Golf: Players' top form test for selectors

By Graham Skellern

The national women's golf squad yesterday completed a resounding victory over the University of Oregon and gave the selectors a bigger headache as they sat down to choose the five-strong Commonwealth tournament side.

The New Zealanders did not lose once in 15 matches on the testing Muriwai links course, though two foursomes and two singles matches were halved.

But in this final trial for the New Zealand Commonwealth Cup team all 10 Titleist squad members were making a strong case for inclusion, as were two Kiwis in the American university side, former North Harbour representatives Pam Sowden and Kylie Wilson.

New Zealand beat the Oregon side, ranked in the top 20 of collegiate golf in the United States, by 46 points to 14.

Wilson and Sowden combined in the No 1 foursomes to give New Zealand's top pairing, Queen Sirikit Cup champions Tina Howard and Lisa Aldridge, a good run for their money before conceding with a hole to go.

Wilson, returning to tournament play after a period of concentrating on studies, produced solid form yesterday, recording two birdies in halving with Howard in the No 2 singles match.

Sowden, who had beaten the talented Howard the day before, struck an in-form Aldridge who also had two birdies to win 3 and 2.

But Sowden, a former New Zealand representative, again caught the eye of the selectors. "We liked the way Pam played - her attitude and the way she hits the ball. She will guts it out and that's the sort of player we're looking for," said one of the selectors, Anna Brabyn.

Aucklander Wendy Hawkes halved with Jerilyn White, and in the morning foursomes, Claire Dury/Anita Boon and Catherine Knight/RobynCruse were all square with Anika Heuser/Dawn Berry and Claire Hunter/Megan Heckeroth.

Catherine Knight, likely to get a recall to the national side, completed an outstanding two days by beating Heuser, one of the Germany's most promising golfers, 1 up in the No 4 singles match.

The match was all square after nine holes, and Knight finally gained the edge with an eagle on the par-five 13th and a birdie on the 15th.

The New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Cup, against Australia, Canada and Great Britain, in Vancouver from August 30 to Sepotember 3 will be named next week.