Paterson confirms No. 1 golf standing

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 44

Paterson confirms No. 1 golf standing

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

One of Brent Paterson’s goals for this year was to win a Canterbury individual golf championship. He needed no reminding that he had failed to achieve a provincial title even though he had been ranked No. 1 in Canterbury for the last three years. Paterson did not have to wait long to fulfil that aim. At Waitikiri yesterday he left no doubts as to his top standing in Canterbury when he left behind the province’s best amateurs, as well as others from further afield, in winning the Canterbury stroke-play championship. It was a brilliant win by Paterson in the Cobrasponsored 72-hole stroke tournament. His fourround total of 280, fourunder par, was the lowest in the championship for at least 20 years and his winning margin of five strokes was the biggest since Ross Murray scored his seventh win in 1981. Paterson admitted to some relief at winning a Canterbury title after the event. He said that he was aware of being labelled “a Mr Nice Guy” after having won two Canterbury and one national "golfer of the year” awards by some who might wonder how he could play for New Zealand without winning a major event in his province.

Paterson's play, however, has always stamped with class and it was never more evident than at the week-end. He finished par or better in each of his four rounds. Before the championship, Paterson was far from confident, saying that it would be more good luck than good management if he was to win the event. In fact, it was all good management and very little luck that gave him the title by five shots from the 1982 champion, John Williamson.

“I had been playing ‘fast’ golf since Christmas, taking two and a half hours for a round playing in a four, but I spent Thursday evening and most of Friday reading Paul Carpinter’s notes on positive self talk (Carpinter has assisted in preparing Canterbury representative teams in recent years) and, as Alex Mercer has told me, I got to believe in myself,” Paterson said.

The Coringa No. 1 said that he had previously found it hard to become motivated for the event “but I disciplined myself this week-end as I would at the Government Life national inter-provincial tournament and I found early rhythm.” Paterson, aged 25, was never behind from the opening holes. He shared the lead after the first round with the defending champion, Paul Minifie, after both started with 71s.

After 36 holes Paterson had established an overnight lead of four strokes over John Pariane and Minifie as a result of his magnificent three-under par round of 68, one

matched in the final round by Mark Street. Paterson was five-under for the last six holes of his second round and his 68 included an eagle and six birdies.

In the continuing good weather yesterday, Paterson was never seriously extended. He had a par round in the morning and it would have been better had it not been for three three-putts. He started the last round four strokes ahead of Minifie and five in front of Williamson, who had two birdies and an eagle in the best third round score of 69. Williamson made some impression with two birdies, at three and four, in the final round, but pressure, in Paterson’s language, is something to be exerted rather than be subjected to. He had eight pars and one birdie, from a 15m uphill putt at the seventh, on the front nine to remain five ahead of Williamson and increase his advantage to six over Minifie. Williamson’s bold challenge faded when he took two-over at the par-three sixteenth and Minifie’s birdie at 13 was matched by Paterson. The coup de grace was effected by Paterson at the seventeenth. He steered a No. 3 iron on to the green at the 481 m par-five hole and holed the 3.5 m eagle putt. Not even a dropped shot at the last could tarnish a superb round and a superb tournament for Paterson. Williamson, with his second below-par round of the day, edged out the consistent Minifie for second, and the three were never in danger of losing their places over the last 18 holes. Leading scores:— Senior 280—B. G. Paterson, 71, 68, 71, 70. 285—J. N. Williamson, 73, 73, 69, 70. 287—P. F. Minifie, 71, 72, 71, 73. 290—J. S. Bufton, 73, 74, 72, 71. 294—K. I. McDonald, 75, 70, 73, 76. 297— M. E. Street, 76, 75, 78, 68; R. M. Vincent, 74, 73, 76, 74. 298— G. C. Saunders, 72, 76, 75, 75. 299— R. P. Bell, 77, 75, 73, 74; R. C. Murray, 76, 74, 75, 74. 300— K. A. Lake, 73, 75, 75, 77. 301— J. M. Crawford-Smith, 80, 71, 75, 75; S. J. Paterson, 72, 76, 74, 79. 302— J. R. Gantley, 75, 70, 82, 75. Intermediate 299— B. Tucker, 73, 80, 72, 74. 300— M. Sandri, 76, 74, 78, 72; G. L. Maw, 73, 76, 73, 78. 302—J. Sincock, 72, 76, 75, 79. 308— M. Tamuta, 80, 78, 72, 78; P. Mariu, 77, 77, 77, 77. 309— P. Hansen, 74, 80, 81, 74; I. J. Fowler, 81, 74, 76, 78; S. Dalkie, 76, 74, 79, 80. 312—A. McCall, 82, 79, 78, 73; C. J. Mitchell, 73, 77, 79, 83. Junior 320— B. Hanham, 83, 80, 78, 79. 321— G. D’Auvergne, 81, 77, 82 81 323— N. Shackley, 72, 84, 80, 87. 324— K. Mariu, 83, 83, 79, 79; B. Daly, 82, 83, 80, 79. 325— N. M. Griffiths, 78, 82, . 81, 84.