Canterbury Not Fancied In Eve-Of-Golf Poll

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 21

Canterbury Not Fancied In Eve-Of-Golf Poll

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. At least 11 of the 12 team managers of the Freyberg Rose Bowl provincial golf tournament, which starts at the Grange, Auckland, today, have discounted Canterbury’s chances of retaining the trophy.

When the 12 managers yesterday were asked to pick the side most likely to win this year’s tournament, outside of their own team, Wellington, Waikato and Auckland headed the list, with three votes each. Manawatu-Wanganui was picked by two and Otago by one.

It is surprising, to say the least, that no one picked Canterbury, and it would be folly to write off its chances. The form of the Canterbury players in practice has been most heartening and there is a depth in this team which is matched by few others entered in this year’s tournament. But the poll has not lessened the confidence of Canterbury’s team captain, R? E. Clements. Fine Touch “We are all playing steady golf,” he said. “For the last three days we have been feeling our way round the course and all players seem to be in fine touch on the greens.”

R. K. Atkinson, J. R. Broadhurst and J. F. Logie, the bottom three, are playing particularly well. E. H. M. Richards, the number three, was hitting the ball with rare skill yesterday, and the top two, Clements and D. R’. Hope, should hold their own with the top players in the other provinces. So much depends on whether the players can combat the tremendous tension that is building up at the Grange that predictions as to who will win become hazardous. Certainly the fine form shown by the Canterbury nlayers in holding Wellington to an eight-all draw last Sunday has had a moraleboosting effect on the players. Best Dressed Clements, who is playing in his twelfth Freyberg tourna- | ment, said the Grange course ■ was “the best dressed course I’ve ever seen for a Freyberg The grooming is magnificent.” i The condition of the 6614yard course is one of the talking points of this year’s tournament. Nobody has burned it up in practice—the best practice round has been three under the card—yet there is virtually no rough. However, there is an abundance of trees, thick bush and gullies which makes the placing of the tee shot very important. Held To Draw Some teams played friendly matches yesterday morning when the last practice session was held. And if the practice sessions are any criteria, this year’s Freyberg is going to produce upsets and shocks galore.

The fancied Waikato team was held to a three-all draw by Mid-South Canterbury and Manawatu-Wanganui was beaten by Auckland, 4-2. Auckland, on its home course, will take a power of beating and this young combination is dedicated in its approach to this tournament. Yesterday, G. H. Laycock, who is one of nine golfers competing in this year’s Freyberg under the age of 20, thrashed the evergreen B. M. Silk, 7 and 6.

The Auckland provincial champion, R. Gillespie, gave an outstanding exhibition of putting to beat J. Farley, 4 and 3. Gillespie had only 24 putts in his round, including 10 one-putt greens.

First Round. —Auckland v. Waikato; Buller-Westland-Marlbor-ough-Nelson v. Otago; Mana-watu-Wanganui v. Northland; Hawke’s Bay v. Taranaki; Bay of Plenty v. Canterbury; Mid-South Canterbury v. Wellington.

Second Round.—Taranaki v. Waikato; Buller-Westland-Marl-borough-Nelson v. Canterbury: Northland v. Wellington; Auckland v. Hawke's Bay: Bay of Plenty v. Otago: ManawatuWanganui v. Mid-South Canterbury.