AN EARLY LEAD.

BELL'S BAD START.

LOSES FOUR OF FIVE HOLES

GETS SQUARE AT ELEVENTH

Davidge made a good beginning in his final with Bell, playing the first three holes well for fours, and winning' the first and second, which Bell played badly. After a half at the third both played poor seconds at the fourth, and Davidge was' able to win it with a five. BelFs erratic play continued at the fifth, and Davidge, wiili a four, became four up there. Then it was Duvidge's turn to lapse into mistakes, and he lost three holes on end, his opponent, however, playing soundly to get the scratch figures, 3, 4, 4. Though he got his four at the eighth, Bell played a wild second right over the green when he had hit a tremendous drive to within a short pitch or run-in distance. On Ninth In Two. There was a thrill at this long ninth when Bell reached it in two shots, a drive and an iron. It appeared that he would square the match here, but his approach putt was weak, and Davidge unexpectedly won with a four, in consequence of holing a good putt. Starting home two up, Davidge had another lapse, being bunkered at both the 10th and 11th. Bell played them accurately and squared the game.' Mistakes by Bell when he had secured an advantage from the tee enabled Davidge to win the 12th in five, and he was again in the lead. Bell found the next green with his tee shot, and Davidge was in trouble in the trees, and again the match was squared.

At the next three holes Bell was outplayed, Davidge winning the lot after getting a three at the 14th from a lucky kick off the banked green. The game finishedat the 16th, Davidge 3 and 2. " I Throughout the tournament Bell showed great power with his shots, but many of them were wayward. Davidge deserved to win, but the final was a disappointing display of golf. The provincial handicap was won by J. H. Earle (Jlaungakiekie). who defeated A. D. Barber (Akarana), 2 and I, in the final. The results of the other competitions were as follows: — MIDDLEMORE HANDICAP. Semi-finals. —H. J. Aitken beat W. R. Vereoe, 2 and 1 ; B. B. Armstrong beat J. Earle, 4 and 2.' Final: H. J. AUken beat B. B. Armstrong, 4 and 3, EASTER HANDICAP. Semi-finals. —.T. McK. Wilson beat S. .T. Robinson, at the 19th ; A. O, D. Boddingtou heat J. N. Peart, 1 lrp. Final: A. O. D. Boddington beat J. McK. Wilson, 3 and 1,. TAMAKI HANDICAP. Semi-finals. —H. C. Lusoombe beat D. , Lowford, 2 and 1 ; K, G. Tappenden beat 'J. L. Gregory, 3 and 2. Final :H. C. Luscombe beat R. G. Tappendeu, 2 and 1. FLIGHT MATCHES. Auckland Provincial Championship Flight.—Semi-finals: H. D. Brinsden won by default from J. Carnuchan; U. 15, Bell heat. K. P.. Carr, at the 19th. Final; H. D. Brinsden beat R, E. Bell, 1 up, Auckland Provincial Handicap Flight.— Semi-finals: K. M. Wilson heal W. R. Woolhqmso, 2 and 1 ; C. H. Knight bent J, A. Falcrson. 2 and 1. Final: K. M. Wilson beat (.'. H. Knight, 5 and 4. Middleiuoro Handicap Flight.—Semifinals: W. B. Colhock boat H. H. Wallace, 3 and 2; R. W. G. Anderson heat S. H. Abel. 5 and 4. Final :W. B. Colbcck beat E. W. G. Anderson, 2 up. Easter Handicap Flight.—Semi-finals; N. Farrell beat W. Wilson, 4 and 3; G. J. S. Fisher beat J. Gilmour, 1 up. Final: N. Farrell beat G. J. S. Fisher, 4 and 3. Tainakt Flight.—Semi-finals: G. M. While beat H. N. Bray, 1 up; J. E. Batty beat T. It. Brett, by default. Final: G, M. White beat J. E. Batty, 2 and 1. MEDAL HANDICAPN. Farrell, 88, 19—69; W\ B. Colbeck, SO, 10—70; R. D. Wright, 76, s^-71 ; R. E. Bell, 74, 2—72. Four-hall Bogey. —J. D. Blackmore and S. E. (happen. 6 up; R. B. Carr and M. B. Cook, 0 up ; J. D. Shanly and C. Jarman, 6 up. J. L. Blackmore and S. E. Cluippell won on the count-back.

SUTHERLAND AGAIN.

FOURTH TARANAKJ TITLE, (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NIEIW PLYMOUTH, Monday. O. V. Sutherland "(New Plymouth) retainer! thp Tarunaki amateur golf title in the championships uoiicludod to-day on the New Plymouth Club's course at Nffamotn. It was his fourth win in the last five years. Sutherland proved himself the best golfer in the Held and although hard pressed by T. A. Thomson (Westown) in the final he would have been unlucky to have lost. Throughout the fixture Sutherland produced golf of a high standard. Ilia card of ifa in the linal was the poorest of his four round's of match play. In the first three he completed- Hie course in VI, 71 and il against par of 74, The linal was the third that Thomson, a young player, had contested at Ngamotu, but once again success eluded him. Although his golf in the tiunl was not really impressive h<: was always cool ana ready to take advantage of nnv mistakes his opponent made Jlc staged a great rally over the second nine holes and but for a puU«tf second .11 Hie last hole might easily have taken i In' game to the nineteenth greeu. H. I'. 1 ,i,e (To Arohu) won the Xgamotu handicap bv defeating \V. Moffat t (Palmerston Nuriln, 2 and 1, in the semi-Anal, and T. V. ),;in.v i Now Plymouth) at the twentieth in "iho final. Result.- wore:— TaraaaKi Chauiplonship.—Semi-fluals: P. V. S'liihi-ihiml beat J. Holden, 3 and 2; T. A. I :,,,,,:.-. n beat B. Lobb, 1 up. Final: SlUhcrli.nU boat Thomson, 1 up.

