Golf, Australian style

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 23

Golf, Australian style

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Nine Australian women golfers spent nine days in competition at the Harewood and Russley courses this month, and when they departed they had with them almost all the trophies from the showcase.

The most important, the Tasman Cup, remained in Australia’s possession and a cup presented by Australia for the inaugural competition between junior teams from both countries also went across the Tasman.

An impressive array of cups and salvers at stake for the New Zealand championships, which preceded the Tasman Cup contest, were mostly won by Australians, Diane Pavich claiming four of them. The Australian raid was highly successful; it was accomplished by a small, but daring, party which lacked nothing in confidence or in aggression. Women’s golf in Australia has gone ahead in leaps and bounds recently, with sponsorships and regular international competitions overseas attracting an increasing number of young players to the sport.

Susan Tonkin and Edwina Kennedy, both aged 24, were the veterans in the Australia senior team. Corinne Dibnah and Miss Pavich were the youngest at 21, but both had considerable international experience.

Miss Dibnah was the outstanding player over the nine days. She won the foursomes with Miss Kennedy, shared the stroke championship with Jan Arnold, of Hamilton, and took the national match-play title with ridiculous ease. She won her two Tasman Cup foursomes and both singles matches. Yet for all her youth, Miss Dibnah has travelled

extensively with Australian teams. Since making her debut in 1981, she has competed in Britain, France, Canada and Singapore as well as New Zealand.

Apart from one dreadful hole, which cost her outright possession of the Mellsop Cup for the stroke championship, Miss Dibnah’s play epitomised the attacking attitude of the Australians, one which their New Zealand counterparts failed to emulate.

The Australians attacked the pin with their approach shots, attacked the cup with their putts, whether from long or short distances. If the initial putt missed — and a lot dropped — the players had confidence in their ability to sink the return putt. The design of Australian courses has largely contributed to this positive, purposeful play by the Australians. Many of their greens are bunkered in front, which encourages a high pitch or wedge shot to the flag. They relished the shot, and played it stylishly. In regard to the long game, New Zealand’s top players were able to match the Australians. All the

leading golfers achieved vast distances from the tee — well in advance of 200 m — and their long drives raised a few eyebrows among several noted Canterbury male representatives.

Apart from Brenda Rhodes, the national amateur champion in 1980 and 1981, the international senior players had full swings, hitting vigorously .hrough the ball with hips and arms. Mrs Rhodes was one to have a slight delay at the top of her swing, but her rhythm and timing was excellent.

Although below her best, Miss Arnold did stop the New Zealand rout by sharing the stroke title. She intimated that she might consider turning professional and earlier this year she spent a month caddying for the New Zealander on the United States proette circuit, Marilyn Smith. At 21, Miss Arnold has ample time to plan her future and the safest course at present might be to remain an amateur.

Mrs Rhodes, with wins against Miss Tonkin and Helen Hopkins in the Tasman Cup contest, confirmed

her international ranking, but Liz Douglas (Invercargill) was not the force of other years, and the youthful pair, Jan Scandrett (Otago) and Debbie Randell (Motueka), did not display the high level of consistency needed to exert extra pressure on the Australians.