Lapsley leads Canty Freyberg team

Press, 15 October 1982, Page 36

Lapsley leads Canty Freyberg team

By 808 SCHUMACHER With the unavailability of Geoff Saunders at a late hour — his wife had their second child earlier this week — the Canterbury Freyberg team for the national inter-provin-cial teams' golf tournament at Bal mace wen from November 10-13 was most predictable. The selectors (Messrs Bernie Glubb. Hec Reid and Alan Crawford-Smith) have placed their faith in the same players who have filled the top positions, sometimes slightly disappointingly, sometimes with distinction, in represenative fixtures over the last two months. The team in playing orderis: Jim Lapsley. John Williamson. John Sanders. Brent Paterson and Mark Street. The reserve is Stephen Greenall. The five-man team boasts a combined total of 23 appearances at Freyberg tournaments, yet the Canterbury number adds only to nine. Sanders, the oldest member of the team at 30. only moved to Christchurch this

year. He had given his former province. Otago, great value and had been in that province's Freyberg team for, six of the last seven years. Lapsley moved from Southland in 1980 after having appeared eight times for that team in the Freyberg tournament. For the last two

years. Lapsley has played No. 1 for Canterbury with outstanding results: 10 wins and one half from 14 matches: Sanders has had 21 wins and eight halves from his 42 matches for Otago in the tournament. After long associations with other provinces, it is not easy to change allegiances. Both Lapslev. and now Sanders, have done so and they are ready to give their best for Canterbury. Their experience. determination and aggressive approach to the game are qualities which have enriched Canterbury golf. Williamson, after his four wins on the same course in the recent South Island interprovincial tournament, has struck his best form at the right time. A semi-finalist two years ago in the New Zealand amateur championship. Williamson is among the best and most enthusiastic Canterbury’ golfers. He made his Freyberg debut in 1979 and has won 12 and halved two of 21 matches since then. The only Canterbury mem-

j ber of the Freyberg team to i make his debut will be the ; Coringa No. 1. Brent PaterI son. Paterson had a dream start to the season and i reached the quarter finals of i the New Zealand championship at Palmerston North in May. ; Paterson, aged 21. is the youngest member of the team. He has had his problems since his almost flawless start to the season. But the waywardness which crept into" his game is starting to straighten out and Paterson is poised to make a memorable debut. Mark Street, a former Australasian . junior champion. will make his fifth successive appearance for Canterbury at the Freyberg tournament. He is a player of undoubted ability; his record of 12 wins, six halves and 10 losses seems satisfactory. but only just. Street has matured considerably this year and if he has a confident putting stroke, the 22-year-old Templeton player might give the Canterbury team the vital win which it needs at the bottom of the I order. |