Clarke tipped to take golf

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 56

Clarke tipped to take golf

Bv

BOB SCHUMACHER

Geoff Clarke, the defending champion and New Zealand’s most experienced and successful golfer still playl ing in international com- [ petition, is avoured to retain I his South Island title against a strong Canterbury assault [at Coringa this week-end. The open nature of the Coringa course might count slightly against the Otago No. 1. The club choice might give him problems on some holes but he has the ability to “read” a course quickly. Clarke, a Freyberg representative for 10 years, proved his undoubted class in the New Zealand P.G.A. championship at Tauranga in January. He finished third in a field of top Australian and New Zealand professionals.

The defections of the New Zealand amateur champion, Terry Pulman (Auckland) and Alex Bonnington (Northland) have removed some interest from the field but it still remains one of the best for a South Island tournament. There is every prospect of

.a Canterbury victory, with lall the province's best playlets in the field. Bruce Tay,lor, Geoff Saunders, Dennis I Beggs, Simon Robinson, and Stephen Street, are all seeking the title. I Joe Whitaker. Des Turner, [John Williamson, Neville [ Griffiths, Murray Brown, ;and the juniors, Brent and Mark Street and Stephen Paterson, give Canterbury a | strong supporting hand. Mid-South Canterbury will jbe represented by its two 'top Freyberg players, Charlie Alexander and Robi bie Bell. The West Coast No. 11. lan Donaldson will be playing and Otago has the youthful Michael Atkinson and Francis Whitaker to back up Clarke.

Tennis Top seed, Martina Navratilova, set a record with her twenty-ninth consecutive women's professional tennis tour victory. defeating the Wimbledon champion, Virginia Wade, 6-4, 6-2, to move into the finals against Australia’s Dianne Fromholtz. Navratilova broke the old tour mark of 28 consecutive triumphs held by Margaret Court since 1975.