Notable trio at Waitikiri

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 33

Notable trio at Waitikiri

The appearance in Christchurch of three of the world’s foremost teams in men’s amateur golf this month will be the undoubted highlight of the Canterbury golfing calendar. The inaugural Pacific Rim tournnament, involving the Eisenhower Trophy title-holder, Canada, the always formidable Australia, and New Zealand in four rounds of stroke play, will be played at Waitikiri from March 18 to 21. After the international competition, Waitikiri, as part of its fiftieth anniversary celebrations, will hold the New Zealand amateur championships from March 22 to 29. The Australians intend to remain for the foursomes, stroke-play and matchplay championship and at least one Canadian will stay for the week-long competition. Canterbury’s No. 1 golfer, Brent Paterson, of Coringa, will represent New Zealand in the Pacific Rim tournament along with three Aucklanders, Michael Barltrop, Philip Aickin and Glen Goldfinch. Canterbury golfers have a full programme leading up to the country’s premier teams’ tournament, the Government Life event, at Mt Denby, Whangarei, from November 3 to 7. Paterson, who was representing New Zealand in South America at the time of the tournament last year, will almost certainly return to strengthen the side and there will be at least one other change. The team’s non-playing captain for the last three years, Len McKenzie, has stepped down from the position. His successor has yet to be appointed.

Dates and venues of the main events are:—

March 15: Christchurch represents Canterbury area in DB Export Challenge Trophy at Westport. March 18-21: Pacific Rim tournament, Waitikiri. March 22-29 New Zealand amateur championships, Waitikiri. April 5: Canterbury mixed foursomes, Harewood April 12: Russley 36hole men’s open. April 610: Freyberg Masters, Titirangi. April 17-19: Canterbury match-play championships, Christchurch. April 18-19 North Island amateur, Levin. April 26: Canterbury foursomes, Rangiora. May 2-3; Canterbury v. Buller-Westland. May 910: DB Export Challenge Trophy national final, Waitikiri. May 13-15: South Island boys, Alexandra. August 2: Templeton 36hole open. August 9: Town v. Country, Hororata. August 16: Canterbury under-21 and under-17 championships, Avondale. August 22: Rangiora 36hole open. August 23: Canterbury v. Aorangi, Burnham. September 6: Ellesmere 36-hole open. September 8-9 National Provident Fund final, Wellington. September 13: Amberley 36-hole open; Canterbury v. Otago, Dunedin. September 26-27: Hanmer Springs 72-hole open. October 3-4: South Island inter-provincial, Dunedin. October 4: Tai Tapu 36-hole open. November 1: Waimairi Beach sea-side 36-hole open. November 3-7: Government Life national inter-provincial tournament, Whangarei. November 15: Harewood 36-hole open. November 21-22: "The Press” Garden City Classic, Harewood. December 27: Waitikiri New Year 36-hole open.