Age not prime consideration

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 15

Age not prime consideration

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Canterbury’s seventh placing at the Stylemaster inter-provincial women’s

golf tournament at Timaru was a disappointment to the players and to the administration, but the side was far from disgraced. In the six-match tournament, there were wins against Northland and Southland, a halved game with the powerful WaikatoKing Country team. In individual games, Canterbury scored 15% points, with 14% against, by no means an embarrassing deficit. There is little doubt that Canterbury should have

done better. Against Auckland, for instance, all five players were ahead at the turn, one enjoying a fourhole advantage. Yet this game was lost 1-4. Canterbury, according to those who watched, failed about the greens, and seemed to lack motivation. In other games, too, good situations were allowed to drift away, through lack of application. Yet the worst record of any Canterbury player was 2% points, very close to the

break-even point. Mary Sparrow did well to score three points in the difficult number one position, Judy Davidson had at number five, and Adrienne Bond, Canterbury’s most efficient player at this tournament, scored four wins. After Canterbury’s failure, there was some criticism that the team was too old, that more youngsters should have been selected. If the fault-finders could point to really talented young players who earned selection, no doubt the provincial selectors would be glad to have the names.

Christine Skinner was not available through injury. Lynley Watts had shown little form and although Dianne Woodhouse has performed well at times, she will probably have to play more consistent golf to get her ehance. The cry for youth, when there are very few young players of ability, is misplaced. If age should be the paramount consideration, the Canterbury team could be selected from those with handicaps over and ages under 21. One has only to recall the performances, at mature ages, of Jean Whitehead, Daisy Seiringer, Una Wick-

ham, Heather Booth, Cushla Sullivan and Vai Cullen to remember the value of experience. It is good to have promising young players coming on, but they have to perform well to force their way into a provincial side, not be elected on age. There is, of course, a need for junior players to be developed, and that has not been over-looked. There have been coaching clinics at Russley on Sunday morning since February, conducted by Mrs Cullen and Margaret Goss. This week-end, the South Island junior (under 25) championships will be played at Shirley. The likely entry is 32, and there are some talented young players taking part. The highest handicap is 28, but 19 of the field are seniors (handicaps of 18 or better). The event, under the auspices of the Canterbury Districts Ladies’ Golf Association, has been organised by Mrs Cullen. There will be two qualifying rounds on Sunday. The top 16 will then have match play, off the stick, the remainder match play on handicap. Among those who have entered are Debbie Kandell, of Nelson, and Shelley Duncan, of Otago, both national or national junior representatives. Among the Christchurch golfers who will be playing are Pam Cox (Shirley), Rachel Buxton (Shirley), Katherine Fletcher (Russley), each on nine, and Jane Reese (Shirley), 10.