Saunders wins second Canterbury golf title

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 36

Saunders wins second Canterbury golf title

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Most of Canterbury’s more prominent golfers have nicknames, some in reference to their build, others recognising their habits. Over many years, Geoff Saunders has been labelled “Mr Steadiness, Mr Consistency.”

Indeed, it was those qualities that took the amiable 28-year-old to his second victory in the Canterbury P.G.F. match-play golf championship which ended at Shirley yesterday. Saunders, as he had for the three days of the championship, stuck rigidly to the disciplined and tight controlled shots which have become a trademark of his game. His opponent in the final, Mark Street, also played confidently and capably at the start of their final.

After eight holes, the two finalists were square and all signs pointed to another grand finale down the eighteenth. However, the world fell apart for Street from the ninth hole to the sudden and unexpected quick finish. Saunders won the ninth and continued to ride the crest of the wave. He also won 10, 11, 12 and 13 and was happy to halve the fourteenth for that gave him victory by 5 and 4. Saunders was contesting his third final. He won in 1979 and was on the losing end the next year. Street, quite remarkably for a player who is only 22 years, was experiencing his second final. He was only 15 when he lost to Joe Whitaker in the 1975 final. But Saunders could not

have been more impressive in winning the championship. He was one-under par when he defeated Street at the fourteenth and he had kept his errors to the minimum.

Of the 14 holes played. Saunders hit 11 greens in regulation figures. Street missed only one less but the putting proved decisive. Street never had a one-putt, Saunders had four and he won all four holes on those occasions.

Saunders, normally a person in touch with the important art of putting, was hesitant early against Street and he three-putted the third to allow his opponent to draw first blood. A birdie by Saunders at the fifth had the pair square and a par by Saunders at the sixth had him ahead for the first time. They were level

again after seven when Saunders failed to achieve his par at the seventh. At the ninth, Saunders took the upswing and Street the downswing and the see-saw remained with Saunders perched aloft.

The ninth was the hole that gave confidence to Saunders and drove Street to the depths of despair. “At that point I was not on top of my putting,” remarked Saunders, but he hit the most delicate of shots with his sand wedge and holed a 2m birdie putt. Then Street fell foul of “Mr Consistency.” The tenth went to Saunders without him putting; Street was out of bounds. A 3m birdie putt dropped for Saunders to give him the eleventh and he won 12 with a quality chip and small putt.

At 13. Street almost went out of bounds again. He had little show of gaining much progress from the boundary fence and Saunders had his fifth successive hole( All Saunders needed at 14 was a half and he achieved that. Street gave himself a chance for a birdie but luck with his newly-acquired putter had deserted him and for the third time he touched the lip without the ball dropping.

In the semi-finals, Saunders played consistently to beat Peter Heasley at the sixteenth. Saunders had three birdies and three one-overs. Heasley, only 20, impressed with his strong tee shots, but he lacked a little finesse with important putts and Saunders quickly capitalised. Street was fully extended to win his semi-final against

Waitikiri’s talented 19-year-old Paul Minifie. They were charitable to each other early but Street went one ahead at the thirteenth. Minifie struck at 16, he had his birdie conceded, and went 1-up when Street was bunkered at 17. With Minifie on the green in regulation at the last hole. Street played the most magnificent of approaches.

Street was within Im of the hole and Minifie conceded when he had his unsuccessful second putt. Minifie was poorly placed with his drive of the first extra hole and, with Street granted his tap-in for a par, was unable to hole his 3m par putt.

Results.—SENlOß Championship.—Semi-finals: G. C. Saunders beat P. J. Heasley. 3 and 2; M. E. Street beat P. F.

Minifie. at the 19th. Final: Saun ders beat Street. 5 and 4.

Plate.—Semi-finals: B. K. Street beat J. R. A. Parlane. 1up: S. Greenall beat R. M. McCall. 2 and 1. Final: Greenall beat Street. 3 and 2. INTERMEDIATE Championship.—Semi-finals: D. Cochrane beat B. Holmes. 2-tip: C. Paterson beat P. Robertson. 1up. Final: Paterson beat Cochrane. 3 and 2. Plate.—Semi-finals: D. J. Briggs beat P. Boyd, by default: C. D. Vining beat P. Hansen. 2 and 1. Final: Briggs beat Vining. 3 and 1. JUNIOR Championship: Semi-finals: R. C. McGowan beat B. Frampton. 6 and 5; D. M. Hughes beat B. Ronan. 3 and 2. Final: McGowan beat Hughes. 4 and 3. Plate.—Semi-finals: D. Mackinnon beat C. Basher, at the 21st: B. Hanham beat R. W. Jones, 4 and 3; Final: Hanham beat Mackinnon. 6 and 5.