Douglas back in top golf

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 38

Douglas back in top golf

By 808 SCHUMACHER After a year away from the international scene, Liz Douglas is ready to return to top-flight competition in women’s golf. The Canterbury No. 1 is the only player from the province to be chosen for a national trial at Matamata on July 13 and 14. Sixteen trialists have been selected for the 54-hole stroke competition after which a senior team of five and a junior one of at least four will be named to meet Australia in Melbourne in October. Personal circumstances prevented Mrs Douglas from being available for New Zealand selection last year, but she is now in a position where she has the time and enthusiasm to make a determined bid to regain her former place. “It’s all go now,” Mrs Douglas, a former national amateur champion, said yesterday. “I’ve been playing three games a week and am happy with my form. Now it’s time to get on to the practice area.” With one of the country’s most accomplished golfers, Brenda Ormsby, not available, Mrs Douglas, the Canterbury match-play champion, must have a royal chance of winning a place in the senior side to challenge Australia for the Tasman Cup.

Mrs Douglas made her Canterbury debut in the Stylemaster inter-provincial teams’ tournament last May and won four of her matches at No. 1. Her two losses were to the former national representative, Robyn Low, at the last hole, and the present New Zea-

land No. 1, Janice Arnold, at the sixteenth.

Mrs Douglas admitted that she had a burning ambition to beat the Australians. She was in the New Zealand team which tied at Rotorua in 1978, and again three years later at Southport, Queensland, when the last putt of the contest gave Australia the victory. The junior teams' event between the two countries was introduced two years ago at Russley, Australia winning, 8-4. The trialists are:—

Annette Almond (Bay of Plenty), Janice Arnold (Waikato), Jan Cooke (Bay of Plenty), Karen de Latour (Hawke’s Bay), Liz Douglas (Canterbury), Karrin Duckworth (Auckland), Cathy Greenbank (Bay of Plenty), Tracey Hanson (Wellington), Melanie Irvine (Otago), Anne Mattingly (Southland), Marnie McGuire (Auckland), Clare McKinnel (Otago), Jan Scandrett (Otago), Debbie Smith (Nelson), Ingrid van Steenbergen (Hawke's Bay), Julie McConnell (Northland).