McDougall on the move

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 36

McDougall on the move

Big Ted McDougall (left) will be lost to the Auckland representative golf team this year, but Auckland’s loss might well be Northland’s gain. The burly, bespectacled Scot starts a new position — as Broadbank’s branch manager — in Whangarei on March 5. He has not decided whether he will make himself available for Northland, but he is certain to be under pressure to play from the Northland selectors. Northland finished last in the 1983 Freyberg Rose Bowl tournament and, apart from the very capable Kevin Billington, it has been without a strong top player since Alex Bonnington turned professional after the 1977 event.

McDougall, who won the first of two New Zealand amateur titles in 1957, has lost none of his natural ability and, at 45, still has many golfing years ahead. He may have lost a little distance off the tees, but he has been compensated by

the subtlety of his short game. McDougall, a national representative for many years, has made a successful come back to top level golf after a break of almost seven years. Two years ago he played in his first New Zealand amateur championship since 1975 and teamed with Terry Pulman to win the foursomes title. The pair successfully defended the championship at Titirangi last year and it was the fourth foursomes title for McDougall. He then made a triumphant march through the match-play , rounds, reaching the final before losing to Colin Taylor, 2 and 1. His victims included three national representatives, Glen Goldfinch, Neil Gaskin and the national stroke champion, Terry Cochrane. McDougall returned to Freyberg golf at Hamilton last year and, playing No. 3 for Auckland, he had three wins and two halves from his seven games.