Leading golfers missing

Press, 16 March 1979, Page 24

Leading golfers missing

By 808 SCHUMACHER The Russley Golf Club’s 72-hoie open this week-end is the first of 11 events this season earmarked by the Canterbury selectors as tournaments they will attend to watch players aspiring for places in the Canterbury team. However, five top Canterbury amateurs are missing from the Russley field and the convener of the selectors, Mr M. J. McNally, will [also be absent. They are at [Otatara for the Southland I invitation 54-hole stroke play event. The Southland tournament, inaugurated in 1977. is to become an annual event and will be welcomed by the country’s leading players. It provides an opportunity for the 14 Freyberg Rose Bowl teams to meet on a strikeplay rather than match-play basis. A New Zealand

women’s team will also compete. With Geoff Saunders, Stephen Street, Mark Street, John Williamson and John Allin representing Canterbury in the Southland event, the Russley field is not as strong as usual. The second and third place-getters last year, lan Donaldson (Tasman) and Robbie Bell (Mid-South Canterbury) respectively, will be competing at Otatara as well. The presence of Ross Murray, however, a multiple winner of the event, adds a touch of class, and Dennis Beggs, a former Canterbury Freyberg player, invariably scores well at Russley. John Parlane, who gave the Christchurch club its first success in the tournament for 21 years last year, will be defending his title. Parlane was an upset winner

last year, but his form this season has not been good enough to hint at a repeat performance. Ricky Vincent, the reserve for the Canterbury team which is playing in the Southland event, has a chance to press his claims for inclusion in the Canterbury eight-man team. He was equal tenth last year, 11 strokes behind Parlane. The championship could also prove a stepping stone for Fred Poskitt. The Waimairi Beach No. 1 has not always gained the recognition that he deserves and victory in the Russley open might lead to his promotion in Canterbury representative teams. Other top prospects in an even field include the Paterson brothers, Brent and Chris, Murray Brown, Nick Mclvor, Wayne Tucker, Noel Bain and Brent Street.