Steadiness pays off for Rangiora golfers

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 30

Steadiness pays off for Rangiora golfers

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Mike Small and John Allin; two highly respected and accomplished Rangiora golfers, proved the steadiest pair in the Canterbury amateur men’s foursomes at Avondale yesterday and scored a wellmerited victory. The two men have a proud record in the championship. They teamed together two years ago and finished second; last year they were fourth; yesterday it was a case of third time lucky.

Small and Allin had two one-over rounds of 71 and won by three strokes. However, they did not establish their winning break until after the twenty-ninth hole. The 1975 champions, Andrew and Simon Robinson, a father-and-son combination, led the way after the first 18 holes with an even par 70. They had a one-stroke lead over Small and Allin and John Dixon and Graeme Martin.

control. The finishing holes are difficult at Avondale and the Robinsons, just missing the greens in regulation figures, were unable to place their chip and wedge shots close enough to get down in one putt. They dropped six 'shots over the final five holes, including a two-over on the par-3 finishing hole. Small and Allin, playing just behind the Robinsons, were aware of the dropped shots by their nearest rivals. They played soundly and safely at the finish and were unconcerned at dropping a shot on the difficult last hole. Andrew and Simon Robinson were tied for second by the defending champions, Geoff Saunders and Dennis Beggs. The Canterbury Freyberg representatives started badly in the morning, but finished strongly over the second nine to shoot 73. Consecutive birdies at 10 and 11 left them level with par in their second round and their only blemish over the final seven holes was a two-over at the par-3 fifteenth. Saunders lipped out with a long par putt and Begg missed the short return.

After 29 holes, the championship had sorted itself out between the Robinsons and Small and Allin. With seven holes remaining, the Robinsons were one-under for the tournament and the Rangiora pair was even with the card. But from that point, the Rangiora pair was in full

The Street twins, Mark and Brent, had two solid scores to finish fourth, two strokes ahead of the youthful Paterson pair, Stephen and Brent.

After an opening 71, Dixon and Martin wilted over the final ‘ holes with too many missed greens and massed putts. They tied for sixth with Stephen. Street and Paul Shearer. Leading scores were:— SENIOR 142: M. W. Small and J. L. Allin, 71, 71. 145: S. S. Robinson and A. W. Robinson, 70, 75; D. L. Beggs and G. C. Saunders, 73, 72. 147: M. E. Street and B. K. Street, 73. 74. 149: S. J. Paterson and B. Paterson, 74, 75. 150: S. W. Street and P. Shearer. 76, 74; J. I. Dixon and G. N. Martin, 71. 79. 151: G. Allan and W. Murtha, 79, 72; J. E. Carbines and R. Endacott, 77, 74; F. Bonen and A. Walker, 77, 74. 152: S. D. Smith and N. D. Horgan, 78, 74. 153: L. D. McMillan and G. Samson. 74, 79; F. T. Hobbs and R. E. Hobbs. 75, 78. INTERMEDIATE 153: R. Fogalele and K. Smith, 78, 75. 156: G. H. Turner and B. Haines, 79, 77; J. Hanton and D. Hanton, 78, 78. 158: S. T. Reid and I. B. Ballinger, 77, 81. 159: D. J. Reid and K. S. Dyer, 81. 78. 161" J. Houghton and G. Houghton, 76, 85. 162: K. Pirie and P. Carey, 82, 80. JUNIOR 161: T. Smither and O. A. Bowie, 80, 81. 169: M.’ Fox and B. Double, 84, 85; D. Selby and G. D. Stent, 83, T. Smart and B. Smart, 86, 84 171: B. J. Newsome and G. Ward, 87, 84; B. M. Souness and E, H. Lubbers. 88, «S.