OTAGO CHAMPION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association » DUNEBIX, Monday. The Otflgo amateur golf championship v.a.-i concluded to-day, T, V, Wight .beatiag T. B. Ferguson, 1 up, In the final.

YOUTHS' FINAL

NORTH ISLAND CONTEST, GRAHAM DEFEATS GLADING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. Two extra holes were necessary to decide the North Island golf championship, victory going to D. H. Graham when he defeated K. H. Gladiug (Hamilton) at tlie thirty-eighth. Jt was a fine contest between youthful players, both being under 20 years; of age. The winner conies from Eeilding, but is now living at Wellington. He has played conspicuously in open competitions for several seasons and participated prominently in the North Shore summer championship on two occasions. In tiie morning Graham obtained a lead of 2 up. the rounds being 72 and 74. With four holes of the 36 remaining it appeared that Graham would win comfortably, for he was three up. (Hading, however, had a run of fours and won three of the holes to square the match. The thirty-seventh was halved in fours, and victory went to Graham at the next where his opponent was bunkered, and through the green with his third.

SOUTH ISLAND TITLE.

SUCCESS OP B. V. WRIGHT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Monday. After playing brilliant gulf throughout the tournament. B. V. Wright (lnvercargill) won the South Islam) amateur gulf title to-day, beating G. A. Ussher (Tiniaru) in Iho tinal, 2 and 1. In his mutch with Ussher, Wright completed the round in even fours. In 1933 at Titirangi Wright won. the New Zealand amateur championship.

Results were (Invercnrgill players except where otherwise stated) : — First Round.—J. W. Jackson (Avondale) beat M. S. Tnnsley (Gore), 0 and 5; G. E. Glennie boat J. S. Lindsay, 1 up; G. A. Patterson beat D. Crawford (Wyndham) by default; G. A. Ussher (Tiniaru) beat W. J. Domigan (Tuatapere), 7 and 6; SI. J. Wilson (Oamaru) heat J. E. Mathoson, l„up; M. Odowda beat G. Robertson, 3 and 2; H. W. Rndgers heat C. Rhodes (St. Clair). 5 and 4; B. V. Wright (Roxburgh) beat P. B. Barnett (Sydenham), 2 up.

Second Round. —Jackson beat Glennie. a and 4; Ussher beat Patterson, 2 up; Odowda beat Wilson, (1 and 5; Wright beat Rogers at the twenty-first. Semi-final. —Ussher (Tiniaru) heat Jackson (Avondale), 2 up; Wright (Roxburgh) beat Odowda, 3 and 2. Final. —Wright heat Ussher, 2 and 1. In the semi-final of the Southland Plato X. S. Bowie (Russley) heat J. J. White. 3 and 1; R. I'. Douglas (Ofago) beat F. H, Hughes at the nineteenth. In the final Douglas beat Bowie, 2 and 1.

NORTH SHORE EVENT,

EASTER COMPETITIONS.

The Easter tournament of the North Shore Golf Club, commenced on Saturday, was continued yesterday. Following were the results : — Bogey Match.—P. J. Reid (<), all square; S. E. Sutherland (18). 2 down: J. Mason (9). 2 down: S. W. H. Chambers (!)). 3 down; H. E. Goodwin (9), 4 down, Stableford Bogey. —H. Preston. 32. it— 37; A. .1. Chambers, 21, 15 —30; II- C. Littler IS 17 —35; H. E. Goodwin, 20, 9—34: A, E. Bond. 16, 18—34 Medal Round.—B. Rne, 82—12—10: G. Heale. 93—22—71: D. H. Freakes, 8i — 15— 72: A. J, Chambers, 90 —18—72; R. X. White, 82—10—72. Four-ball Best-ball Bogey.—S. \\. H. Chambers and E. L. Thwaites, 7 up; A. W Short and H. Chnrle.sworth, 4 up; HV. Everton and H. Cadness, 4 up.

PUPUKE CLUB,

JONES BEATS RAXDRUP. In the final of the Easter championship at I'upuke V. X. Jones defeated H. Randrup 1 up. A foursomes competition was won by G. S. Hardley anC W. 11. Lee, with a card of 83—12—7L after a count back with T. E. Gooding and A. F. Burnett, SO—9—7l.

WELLINGTON xITLE.

SEAII-FINALS REACHED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. In the Wellington provincial amateur golf, championship the semi-finalists are J. P. Hornnbrook (Masterton), J. Shelly (Miramar), L. Qtiinn (Waiwetu) and H. A. Black (Miramar). The tourney will be finalised to-mortrow.

MAUNGAKIEKIE CLUB.

The Maungakiekie Golf Club's Easter Cup and group handicap competitions were continued yesterday, two rounds of match play being* decided. Following were the results : — EASTER CUP. First Round.—W. C. Calderwood beat E, D. Williams, 2 up ; N. C. Laud beat C. T. Halsted, 3 and 1; C. Partridge beat C, Worth. 2 up; J. S. Rankin beat F. J. Schischka, 5 and 4; F. Wiseman beat C. P. Worlev, 3 and 2; F. Aldred beat .T, Jerrat, jun.; A. N. Turner heat .T. Riordan, 3 aild 2; J. Sherlock beat H. A. Tuck, 4 anil 3- .-. ~ Second Round. —Laud beat Cnlderwood, 5 and 4 : Partridge beat Rankin at the nineteenth: "Wiseman beat Ahlred, 4 and 3; Sherlock beat Turner, 1 up.