Golfers hitting form

Press, 5 October 1984, Page 36

Golfers hitting form

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Victory in the South Island inter-provincial teams’ golf championship at Rarangi, Blenheim, this week-end would cap off a successful representative build-up by Canterbury as it prepares to defend its national title at New Plymouth next month. Buller-Westland, MidSoiith Canterbury and Otago have all been dealt with this season. The South Island tournament is the last big test before the Government Life tournament and it is of considerable importance to Murray Brown and Ricky Vincent.

They are duelling for the fifth place in the Canterbury team for the New Zealand inter-provincial teams’ championship. John Sanders, Brent Paterson, Paul Minifie and Mark Street, all members of the triumphant Canterbury side last year, are assured of places, although the playing order is far from determined.

Brown, a Freyberg representative in 1979, has made a dedicated effort to gain selection this year, and his representative and inter-

club form has been impressive enough for him to achieve his aim. Vincent, who had three Freyberg games as reserve in 1981, has had six wins from seven inter-club games. He has played exceedingly well, but his representative record has been inferior to that of Brown.

Irrespective of the outcome of the tournament, the Canterbury selectors will behoping that the top players can continue their recent improvement. Sanders and

Paterson were much more authoritative in their Woodward Cup matches last Sunday.

The non-playing captain of the Canterbury team, Len McKenzie, expressed satisfaction in the way the players were acquiring sharp edges to their games.

After a squad practice at Shirley on Wednesday, Mr McKenzie said that the golfers placed an emphasis, on putting from the crucial distances, Im and 2m. “They are stroking the ball well.

“They know that when going to strange courses they have to get up and down if they miss greens. From tee to green they are not looking too bad.

“They are starting to show the form I’m expecting, but I’m not too unhappy that they are not quite at peak. There is a bit to go and it doesn’t hurt if they’re holding a little bit back.” Canterbury’s last success in the event was in 1980, when it won for the seventh time. Otago has the best record (12 victories) and Mid-South Canterbury is the defending champion.