Paterson goes down fighting

Press, 10 October 1983, Page 8

Paterson goes down fighting

NZPA Melbourne A Christchurch golfer, Brent Paterson, produced an underdog performance in the best traditions of amateur sport to hold an Australian, Wayne Smith, all-square for 36 holes before losing the Australian amateur matchplay tournament on the thirty-seventh in gripping circumstances in Melbourne yesterday. Paterson, never expected to trouble Smith who was the tournament favourite after powerful performances in the qualifying rounds, fought determinedly against the older and more experienced West Australian before losing the competition on the 238-metre par four first, the first hole of a sudden death play-off. The climactic battle between Smith and Paterson has already been described as one of the greatest finals in the history of the. matchplay tournament — an event which dates Slack to the 1890 s. r

The match was square after nine holes and again at 18, 27 and 36 and Paterson, in Melbourne as a member of the New Zealand Clare Higson under-26 team, actually had victory in sight when he led Smith at the thirty-fourth hole. As the tournament came to the thirty-seventh, after Smith had squared, the gallery was gripped by the contest. Both players hit good drives although Smith was a little to the right of the fairway, but he hit a superb chip shot over a greenside bunker to within half a metre of the flag. Paterson chipped on to the green but was about two metres from the cup. The New Zealander putted first and his ball hung on the hp of the hole.

Smith gave his supporters some anxious moments with , as A ? utt which curled into the left hand side of the hole ship 3 b ‘ r f 6 and the cham P ion 'P