Golf injuries to test

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 6

Golf injuries to test

The golf injuries suffered by* Geoff Saunders and James Angus; in recent weeks will be put to the test over the next three, days at Shirley when the Canterbury amateur championship is decided Angus, the defending cham-, pion, and Saunders, on his home course, would be high among the favourites if fully fit, but the tournament might be an ordeal for them should either be hindered by his injury at an early stage. However, the Canterbury Frey- 1 berg team will be announced after the tournament and it is important for the selectors, as well as the players involved, to I know whether they can survive the rigours of concentrated golf. Saunders was going to rest his, wrist injury after struggling a little in the Coringa open last Saturday, but he has decided to give himself another trial. Bruce Taylor, winner of the title in 1971 and 1972, was beaten

at the eighteenth by Angus last i year. The Russiey No. I has > been in soild form this season Hand is one player whose Freyberg position is firmh secured. • Simon Robinson, who hinted he was nearing his peak form , with impressive rounds at .Coringa last week, and Dennis Beggs should only have to acquit ■themselves reasonably well in I match play to hold their Frey- > berg places Beggs also showed i-a welcome return to form in the I Coringa event, scoring 71 in the (second round. I The Street twins. Mark and > Brent, are two highly talented > golfers with top chances. Mark, Han easy winner of the Coringa ? open last Saturday, was the beaten finalist in 1975 when he ; was only 15. Last year he was i second qualifier but lost to : Angus in the quarter-finals. i Brent. a resilient player, I fought bravely before losing in s’ the semi-finals to Angus last year. Both the Street boye are

splendid putters *nd thev hare shot many helow-par rounds on different courses recently. i Murrar Brown, last rear’s Canterbury stroke champion and Frerberg reserve, was a sen i finalist in 1976. He and John Allin will be striving to hold their positions in the Cante:bury eight-man team to pla' Wellington later this month The field is particularly stronc and for many leading players it will be a difficult fight to qualif' in the top 16 lor the match-play championship. Finn Hobbs. I he Buller Westland No. 1 last year, and Robbie Bell, the accomplished top man from Mid-South C anter buiy, add quality to the comI petition. There should be resistance, too, from the Christchurch players, Wayne Tucker, lan Dobson, John Parkes and John Williamson, and the Canterbury representative.-. Ricky Vincent iand Neville Griffiths.