Golf: Honeymoon over for stroke champ

By BOB PEARCE

CHRISTCHURCH - Tim Wilkinson's honeymoon as national strokeplay golf champion lasted all of 18 hours.

The Palmerston North left-hander was brought quickly down to earth yesterday morning when he was beaten in the first round of the matchplay by Glyn Delany from Nelson.

Wilkinson was four down with six to play on the Shirley course but won the 13th, 14th and 16th with birdies to keep the match alive.

But he carved his tee shot on the 17th into a bunker and the 21-year-old Delany's par was good enough for victory, 2 and 1.

The runner-up in the strokeplay, Chris Johns (Auckland), also fell in the first round, to Australian Scott Strange.

Johns led early on but the West Australian, who is a member of the official Australian team at the championships, won four holes in the middle stages and finally won 2 and 1.

Three other Australians survive into the second round this morning, Matthew Ballard (Queensland), Andrew Webster (Victoria) and Chris Downes (Queensland), who was the beaten finalist in the recent Australian championship.

In a clash of New Zealand representatives, Reon Sayer (Carterton) beat Bradley Heaven (Remuera) one up, getting revenge for a loss in the second round last year. It was a welcome return to form by Sayer, who has struggled recently.

One of the most remarkable efforts in reaching the last 16 came from Northlander Doug Batty.

He has been off the scene for 12 months after major surgery on his right wrist and this was his first comeback tournament.

A third round of 71 eased him into qualification for the matchplay and in the first round he beat Mathew Holten of Te Aroha 2 and 1.

No fewer than three Rotorua golfers have made the second round - Mark Smith (Springfield), Kent Skellern (Springfield) and Nicholas Davey (Rotorua). Auckland has one survivor, Blair Dibley (Akarana).

There will be two rounds today to find the semifinalists, who will play 36 holes tomorrow. The 36-hole final is on Sunday.