Outstanding Levin golfer defends N.Z. junior title

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 20

Outstanding Levin golfer defends N.Z. junior title

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

The golf future of Darryl Court seems extremely bright. The compact youngster from Levin left an indelible impression at the Harewood course at the week-end when he comfortably defended his national junior championship by five strokes.

If Court stole the junior honours in the 54-hole stroke tournament sponsored by Commercial Union, there was also much to admire in the performances of two competitors in the boys’ (under-18) championship. Paul Devenport (Wellington) and Glen Blarney (Auckland) had a cut and thrust battle over the three rounds. Blarney, a five-handicapper from Maungakiekie, held a one-shot lead over his Paraparaumu rival with a par 73 in the first round. He increased it to two strokes after the second round on Saturday afternoon, but Devenport, who was third last year, proved steadier under pressure _>in the final round yesterday morning to win by a shot.

Court, aged 19, did not make a startling beginning in his title defence, but was handily placed after the first round. His 76 left him tied for fourth, only two strokes behind the pacesetters, Mark Elley (Avondale) and Peter Rae (St Clair).

Once he had the layout of the course firmly plotted in his mind, Court was quite devastating. He had a four-under par 69 in the blustery conditions of the second round and opened a gap of four strokes over Wally Hayes, of Alexandra, after 36 holes.

He dropped a shot at the first, but no more as he reeled off birdies at the second, seventh, eighth, seventeenth and eighteenth. His precision iron approaches enabled him to cover the four par-3 holes in 10.

Court’s considerable experience ensured that he was

never flustered dr over-excited in the final round. As well as his national junior title last year, the composed, confident Court had the 1981 North bland boys’ championship to his credit. He has represented Manawatu-Wanganui for the last two years at the Freyberg tournament and was the reserve for last year’s New Zealand junior team at the Australasian championship.

He had a dream start — birdies at the first three holes — but lost all the bonus shots with a three-over 7 at the fourth. He put a weak second' shot in the creek, was on the green for four, but took three putts.

Court, a little unsettled, dropped three more shots on the nine, although he had some recompense with a birdie at the eighth. But the control, rhythm and accuracy was back for the homeward half. He never dropped a stroke, getting his par at 15 in spite of a penalty in the creek, and finishing birdie, par, birdie.

Court finished the tournament on even par 218, five strokes ahead of Hayes, who also made his bid in the second round when he had a fine three-under round of 70. Hayes, who was runner-up on the same course in the boys’ championship four years ago, had 74 in the third round and had to be content with second again. He will not get another chance for a national junior title as the Clyde club golfer will turn 21 in two months.

Elley was easily the best of the big Canterbury contingent. The Avondale Woodward Cup No. 1 player displayed good powers of concentration and, when his long game gave cause for concern towards the end of the final round, he produced several deft chips to stop the shots slipping. Leading scores:— Junior 218 i- D. Court (Levin), 76, 4

69, 73. 223 — W. Hayes (Alexandra), 79, 70, 74. 226 — M. E. Elley (Christchurch), 74, 77, 75. 227 — R. Clark (Gisborne), 77, 76, 74. 228 — C. Hunter (Wellington), 77, 76, 75; R. L. Booker (Palmerston North), 79, 72, 77; M. N. Sim (Lower Hutt), 75, 76, 77. 229 — M. Williams (Te Awamutu), 78, 75, 76. 234 — R. McDonald (Southland), 77, 76, 81. 235 — M. Berthelsen (Nelson), 79, 77, 79; P. Rae (Dunedin), 74, 84, 77. 236 — C. Timms (Otago), 80, 76, 80; J. Winterburn (Otaki), 76, 78, 82. ’

Boys 223 — P. Devenport (Wellington), 74, 75, 74. 224 — G. Blarney (Auckland), 73, 74, 77. 229 — S. C. Thompson (Hokitika), 77, 75, 77. 232 — M. Tumata (Auckland), 76, 82, 74. 233 — P. Yovinch (North Auckland), 77, 77, 79. 234 - B. Colbert (Wellington), 79, 76, 79; D. J. O’Keefe i(Christchurch), 74, 79, 81; C. Perks (Palmerston North), 76, 78, 80. 235 — B. Holdom (Alexandra), 80, 72, 83; R. Watt (Nelson), 77, 78, 80. 236 — D. Baker (Auckland), 76, 81, 79; M. Lane (Wellington), 78, 78, 80.