North leads golf match

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 3

North leads golf match

By R. T. BRITTENDEN It seemed to be a contest between sprinters and stayers at Shirley yesterday: it is a long wav round a golf course, and after 36 holes the North Island had established a decisive 23-stroke lead over the South in the annual women s inter-island match.

In both rounds the best of the South Islanders faltered near the end. where the four North Islanders whose scores counted in both rounds held on splendidly. Over the last four holes, the Souths best four dropped 13 shots, the North but one. Although the weather was dreary, the golf was often brilliant. Twelve of New Zealand’s best players — six of them full internationals — are taking part, and the contest was the best of advertisements for the game, the results might not always have been perfect — Shirley has some scurvy tricks to play on anything’ a little off line, and the changing pace of the greens posed problems — but in technique and temperament this elite field had much to offer.

Style is not everything, but it does go a long way and there were some text-book swings on view. There was some splendid scoring too: the par of 74 for the 5470 m course was beaten once, equalled four times.

The South made a very good start to this event, sponsored by Dunlop (N.Z.) Sports, and it was only the last player in for the North, Jocelyn’ Glanville, who put her side in front at lunch by a single stroke. A strong hitter and a resolute player, she had a fine round of 74. Brenda Rhodes, who made a clean sweep of titles at the last national championships, finished well for her 75. The South’s challenge was led by the talented Liz Douglas, unidefeated at the Russell (Grace tournament in Nelson recently. She began as if the course belonged to her, with birdies from 7m and 2m at the opening holes. She nearly had an eagle at the 380 m ninth,

and when she holed one of 5m for her birdie at 11, she was four under.

This majestic progress, however, was not maintained. She played her first bad shot at 15, dragging her approach into a bunker and she then three-putted. Two more three-putt greens came from a tendency to be short with her first putts on the wet greens, but her 74 was a fine performance. Mrs Douglas remains absolutely imperturbable in sunshine or in shadow.

Kaye Maxwell, one of several who have just finished several days of coaching, had not come to terms with a change in her grip and she made a wretched start of six over after eight holes. She settled down but her 83 was not in the count. Sue Bishop found an easy rhythm from the start and played excellent golf until she threeputted 15. and dropped shots at each of the last two holes. Debbie Randell was another who let her opportunities slip. She started with seven straight pars, but dropped three shots before the end. In the afternoon the North Islanders improved by 10 shots, and the South was 11 strokes worse. Four North Islanders broke 80. but only Mrs Douglas did for the South.

Cherry Kingham had the ball at her feet with only a few holes to play in the afternoon. Her sound hitting, and a lovely touch with her short game put her three under after 10 with birdies at 5. 9 and 10. She dropped shots at 11 and 15 but set a pace which the South could not match. Miss Maxwell, very much happier with her game, gave a delightful display of precise and attractive golf, hitting some irons of near-perfection, including one at the last which gave her a copybook birdie. She was out in 36, one under, back in 38.

The national junior champion, Karrin Young, who is 18. was another who made amends for an unhappy morning. She had a 74 and reduced her handicap to scratch..

In the individual contest for the Susan Grigg Rosebowl, Mrs Douglas shares first place on 151 with Mrs Kingham. Mrs Rhodes is only one stroke behind and Miss Young is on 155. There will be a final round this morning.

The match is on the Eisenhower system, with the worst score in each round being dropped by each team. Those scores are marked with asterisks in the results:

NORTH ISLAND; C. Kingham 78,73; B. Rhodes 75.77; K. Young 81,74; K. Maxwell 83*.74; K. Burns 80.80: J. Glanfield 74, 88*. Totals 388, 378-768.

SOUTH ISLAND; L. Douglas 74.77; R. Randell 77,81; J. Scandrett 78.80; S. Bishop 79.81; M. Irvine 81. 81‘; A. Bond 81, 83*. Totals 389,400-789.