S.I. women improve in final golf round

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 3

S.I. women improve in final golf round

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

The South Island won the battle, the North Island the war at Shirley yesterday, when the inter-island women’s golf match, was completed. In the, final round the South Island picked up eight strokes to finish a respectable 15 shots behind — one a round for each of the scores which counted. The North Island was held together by Kaye Maxwell, whose one-number 73 was the only North score below 80; four of the South Island players were in the 70s, with Debbie Randell and Jan Scandrett returning fine rounds of 75: The contest for the Susan Grigg Rosebowl, awarded to the best individual scorer, became an intriguing contest. When the final round started Liz Douglas shared the lead with Cherry Kingham, and Brenda ■ Rhodes was only one shot behind. Mrs Kingham’s game fell to pieces, and Mrs Rhodes never overcame- the distinct handicap.of four-putting the fifth green. The challenge to Mrs Douglas then came from Miss Maxwell, who, had offset a tragic first round of 83 with a 74 on Sunday afternoon. She gave Mrs Douglas six shots'start when the final ground began. ; - V The tall, composed invercargill player seemed to have everything under control when she birdied 16, to stay four ahead of. Miss Maxwell. But she fetched up short at 17 by some 40m and hit her pitch shot flat and hard through the fence behind the green, and out of bounds.

“I didn’t quite know how to go about it, and played the shot before I was ready.” said Mrs Douglas with a typically gentle smile. But the three shots she dropped

at the hole were vital. Both players made brave efforts to hole putts for birdies at the last green, but they stayed level, and shared the trophy. There were three very good performances in the final round, but in good conditions, more low' scores might have been expected. The sun shone after a few holes, the greens were holding, and there was only a hint of wind. However, if there was little pressure on the North to win the match, there certainly was pressure on individual players trying to underline their claims to places in the Tasman Cup team to meet Australia. Miss Maxwell did extraordinarily well to finish first equal with Mrs Douglas, after that dreadful first round. When a good many Christchurch citizens were still opening their eyes on a Monday holiday, she was playing the most elegant 5iron into the first green to hole an easy birdie putt. From that point, Miss Maxwell was very much on top of her game. She has a fine, full flowing swing, and she positioned her tee shots with admirable accuracy. Her irons were nearly always flawless, and she putted soundly. She dropped only one shot, when

a putt for the par lipped out at 6. She birdied 14 from about 3m. lipped out for another one at the next, and never looked like dropping a shot over the remaining holes.

Mrs Kingham, so impressive in the second round, lost her timing and then her confidence, and she finished nine over. Mrs Rhodes, apart from her traumatic experience at the fifth, played fine golf and Karrin Young again emphasised what a-- very promising young player she is. - ’

Miss Randell had her'best round, and' it was a really good one. She looked relaxed and confident as she birdied 2 and 3 and she remained one under after 14 holes. She too has a splendid swing and hit some exciting shots. But she under-ichibbed at 14 then chipped too strongly, and another shot slipped away at 17.

Miss Scandrett was the most exciting player in the field. There is not much,of her, but she has an uncompromising determination to hit the ball further than she has ever hit it before. At the short eleventh, she was just through the green with a beautifully struck high floating 8-iron; her playing partner. Miss Maxwell, was not far past the. pin with a 5iron. Moreover, Miss Scan-

drett is a scurrier. Her caddie, Mrs Nan Mann, is the briskest mover among Canterbury’s top players, but she had to' get into overdrive to keep up with her young charge.

A couple of tee shots were slightly wayward in direction, but otherwise Miss. Scandrett played accomplished: golf. She dropped a shot early, • but- birdied 7, almost birdied 8 and 9, and had one at 12 after an adventurous path to the green. This vigorous young lady had another birdie at 16 but had, minor mishaps at three of the other holes. Mrs Douglas, had a 5, 5 start to-be two over, playing with a borrowed driver. Another shot slipped by at the fifth, and if there was the disaster at 17,: she had three compensating' birdies before it. .

She is probably New Zealand’s best player still, and she had the distinction of being the only one in the field to break 80 in each round. The fourth South Islander to break 80 yesterday was Sue Bishop, who also started with two 5s and dropped a third shot at 6. She was four over after 8, but dropped only one more although it was a day of frustrating putting for her. Three puts lipped out, others sat stubbornly by the hole. In the scores which follow, the highest score is deleted from each round. These are marked by asterisks.

North Island: K. Maxwell 83*. 74, 73; B. Rhodes 75, 77, 80; C. Kingham 78, 73, 83; K. voting 81, 74, 80; J. Glanfield 74, 88’, 80; K. Burns 80, 80, 84*. Total 1162. South Island: L. Douglas 74, 77, 79; D. Randell 77, 81, 75; J. Scandrett 78, 80, 75; S. Bishop 79, 81, 79; A. Bond 81, 83*, 80; M. Irvine 81*, 81, 84*. Total 1177.

Susan Grigg Rosebowl: Douglas 230, Maxwell 230, Rhodes 232, Randell 233, Scandrett 233, Kingham 234.