Golf Strong, even field in stroke tourney

Press, 19 March 1984, Page 21

Golf Strong, even field in stroke tourney

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Candidates for selection in the Canterbury women’s golf team for the Stylemaster inter-provincial tournament at Timaru are now in the home straight, and it is a bunched field.

At Waitikiri tomorrow the Canterbury 54-hole stroke tournament will begin. That will leave only the provincial championship at Shirley next week before the team is announced.

It is a very strong and even field for Waitikiri, although the absence of last year’s winner, Debbie Randall, and of the former national representative, Sue Hamilton, will be regretted. The lowest-handicapped player is the cheerful little Amberley representative, Moana Lavery, who is on 2.

There are four players on handicaps of 3. all of them with very good chances of winning selection for the Canterbury team. They are last year’s captain, Jeannette Ross, Adrienne Bond, Sue Boag, and Marv Sparrow.

Judy Davidson, not available for selection last year, and Jackie Benschop, reserve last time, are on 4 and so is Diane Woodhouse, who reached the final eight in the national championship at Harewood last year.

Christine Skinner, a Canterbury representative last year, will also be playing on 4, but she will not be available for the Stylemaster Trophy tournament. When the event was played last year, she had trouble with a foot, and it has persisted. It has been discovered that

she has a broken bone, and she will undergo surgery a few days before the Timaru tournament begins.

The Waitikiri winner may well come from these nine players, but there are others with prospects: Annette King may be playing off a 5, and on 6 there is Mary Ann Stemmer, and up-and-com- - ing Christchurch player. The Waitikiri champion. Bev Craigie, has reduced to 7 after some very good golf lately and Diane Ritchie, on 9, is a well performed • player. Perhaps the most promising young player in Christchurch, Rachel’ Bux-'" ton, is now on 9 and will add interest to what has ■ been a very good tournament over the years. Waitikiri will provide a severe test, for the recent ■ rain will have reduced the ’ run dramatically.