Street dominates

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 3

Street dominates

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Not since the days of Ross Murray in the late 1960 s and early 1970 s has the Russley 72-hole stroke tournament been so thoroughly dominated by the one golfer. Mark Street retained the title for the third successive year at Russley yesterday and, although he is only half way to beating Murray's winning sequence, there seems no reason why the accomplished Harewood player cannot match or better the deeds of Murray, who was one of New Zealand’s finest amateurs.

Street’s win was by only two strokes from the Aorangi representative from Ashburton, Robbie Bell, who won the title in 1980, but his play was convincing, his long game especially impressive. In spite of a raging southerly wind on Saturday afternoon which left some prominent golfers with high scores and embarrassed faces, Bell managed four birdies in a magnificent round of 70 and he gained an overnight lead of eight strokes over Street and Murray Brown. Bell, however, was not

able to retain his useful advantage. All eight shots had been squandered after the third round yesterday when he slumped to 82 and Street displayed a delicate touch in scoring 74. The final round gained added interest when James Angus tried to steal the show from the pacemakers and give Russley its first home club victory since Bruce Taylor in 1981. Angus, four shots behind starting the last round, had caught his playing partner, Street, after seven holes and was within one stroke of Bell.

The eighth hole changed the course of the tournament. Bell was bunkered, but sank his explosion shot for a birdie. Angus had to rely on a 2m putt for a twoover six at the eighth. Street, just off the green but handy to the pin, threeputted for a five. Both Street and Angus birdied the ninth to keep within striking distance of Bell, but Angus dropped back with one-overs at 10 and 11.

Bell and Street were tied until the last hole.

Angus was comfortably third from the Canterbury

junior captain, Bruce Lavender, whose bold challenge faded when he dropped six shots on the last five holes. His was still an encouraging effort. Leading scores:— Senior 302 - M. E. Street, 78, 76, 74, 74. 304 - R. P. Bell, 76, 70, 82, 76. 305 - J. M. Angus, 78, 77, 77, 73. 311 - B. D. Lavender, 77, 78, 76, 80. 312 — M. G. Brown, 80, 74, 81, 77. 318 - R. M. Vincent, 80, 81, 81, 76. 319 - M. E. Elley, 74, 85, 83, 77. 321 - R. Hurley, 75, 83, 82, 81. 323 — J. M. Crawford-Smith, 77, 87, 80, 79. 325 — R. I. Donaldson, 79, 83, 81, 82; M. Veale, 78, 81, 84, 82. Intermediate 326 - P. Smith, 85, 80, 83, 78. 327 - P. Shearer, 78, 81, 86, 82. 328 — C. Gillespie, 78, 83, 82, 85. 330 - M. Gainsford, 84, 85, 79, 82; H. McLeod, 85, 82, 83, 80. 'Junior 327 - I. Sturrock, 80, 83, 83, 81. 332 - B. Kennedy, 87, 89, 80, 76. 334 - J. Pitman, 80, 82, 85, 87. 339 - D. Gordon, 85, 85, 85, 84.

340 — G. Ward, 82, 87, 85, 86.