Freyberg Rosebowl Begins At Napier Tomorrow

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 13

Freyberg Rosebowl Begins At Napier Tomorrow

CANTERBURY has been lower than fourth in the Freyberg Rosebowl tournament only once in the last five years, and there is no reason to suppose the team to compete at Napier in the tournament which begins tomorrow will not maintain such a useful record. Canterbury has a good team, although several of last season's players will not be taking part. R. J. Charles has turned professional and is overseas; C. W. Caldwell has not been able to play because of illness; A. W. Robinson has only begun playing again after an illness. E. H. Richards has not shown last season’s good form and has been dropped, so only two members of the team which did so well at Middlemore will be representing the province this time.

Canterbury will be led by R. C. Murray, who has a wonderfully good record in Freyberg Rosebowl games, and who has all the qualities of skill and determination required of a top player in this most exacting and exciting event. In his two previous appearances for Canterbury, Murray has been beaten only twice in 12 games, and he should do extremely well again. I. S. Harvey, the second player, has appeared for Canterbury only once before in this tournament, when he had a rather unhappy time at Nelson, in 1958. But he is a grand golfer, one of the most accomplished players tn the country, and one whose attacking methods can upset the

most stolid opponent. If Harvey’s recent improvement on the greens is maintained, he should win most of his matches. For K. D. Foxton, the tournament will be his sixth in succession. Last year he won five matches and halved the other and in all, his 30 games have brought him 19 victories and two halves. He gives Canterbury a strong hand in the fourth position. Playing at number three, R. E. Clements should also do well. He has put more into his golf this year than he has for a long time. He represented Canterbury with success each season from 1954 to 1959—16 wins and four halves in 30 games—but he was dropped last season. Another aggressive player, Clements at his best has a fine touch on and about the greens, and he should further embellish his record. Canterbury's fifth player is G. P. Vesty, who will be playing in his first Rosebowl tcumament. But his performances at the last few New Zealand championships have shown clearly that he can foot it with all but the very best New Zealand golfers. and there is no reason why he should not acquit himself well. In the last place in the Canterbury team is the former Otago representative. B. A. Colquhoun. who has the distinction of being a player with a two-handed grip. Colquhoun can play very fine golf, but he is not perhaps as reliable as the others. However, he often has days where he seems able to hole

almost any putt, and his ability on the greens might be of great value to him. It would be asking much of Canterbury to win the Freyberg Rosebowl this year, without all its best players being available, for there will be strong opposition, particularly from Auckland. Canterbury has won the trophy only once, at Gisborne in 1957—but a second success is certainly within the bounds of possibility.