Birdie finish helped N.Z. junior golfers

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 3

Birdie finish helped N.Z. junior golfers

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

A birdie finish by the New Zealand combination of Kay Johnson and Debbie Randell. to square their foursomes, was significant to New Zealand's 7-5 victory against New South Wales in an unofficial junior women's golf test at Russley yesterday.

With the other New Zealand pair. Karrin Young and Pauline Meyer, having won their foursomes. it gave New Zealand a 31 advantage. The singles were shared in the afternoon, two each! with the pressure on ail players in a tense finish. As with the singles, the foursomes were always close. After 15 holes. Misses Young and Meyer were square with Louise Mu’llard and Vicky Myles. There had never been more than one hole separating the combinations in a steady but unspectacular contest.

The turning point was the sixteenth, a hole won by the New Zealanders, and they 'took the next to seal victory.

Misses Johnson and Randell trailed by one hole playing the last against Lisa Ipkend'anz and Karen Lunn. The Australians' birdie putt missed and Miss Randell cooly holed her vital birdie putt.

New Zealand needed to secure at least one win and two halves from the singles. All four New Zealand players lost the par-3 tenth and that left it ahead in one. square in two. and down in the other.

New Zealand's first win was achieved by the blond-headed Nelson player. Miss Randell. who played aggressively and confidently.

Miss Randell. 4 up at the turn, lost her first hole at the tenth but won the eleventh. Miss Myles battled bfavely. halving 13 and 14 in birdies, and winning 15. but her resistance ended at 16.

Miss Johnson. 1 up after nine, lost three of the next four holes to Miss Lunn, the baby of the visiting team at 16 years. Although the Bay of Plenty girl won the fifteenth to be only 1 down. Miss Lunn kept her cool and had the better control at the finish.

New Zealand secured its necessary win through Miss Meyer. The Waikato girl showed wonderful temperament against her elegant opponent, the pencilthin Miss Mullard.

A feature of the play of the eight juniors was their positive, business-like approach. There were no histrionics, no prolonged decision making, no dallying. Their battles ended in two and a half hours.

Results (New Zealand names first) were:—

Foursomes.— Misses K. Johnson and Randell halved with Misses L. Ipkendanz and K. Lunn; Misses K. Young and P. Meyer beat Misses L. Mullard and’ V. Myles. 2 and 1.

Singles.— Miss Young lost to Miss Ipkendanz. 2 and 1; Miss Randell beat Miss Myles, 3 and 2: Miss Meyer beat Miss Mullard, 2 up; Miss Johnson lost to Miss Lunn. 2 and I.'