Canty golf team played with purpose, distinction

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 23

Canty golf team played with purpose, distinction

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

It is sad but true that in sporting life the winners are remembered, the losers soon forgotten. The record books will show that the 1982 Government Life Freyberg Rose Bowl golf tournament was won by Otago, at Balmacewen.

That Canterbury finished equal first on points, but lost on a count-back of individual games, will be overlooked as time marches on. However, memories of the tournament will linger long in the minds of the Canterbury non-playing > captain, Barry Cotton, and the five playing. representatives who performed so creditably and who had victory plucked from them with the winning post in sight. Otago might consider that its vital victory against Canterbury, 3V2-IV2, was only a reversal of justice from the 1976 Freyberg competition. On that occasion, the two provinces were involved in a crucial last-round contest and Canterbury, after being on the verge of defeat only a couple of holes from the finish, produced a storming finish and won the Rose Bowl from its opponent. Admittedly,, the Otago team had a decided advantage with its knowledge of the testing Balmacewen course and a draw which was distinctly more favourable than that of Canterbury but in no way was its success not deserved.

Otago had lost three members of the team which had been runner-up to Auckland the previous year: John Sanders, Greg Turner and John Finn had all left the province. Kim McDonald and Michael Atkinson remained to ensure strength at the top and Ron Johnston, recalled to the side, and two young

newcomers, Alan Rose and Steve Morshuis, filled the vacant gaps most competently. Canterbury's bid to win the coveted trophy for the fifth time in the 32-year history of the event started as far back as March when a non-playing captain was appointed for the first time. The position was taken by Mr Cotton, who had proven credentials for the job after his considerable success in a similar role with the Russley Woodward Cup team.

A happy liaison was struck immediately between Mr Cotton and the squad of 12 with which he was entrusted. The Canterbury players were subjected to a gruelling physical fitness programme during the winter months and again in the weeks before the tournament.

The manner in which the portly Mr Cotton threw himself into the fray endeared him to the players. At the tournament itself, Mr Cotton played many roles on and off the course.

He organised the team behind the scenes, encouraged, congratulated, sympathised with the players during their high and low moments. When the tournament was over, the respect between the captain and the team was mutual.

The Canterbury team members, Jim Lapsley, John Williamson, John Sanders, Brent Paterson and Mark Street, did their very best, but in the end it was not quite good enough. Lapsley, the No. 1, revels in the fierce match-play competition. He has been in the top position for Canterbury in the event for the last three years and has won 14

and halved three of his 21 matches.

His attitude is one of aggression and dedication and he plays in that manner. Lapsley, 3 down with' four holes remaining in his first match against Gary Radka, of Southland, had to get a half to guarantee Canterbury’s win. Earlier in the game, Lapsley had the unusual experience of losing four successive holes to his talented young opponent. “I told Gary then that my turn would come to win four in a row,” remarked Lapsley. He did not manage that, but by winning 15, 16 and 17 and halving the last he had contributed a vital half-point to the team’s total. Radka folded under the sustained pressure. Lapsley had three excellent wins against New Zealand representatives, Mike Nicholson (Bay of Plenty), Colin Taylor (Waikato), and Mike Baritrop (Auckland), and his only loss was to the Otago No. 1, McDonald. That match went to the last and McDonald, a defiant fighter in the same mould as Lapsley, took the decision, 1 up. Williamson, unfortunately, could not recapture the tremendous form he had shown on Christchurch courses in the weeks leading to the Freyberg tournament. His record of three wins and four losses was the worst of his four Freyberg events. Apart from - the loss to Owen Kendall (Bay of Plenty), who played magnificently, Williamson was involved in close finishes, but his lack of success on the greens denied him much better results. Too often, Williamson had the initiative from tee to green but lost it

on the green because of a missed short putt. Williamson must have felt bitter disappointment after losing to Michael Atkinson, of Otago, on Saturday morning in a match which he should have won. It said much for his resolve that he was able to come back that afternoon and beat a national representative, Tony Treen, of Auckland. Some long putts finally dropped. Sanders, a long-serving Otago Freyberg player, was magnificent in his debut for Canterbury at the tournament. He was proud to wear the red and black uniform and Canterbury could feel proud that he was so garbed. After losing the last two holes to only halve his opening match, Sanders became really motivated. He was all thoughtful concentration and he never allowed it to waver until his final match had ended. Then he snapped out of the trance which he had worked into mentally and he was bubbling with excitement and delighted with his record of six wins and a half — the best of the tournament.

The last two New Zealand champions, lan Peters (Bay of Plenty) and Terry Cochrane (Auckland), were among those vanquished by Sanders, whose driving and bunker play was unsurpassed by any golfer on display.

In the final round, Sanders, who had driven the green on the par-4 284 m third hole for the second time that day, had his third birdie in as many holes and was 3 up against Cochrane. As he strode purposefully and confidently down the fourth fairway, a woman spectator commented that had a lake appeared in front of him he would have walked over it. She might have been right.

Apart from Sanders, the only other unbeaten player at the tournament was his team-mate, Paterson. For a player making his debut, Paterson, aged 22, was remarkably composed. He is fortunate in that he does not suffer from nerves. Paterson’s first tee shot was struck with authority and he never looked back. He made few mistakes and showed admirable temperament on the few occasions he dropped behind in a match. When it was necessary for him to birdie a hole to recover a deficit, he was equal to the occasion.

If he had a weakness, it was his inability to adopt a "killer” instinct. He had big leads against Kevin Downie (Tasman) and Stephen Partridge (Auckland), but did not exert pressure to the end. Both opponents won the last hole and escaped with halves. Paterson’s record of four wins and three halves was still a fine achievement.

For a player of his talent, Street only occasionally produced the golf of which he is capable. He had four wins to offset three losses but he struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Street was not helped by the number of times he got away to poor starts, but his earnest endeavour and fighting qualities earned him merit marks.

Apart from its upset loss against Mid-South Canterbury, the golfing year has been good for Canterbury. It lost narrowly to Otago at the South Island inter-provincial event and again at the Freyberg tournament, but Canterbury won the Southland invitation stroke championship, drew its representative match against Otago, and beat Buller-Westland and Wellington.

With Mr Cotton at the helm, and this year’s Freyberg team all likely to be available again, Canterbury can look to 1983 with much confidence.