Top five picked for golf team

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 36

Top five picked for golf team

By 808 SCHUMACHER John Sanders, at 33 years, is hardly a veteran campaigner in New Zealand amateur golf, but he is the most experienced Member of the Canterbury team named last evening to contest the Government Life national inter-provincial teams’ championship at Otatara, Invercargill, from November 5 to 9.

The team was highly predictable and the selectors, if maybe tempted to consider possible playing order changes, decided not to change the way Canterbury lined out in its successful bid for the South Island inter-provincial championship at Otatara last weekend.

In playing order, the team is: Brent Paterson, Mark Street, Sanders, Paul Minifie, John Williamson. The travelling reserve is John Crawford-Smith and the non-playing captain is Len McKenzie.

It is a relatively young team, but one heavy on experience. Only Minifie has

not represented New Zealand and the five have collectively played 133 matches in the national teams’ championship. They have netted 76 wins.

Paterson, aged 24, will take the top spot for the third successive year and Street, who will be making his eighth successive appearance, will occupy his equal highest position at No. 2. He was the second player in 1979, but has filled lower positions since then. Sanders, an Otago Freyberg representative for six years before coming to Christchurch on a business promotion, has played for Canterbury with dedication and distinction since his shift north.

He compiled a remarkable record for Canterbury at No. 3 in his first two years — one loss from 14 matches — but struggled much harder last year at No 2. He is a most thoughtful and tenacious golfer. Minifie, aged 22, has not failed Canterbury in his two appearances at the Govern-

ment Life tournament, and has been retained at the position he filled last year. After Street, Williamson has played the most games for Canterbury at the national tournament. He was unable to compete last year because he was playing for New Zealand in the world amateur teams’ championship.

It is a tribute to the strength of Canterbury golf that Williamson a national representative and unbeaten in 10 matches for his province this season, can only gain the bottom position. But Williamson, a marvellous ambassador for the game, would probably say that he was grateful to win selection. The Government Life tournament is changed this year with the championship divided into two sections of seven teams.

The top two teams from each section will qualify for the semi-finals on the morning of November 9, with the successful teams meeting in. the final that afternoon.