THE GOLF OPEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 22

THE GOLF OPEN

A KEEN STRUGGLE

SECOND ROUND POSITION

.WELLINGTON HIGH UP

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, November 11

It was a pity that today was so damp and "steamy" for the second day of the New Zealand golf championship meeting, for it necessitated players carrying sartorial impedimenta to keep out the wet, making them uncomfort-, ably hot as their rounds progressed. As far as the actual ground conditions! were concerned, however, there was little to complain about, as the greens were holding <well and a contestant hkd to be' exceptionally unlucky not to find a good lie in the fairways. In an open championship interest quickens day by day until the grand finalel The two rounds played so far have revealed that the youth of New Zealand is still further developing" its talent for me game. Both the young Smiths have proved a credit to their father's coaching, the family steadiness being revealed by the 72 and 71 of Basil, junior, and the 71 and 73 of P. G. F. A point of interest is that P. G. F. celebrated his 20th birthday today and by a coincidence was coming in from his round just as his father was starting off from the first tee. The two .brothers have a scrupulously correct style of play, easy backswing and great pace of clubhead at the moment of impact with the ball. Another 20-year-old is, of course, A. D. Locke, of South. Africa, who at this stage of his New Zealand tour needs the application of no particular emphasis of his undoubtedly high standard of play. Locke has been variously described as an easy swinger and a powerful hitter. The truth is that he incorporates both factors in his style. His back swing is rhythmic and relaxed, but by the time the clubhead reaches the ball it is travelling full out. _ The South African's temperament is such that.really good—perhaps! sensational rounds—can be expected from him tomorrow. He now has the course well summed up and is not likely to make any mistakes arising from a lack of local knowledge.' A GRACEFUL COMPLIMENT. It was a pretty and well-merited compliment that Locke paid today, to A. D. S. Duncan, a graceful gesture indeed from youth to mature years. Duncan has every claim to the title of the "Father of Golf" in New Zealand, of championship golf at any rate. In 1914 he was regarded as "a player of fairly mature experience when he beat the then 18-year-old Sloan Morpeth at Middlemore. Auckland, in the final of the amateur championship. Speaking to a Pressman today after his game with Duncan, Locke seemed at a loss for words to express his appreciation of his partner's good qualities. "The most charming man I have ever played with," he said. "He was really marvellous." As Locke tn his comparatively shor'.. career has played in many parts of the ■ world.

and has met a multitude of partners and opponents, his words must carry impressive weight. If by any chance Locke does not strike the anticipated form in the [third and fourth rounds, A. J. Shaw,, I one of the most reliable campaigners the game in New Zealand has known,, should not be far away from the top when the final numbers go up. If Shaw recovers his touch on the greens he will be a formidable opponent for Lqcke, however well the visitor plays. STRONG CONTENDERS. The Smith Brothers and W. B. Reilly were all well up in today's play, a^nd it may be found that the consistency of all three is a factor to be reckoned with. I. A. Ewen, who, in addition to being a prominent Cambridge University man, won the Hutt Winter Cup, has shown by reason of his 68

in the second round that he is another of the young players whose future as a conspicuous figure on the links is assured. This matter of breaking 70, of which he proved himself eminently capable, could easily -win him supreme honours, if not this year then certainly some time in the near future. Ewen has a firm command of all his clubs and there is no doubt about his personal attitude to the game. A. Gibbs and D. C. Bennie are two Otago amateurs who have done exceptionally well over the first two rounds. The latter today improved on his round of Thursday by five strokes.

After his initial 71, •J. A. Scouler (Otago) was disappointing, inaccuracy up to the green being a fault in his second round of 78. Better things are expected of him tomorrow.

D. C. Collins was another amateur who encountered more trouble in his second effort.

E. S. Douglas, the Otagd Club professional, and C. Sherriff, also of Otago, rather distinguished themselves by plucky recoveries, from bad patches which would probably have led to graver tragedy in players who allowed setbacks to influence their minds. Douglas, of course, is well, known as a fighter and it is pleasing that' young Sherriff has come through so well.

A. H. Dyke, of Maraenui and the long-driving A. E. Guy, of Poverty Bay, both professionals, have figured well. They should be formidable, competitors for many years to come.

B. M. Silk, holder of the Amateur title, and B. S. Douglas, the Professional title-holder, must, on their present form, be given a good chance of again being at the top in these competitions. The former has only to find touch with his putter to be able

s to knock several strokes off the rounds j he has done so far. He is a pleasing type of golfer who plays" with all his t might, without any unnecessary grim--2 ness. sj HORNABROOK'S UNCERTAINTY. | .' Hornabrook has by no means „ proved himself to be the master of stroke play which won him the Open last year, and unless he comes to light , with a reversal of form next week '" his chances even of going c fair distance in the Amateur Championship are negligible. Hornabrook deserves a ;. better fate, for he has given glimpses • t of form which show what a delight . he can be to watch. In a way he has . been restlessly energetic while on - Balmacewan and has apparently, been ] * unable to settle down. , j p One of the sensations of this after-! 5 noon was Hornabrook's tragic round of i 86, which appears not only to have ;j settled his chances of retaining, his title \ in the Open but even threatened his !: being among those to qualify for pari ticipation in the last two rounds. Needi less to say he has it in hin. to make \ amends for his failure, today and his i personality is such that his return to i top form would be a popular feature . of the tournament. i THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS. ] « ■ '

B. J. Smith, jun. (Invercargill), pro. 72 71 143 A. D. Locke (South Africa), pro. 75, 69 144 A. J. Shaw (Wellington), pro. .. 72 72 144 P. G. F. Smith (Akarana) 71 73 144 W. B. Reilly (Shandon) 72 72 144 I. A. Ewen (Hutt) 77 68 115 A. E. Guy (Poverty Bay), pro. 75 70 145 A. Gibbs (Otago) 72 73 145 i>. C. Bennie (St. Clair) 75 70 145 E. S. Douglas (Otago), pro. ... 75 71 1}6 J- Galloway (Whahgarei), pro. 76 71 117 A. H. Dyke (Alaraenui), pro. .. 76 72 118 J. Lanjbie (Hastings), pro. ... 72 76 14$ B. M. Silk (Wanganui), ..... 75 73 US G. A. Ussher (Timaru) 73 75 118 B. Watt (Wanganui), pro 77 72 u$ J. A. Scouler (Otago) 71 ,78 1-19 A. Murray (Titiiangi), pro 77 72 149 I). C. Collins (WairarapaJ 72 77 119 J. K. Matheson (lu'veieargill) .. 7H 75 jr,l A. R. Kitto (Wanganui) 75 ' 76 151 .(. P. Mortland (Taihape) 77 T4 151 R. H. (Hading (Hamilton) ... 7!) 72 151 K. Ross (Otago), 77 75 15" C. Sherriff (Otago) 77 75 ],->2 J. H. McDougall (Otago) 74*79 15:: K. B. Carr (Titirangi) 75 78 153 B. H. Menzies (Auckland) 77 77, 154 D. A. Ferguson (Otago) 76 78 154 A. G. