Miramar beats Christchurch

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 20

Miramar beats Christchurch

Special correspondent Beaten Christchurch Club golfers at the week-end bemoaned the fact that they no longer concentrate on foursomes play during their inter-club competition. Their confidence in the Kelliher trophy challenge in Wellington on Saturday was suddenly shaken when they discovered that they lacked combination against a well-drilled Miramar side.

Only one foursome went to the eighteenth hole as the strong-looking Christchurch team lost all the five morning matches and gave the determined holders a big and almost unbeatable advantage. When Christchurch eventually succumbed by 12 matches to three and enabled Miramar on its home course to defend the prestigious trophy for the seventh time in two years, the challenging southern golfers instantly knew where they had gone wrong. Although stacked with high individual skills, they had not put in enough practice and emphasis on their team-building foursome play. The Christchurch golfers do not play foursomes in the Woodward Cup competition, whereas this game forms the first half of Wellington’s Duncan Cup teams’ inter-club competition.

Miramar, taking every challenge seriously since it captured the trophy in May, 1978, had held a series of trials and matches., among its own players three •weeks earlier to find the perfect pairings. Their preparation oaid off on Saturday, when the five pairings blasted Christchurch’s .hopes of regaining - the national teams’ tronhy for the first time since 1975. To show that Miramar had done its homework well, it played its No. 8 singles player. Bob Ng, in the No. 2 foursomes and helped the Wellington representative. Michael Bartlett, to beat John Williamson and Wayne Tucker, two up, in the closest morning tie.

Ng. who finished two under the card in the foursomes, then dropped down the list In the afternoon and gave the wellprepared Miramar team its biggest win, 6 and 5, over John Orr.

Ng was soon followed into the clubhouse by the No. 7 golfer, Ross Wilson, who beat Donald Hope, 4 and 3. When Miramar’s No. 6, Gerald Arthurs, gained another easy win, 3 and 2, over lan Dobson, the home side had already gained the winning lead even though seven singles matches were still out on the windswept course. “There’s no way you can win after losing all foursomes matches,” said John Williamson, one of Christchurch’s few success stories. “We don’t play foursomes at home so they had a distinct advantage to begin with. We were confident and very keen to win but our spirits were certainly dampened after the morning’s play.” Williamson beat the provincial representative. Michael Bartlett, 3 and 1. in the No. 2 singles match.

On the slippery greens, much faster than those in Christchurch. the putting touch of the challengers deserted them in the morning debacle. The golfers who regained their touch and confidence in the afternoon were rewarded. Simon Robinson had an enthralling battle with Miramar’s No. 1, Rod Barltrop, before they halved their match; Williamson concentrated supremely to beat Bartlett; Wayne Tucker finally found the pace and lines of the greens to beat Bob Bradley, the greenkeeper, by one hole: and Andrew Robinson used all his experience to halve his match with Colin Creed. Results (Miramar names first): —

Foursortes.—R. BSrltrop and J. Billington beat S. Robinson and D. Turner, 3 and 2; R Ng and M. Bartlett beat J. Williamson and W. Tucker, 2 up; R. Bradley and K. Dixon beat J. Parlane and I. Dobson. 5 and 4; R. Wilson and G. Arthurs beat D. Hope and J. Orr, 2 and 1: N. Nankivell and C. Creed beat A. Robinson and A. Vincent, 3 and 1.

Singles.—Barltrop and S. Robinson, all square: Bartlett lost to Williamson. 3 and 1; Dixon beat Turner. 2 up; Billington beat Parlane, 3 and 1; Bradley lost to Tucker, I down; Arthurs beat Dobson, 3 and 2; Wilson beat Hope. 4 and 3; Ng beat Orr, 6 and 5; Creed and A. Robinson, all square; Nankivell beat Vincent, 2 up.