Canty likely to prevail again

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 60

Canty likely to prevail again

Canterbury has had crushing wins against Mid-South Canterbury in their annual golf match at the Brandon course, Ashburton, in .recent years, and another' one seems almost certain tomorrow.

Canterbury started its representative programme with an easy victory, 14-2 against Buller-Westland, and while Mid-Canterbury has strength at the top — its first five players have all played Freyberg golf — the superior depth of Canterbury should prove a decisive factor.

Such is the fierceness of competition for positions in the Canterbury team that such talented young players as Brent Street and Paul Shearer are only among the reserves.

Many of the Canterbury players will have a good preparation for the match when they compete in the Rangiora club’s open 36-hole tournament today. The North Canterbury stroke championship will be held in conjunction with the popular tournament.

Two members of last year’s provincial Freyberg team, John Williamson and Murray Brown, have found Rangiora a rewarding course, and both are in form to improve sound recent records in the event. Williamson was the victor in 1978, and finished equal second with Brown last year. Brown was also run-ner-up the previous year. Success for Brown would be well deserved; he has been a consistent place-getter in big tournaments, but victory is proving elusive. Jim Lapsley, who has won many titles in Southland, will be keen to do well at the club which he has recently joined, and he will be under close scrutiny by the Canterbury selectors. Mark Street, Ricky Vincent, and Joe Gantley, the top Woodward Cup players for Harewood, Avondale, and Templeton, are top prospects, as are John Allin, a former champion; Gary Maw, who excelled for Town last week-end; Stephen Street, Dennis Beggs, Digby Briggs, and Peter McDonald,