and; i Monday. i