GOLF FINAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 11

GOLF FINAL

ATROCIOUS WEATHER

HQRNABROOK LEADING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.

Driving rain " and wind, swinging round to all points of. the compass, wrecked conditions for the New Zealand golf; amateur championship final between J. P. Plornabrook,: the titleholder, and L. Cathro, of Wanganui, who is making his fourth bid for the championship, having been a semifinalist on three previous occasions.

The rain commenced at an early hour this morning and well before the time for the match to begin the course was soaked. The two finalists, clad in waterproof slacks and jackets, and with a gallery numbering 60,. set out to meet heavy squalls that affected the scores considerably. Heavy showers, with little respite, made the conditions atrocious.

Hornabrook started with a rattle, taking the first two holes in par figures. At the first Cathro's approach was pulled out of. bounds and at the second Hornabrook sank a twelvefooter. Both slipped chances at the third hole, which was halved in inglorious 6's. Hornabrook increased his leadto 3 up at the next-with a birdie 4, when Cathro was awkwardly bunkered. Both were trapped in the adjoining bunker at the fifth and when Cathro failed to recover. Hornabrook had two putts' for a win. Hornabrook 4 up. ■■■■■•

A fierce squall beat down at the short sixth. Here Cathro pulled, one back. He wiped off another when Hornabrook took three putts on the seventh green, which was waterlogged, and a third at the eighth, where Hornabrook had a close lie for his second shot. Cathro put his' third shot close to the pin for a birdie 4.. Hornabrook took the ninth in 3 after being in trouble ..with his tee shot and turned 2 up. Hornabrook went out in 41 • and Cathro in 43. . ! CATHRO TRAGIC ON GREENS. The tenth was a bad hole, Hornabrook ' winning it in 6 to, 7. Cathro duffed his third shot. The eleventh was halved in excellent 4's, both chipping, handy and taking one putt. Hornabrook caused a thrill at the Hillside hole, when he sank a fifteen-footer for a birdie 2. Cathro was bunkered. Cathro had a wonderful opportunity at the next, when Hornabrook .'slipped his putt, but Cathro failed with a twofooter. Cathro won the next in 3to 4. Hornabrook was in long grass. Cathro seemed to have another chance when he half stymied. Hornabrook at the fifteenth, but Hornabrook negotiated it. Poor putting by Cathro lost him two more holes, one of which ;he should have won. Hornabrook finished with a brilliant burst when he sank a twenty-four footer on the. eighteenth green for an eagle 3. He was 6 up.

Hornabrook was round in 77 and Cathro in 84.

Cathro was not playing with the accuracy he showed yesterday. ; Hornabrook was. putting- confidently.