Brenda Rhodes wins N.Z. stroke-play title

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 34

Brenda Rhodes wins N.Z. stroke-play title

PA Wanganui Surviving what (she described as a “hair-raising” passage on the eighteenth fairway, Te Puke’s Brenda Rhodes wrote a new chapter in New Zealand women’s golf history by narrowly winning the 72-hole strokeplay title on the Belmont course at Wanganui on Saturday. Recovering from an early four-stroke deficit, the 22-year-old New Zealand representative sneaked home by a single stroke from Liz Douglas, of Southland, with a five-over-par aggregate of 297 to win, her second national crown in four days. The co-winner of the foursomes last Wednesday, the newly-married former New Zealand Junior champion scooped the pool by winning two handicap trophies

in addition to the prestigious Mellsop Cup. The one-handicapper added the Jessie Reid Rosebowl (54-hole net) and the Rattray Cup (18-hole net on the final round) to her trophy cabinet to underline her extraordinary form over four days’ golf in which the select field of 88 had a constant battle with near galeforce westerly winds and occasional heavy rain. Eight strokes behind Mrs Rhodes, the third place-get-ter, Jocelyn Glanfield (North Shore) displayed grit to recover from her morning 79 to post a creditable final round 76 — a round ruined only by a double bogey on the seventh. Another four strokes further back in fourth place was Alison Hasey (Huapai), the 1978 Mellsop Cup cowinner. She had final day cards of 78 and 77,

Manor Park’s Heather Booth leaped over several players with a fourth round 78 to end up in fifth place — but 20 shots behind the winner. Final scores were:— 297— B, Rhodes (Te Puke), 76, 73. 73, 7a. 298— L. Douglas (Invercargill), 79. 70, 73, 76. 305—J. Glanfield (North Shore), 75 75 79 76. 309—A.'Hasey (Huapai), 78, 76, 78 §17—H. Booth (Manor Park), 81, 78, 80. 78. 319— D. Kandell (Greenacres), 78. 77. 80, 84; K. Burns (Napier), 82, 76, 79, 82; S. Bunt (Tltirangi), 81, 72. 84, 82. 320— J. Scandrett (Otago), 76, 77, 85, 82. 321— J. Whitehead (Manawatu), 80. 75. 86, 80; K. Maxwell (Manukau), 83, 76, S 3. 79. , . . 324—M. Laugesen (Whakatane). 81. 81, 81, 81. , . . 8 326— K. Young (Manukau), 85, 79. 81, 81. „ , 327— C. Klngham (The Grange), 86, 71, 77, 83; D. Seiringer (Manor Park), 80, 80. 81, 86; A. Seed (Methven), 79. 79. 80. 89.