Golfer quits world series

Press, 26 April 1982, Page 3

Golfer quits world series

PA Palmerston North A leading New Zealand amateur golfer, Paul Harstone, will not play for NewZealand in the Eisenhower world teams' championship later this year because South Africa has been invited. He announced his decision yesterday at the Manawatu Golf Club, where he helped New Zealand retain the Sloan Morpeth Trophy by tying with Australia. Hartstone, aged 32, a history teacher at Te Awamutu College, said that he abhorred the apartheid system in South Africa and that he was ‘'adamant” he would have nothing to do with a tournament involving South Africa. He said, "I stood in a clubhouse last year and watched the Waikato riot on television, and, without exception, all watching were yelling, ‘kill them.’ If this is what apartheid does, well I want nothing to do with it.” The Eisenhower championship will, be played in Switzerland in September. The World Golf Council has in-

vited South Africa to participate. Hartstone was at the centre of controversy at a tournament in Pinehurst, in the United States, where competing teams arrived to find South Africa there without having had prior notice of its entry. Hartstone played then because New Zealand had no reserve but said that he would not have gone had he known that South Africa would be there. When he returned to New Zealand, the Education Department, in line with its policy on South Africa, had withheld his salary for the time he had been away. Hartstone, the New Zealand amateur champion in 1980 and the holder of the New Zealand foursomes championship, showed by his form at the week-end that he will be sorely missed in Switzerland. He will also not compete in this week’s amateur championship because he cannot spare the time away from work after the New Zealand team’s recent trip to Japan. Trophy golf: back page.