Canty out to improve

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 44

Canty out to improve

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

For all 1 its success in national team competitions in recent years, Canterbury has had a barren run in the South Island inter-provincial / golf tournament with only two victories /in the last 12 years. / /

At Shirley /this weekend Canterbury will endeavour to improve on its unimpressive strike rate in ,the ; Wrightson Real Estate-sponsored tournament, one which assumes added: ' significance because of the Government Life national championship at the course in November.

The Canterbury fiveman team for the New Zealand tournament will be named soon after the South Island championship, making this weekend’s round-robin event a final selection trial.

With the Canterbury

No. 7, Mark Street, and the No. 8, Lyndon Cron, both excelling in the Woodward Cup inter-club competition in recent weeks, the pressure is on the six golfers ranked above them. Canterbury’s last win was in 1985 • and it was third at Waitikiri the next year after collapsing dramatically over the final holes. Last year at Taieri it was a disappointing fourth, beating only Aorangi. The title was shared last year for the first time in the 26-year-old history of the tournament ■■ by Otago, the most successful province with 14 wins, and Tasman, which registered its first success. Tasman’s burgeoning prowess was evidenced a month later when it achieved its. best placing in the Government Life tournament — second to Waikato. Tasman has lost its No.

1, Elliot Boult, who is overseas, lan Strickett, Gary Girvin and Wayne Bowie from its successful 1987 team, but it is still represented by a strong combination which is capable of retaining its title. Otago has the former Coringa player, Brett Kennelly J at No. 1, but the team is drastically changed from last year, although Kim McDonald, at No. 2, and Phil Conlon, at No. 3, have not missed too many of the South Island championships. After a low placing in the Government Life tournament in 1987, Canterbury will want to reestablish itself among the top''provinces this year and a win at the week-end would be the first step in the right direction. The battle for positions in the Canterbury fiveman team has a sharper edge than last season and,

although Brent Paterson, John Williamson, Tony Christie and John Sanders seem safe bets, the playing order is far from settled and the fifth place could go to any of the other four on display at the week-end. The teams are:— L Aorangi: M. Sandri, C. Alexander, S. Keen, K. L. Frazier, A. Mangum, J. M. CrawfordSmith, C. Dawson, G. M. Gunn. Canterbury: B. G. Paterson, J. N. Williamson, A. J. Christie, J. B. Sanders, R. M. Vincent, M. G. Brown, M. E. Street, L. J. Cron, Otago: B. Kennelly, K. I. McDonald, P. N. Conlon, M.? Harper, A. Denniston, G. Marsden, D. Tilsley, B. Shaw./ Southland: M. J. R. Atkinson, R. Welsh, S. Ridden, K< Todd, B. Lucas, P. R. Adams, A. Miller, B. Kingsman.

Tasman: M. Berthelsen, G. Domigan, P. Fox, H. Morgan, R. Watt, L. Martell, A. J. Mackie, P. Bourke.