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Lummis Returns to Rep. Golf
Hard-hitting Graeme Lummis, runner-up in the 1969 New Zealand plate, returned to representative golf in the hot seat of the Combined Nelson-Marlborough-Buller-Westland team in the South Island provincial championship at Nelson.
Lummis made a fair job of his unenviable role as No.1 in an inexperienced side. He beat Otago's B. E. Newall, to reverse the result of the 1969 Plate final, 3 and 2, and then accounted for Southland's J. Vear, 4 and 3. His losses were to Canterbury's Bruce Taylor 2 down and international Ross Murray, Mid-South Canterbury, 4 and 3. Otago, led by international Geoff Clarke, retained its championship from Canterbury by half a point.
Final points were: Otago 3½, Canterbury 3, Mid-South Canterbury 2, Southland, 1½, Combined 0. Ideal conditions prevailed and the course gave competitors a thorough testing.
A large gallery followed the Lummis-Murray encounter. Nelson's top player, Lummis, is at the right
Graeme Lummis had a rough time in his match against Ross Murray and had to adopt an awkward pose to play an equally awkward shot on this steep bank
A powerful drive rockets down the fairway and Lummis watches its progress, satisfied
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Ross Murray improved as the tournament progressed. He lost, after a bad start, to Geoff Clarke, 4 and 3, but won his other matches
Bill Rainbird, Combined No.2, driving
Geoff Clarke, Otago No. 1, is all concentration as he putts
Graeme Daines, Combined, lines one up
Combined players, Mike Thompson and Ted Taylor, study the green
Youngest member of the Combined side was Marlborough's Alan Williams
Mike Thompson had his ball land close to the trees but got out okay