Country’s chances above par

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 32

Country’s chances above par

Not even the advantage of a “home” course at Amberley is likely to save Country from another heavy defeat by their golfing counterparts from Town when their annual fixture is played on Sunday. Country is unlikely to benefit through local knowledge. Most of its players are from clubs based near the metropolis, and few are regular golfers at Amberley.

Odds overwhelmingly favour Town. Of last year’s Canterbury 16-man team, the top eight were Town players, and all are in this year’s Town 16-man senior side.

Country had three in the lower order and that trio of John Reid, Russell Start and Graeme Gunn, along with the former Canterbury Freyberg representative, Simon Robinson, will form Country’s top four. All are capable players, but they will have their work cut out against the New Zealand representatives, Brent Paterson, John Sanders and John Williamson, and Paul Minifie, last year’s provincial matchplay champion. The most successful

players for Country in its 25-7 loss last year, Neil Robertson and Colin Nairn, both of whom contributed a win and a half, are not in the side for Sunday’s contest.

Town, too, has greater depth down the order. Its bottom players are David O’Keefe, a national junior several years ago, and John Parlane, who was unbeaten in nine matches in the Woodward Cup competition last season.

Country, however, has performed better than expected when away from town courses, going close to victory at Rangiora in 1981 and winning decisively at Waimakariri Gorge in 1979. The teams:

Town: B. G. Paterson, J. B. Sanders, P. F. Minifie, J. N. Williamson (captain), M. E. Street, M. G. Brown, R. M. Vincent, J. M. Crawford-Smith, K. A. Lake, M. E. Elley, R. Hurley, N. Brightwell, J. W. A. Whitaker, M. A. Veale, D. J. O’Keefe, J. R. A. Parlane. Country: J. L. Reid, S. S. Robinson, R. L. Start, G. M. Gunn, G. Vercoe, J. L. Allin (captain), A. Sisson, H. J. Henderson, B. Chambers, D. Cochrane, M. J. Stanley, P. Mariu, J. Smale, I. Walsh, N. Eder, T. Whittaker.