Prominent Canterbury golfers on trial

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 60

Prominent Canterbury golfers on trial

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Several prominent Canterbury golfers will be on trial before the provincial selectors when they compete in the Ellesmere club’s 36-hole open tournament tomorrow. It will be an important test for a number of players bordering on the selection line for the Canterbury eight-man team to compete in the South Island teams’ championship at Shirley on October 4 and 5. The team will be announced after the Ellesmere event which might hold the key to some present imponderables. There will be - a watchful eye on Geoff Saunders, who will b» playing

his first 36-hole tournament for about four months. Last year Saunders, after winning the provincial stroke and match-play championship, led Canterbury in the South Island event and the Freyberg Rose Bowl. . An operation on his shoulder has kept Saunders away from the fairways in recent months, but he has played a few rounds at Charteris Bay and considers himself about 90 per cent right for his challenging Sunday assignment .Certainly Saunders will not want to be anything less than 90 percent fit and will need two good rounds to

convince the selectors of his form and fitness as there are a number of rivals' waiting in the wings. Simon Robinson, the Canterbury amateur champion, led. the team against Mid-South Canterbury last

Sunday and with a win and a half against two Freyberg opponents, he did enough to retain his top position. : - The second place might well go to ? pew acquisition from Southland, Jim Lapsley* who to .twice lad

Southland in the Freyberg event, has improved with each round since moving to Canterbury last month. He is an exciting player with an attacking approach. John Williamson and Mark Street, who led

Canterbury against BullerWestland, are likely to complete the top four. They have had mixed success in matchrplay events, but only need more success on the greens 'to compile good records, _ , u . .

Murray Brown, who had a splendid Freyberg debut last year, proved his fighting qualities against Mid-South Canterbury last week-end, winning both matches at the last hole and should retain his fifth ranking. Last, year’s Freyberg reserve, lan Ross, has won three of his four representative matches this season and beat Mark Street in the Town, and Country contest. His position seems secure.

In spite - of ■ his enforced break from golf. Saunders is too' good a player to be omitted, but might find him&elf wall dos® in the esda&

The other place might be filled by Waitikiri’s consistent Gary Maw. Maw has won his four representative matches this season in impressive style and seems to relish match-play competition. ■ There will be some unlucky players. Ricky Vincent, Stephen Street and Brent Paterson are a talented young trio who might be listed in that category.

A likely eight in playing order are: Robinson, Lapsley, Williamson, Mark Street, Brown, Ross, Saundsrs and Maw. ......