N.S.W. Wins Junior Women’s Golf

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 14

N.S.W. Wins Junior Women’s Golf

The visiting New South Wales team showed a clear superiority over New Zealand in the junior women’s golf international played at Shirley on Sautrday but the margin, five matches to one, exaggerated the disparity between the two teams.

This was the conclusion of a week’s competitive play and the form of some of the players reflected the hard golf they had had. New South Wales gained a distinct advantage in winning both foursomes in the morning, needing to win only two of the four singles for the international. In the event, they won three and Miss M. Ensor (Canterbury) was the only New Zealander to win a match.

New Zealand was just a little unlucky as four of the six matches were decided on the 18th green. In the foursome between Misses R. Wright and E. Blackmore (N.S.W.) and Ensor and A. August (N.Z.), the Australians were three up after five holes and one under par. They hit low balls with their tee-shots and woods and gained a greater distance down the fairways which were very fast in spite of recent rain.

Good driving and chipping by Miss August and good irons from Miss Ensor reduced the lead to one after nine holes and after the New South Wales pair had increased to three up after 13 holes the margin was again reduced, to one at the 15th. This position did not alter again. In the other match, between Misses G. Robson and R. Bennett (N.S.W.) and H. Mowat and B. McTaggart (N.Z.), the Australians raced away to an early lead of five up and although the New Zealanders reduced this to three up, the match was over at the 15th.

Misses Robson and McTaggart had a terrific battle in the singles. Miss McTaggart took an early lead but Miss Robson, who was having trouble on the fairways, putted brilliantly and sank one from 35 feet. Neither could gain much advantage and Miss Robson was a little lucky to win one up. There was never more than a hole between Misses Wright and Mowat, who both drove extremely well, while Miss Blackmore, the New South Wales captain, was far too experienced for an out-of-touch Miss August. It was left to Miss Ensor, who showed herself to be the best player at the tournament with her win in the match play event earlier in the week, to take New Zealand’s only victory. Her irons and putting gave her a slight but definite advantage over Miss Bennett who, although three down after six holes, fought back well and took the match to the final hole. Miss Bennett had a number of birdies, and should have had more, but was not as consistent as Miss Ensor. Results were:—

Foursomes. Misses E. Blackmore and R. Wright (N.S.W.) beat Misses M. Ensor and A. August 1 up, Misses R. Bennett and G. Robson (N.S.W.) beat Misses H. Mowat and B. McTaggart 4 and 3.

Singles.—Ensor (N.Z.) beat Bennett 1 up, Blackmore beat August 5 and 4, Wright beat Mowat 1 up, Robson beat McTaggart 1 up.