‘No harm’ in N.Z. team playing in Geneva event

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 42

‘No harm’ in N.Z. team playing in Geneva event

PA Auckland The New Zealand women’s golf team, which left Auckland last evening, is convinced that there is no harm in playing an international tournament in a third country (Switzerland) even if South Africans are in the field.

The team will play the British Open stroke-play championship in Dundee, Scotland, from August 27, .. and the Esperito Santo international teams event in Geneva, from September 8. South Africa is entered to play the Esperito Santo event.

Betty Fraser, the non-play-ing team captain, who is also chairman of the New Zealand Ladies Golf Union, said at the airport that she sees no harm in playing the Esperito Santo event. “It is my personal opinion the Gleneagles Agreement was never meant to extend to a tournament played in a third country,” said Mrs Fraser.

“We are playing in Switzerland. If the tournament was played in South Africa I would feel very different about it.

“We are playing in a country where South Africans are competing, but we may never see them.

“We are going to the most neutral country in the world. We want to make our point to have the tournament

played in New Zealand in 1984.

“We have to go to Geneva to prove our invitation.”

The Ladies Golf Union invitation for the 1984 Esperito Santo event in Christchurch clearly states South Africa will not be invited.

“There doesn’t appear to be anything said about individuals playing sport against South Africans, as has happened the last few months,” said Mrs. Fraser. “It is only teams that are being sorted out. “When you are representing your country, you feel so proud. I felt proud and excited when I got my blazer, I' could have burst into tears and I know the girls in the team would feel the same way.”

The three team menbers are 31-year-old Liz Douglas (Invercargill), Brenda Rhodes (Te Puke, 24), and Jan Arnold (Hamilton, 20).

“It all gets so distorted,” said Miss Arnold. “I am going to play golf and will play with whoever I am drawn with.”

Mrs Douglas, who will be playing her third Esperito Santo, said all she saw of South Africans at the two previous contests was at the opening ceremony and the cocktail party. “We just never saw them,” said Mrs Douglas. “But I will play with Russians or anybody else I am drawn with at a golf tournament.” Mrs Rhodes also said she would , play with whom she was drawn.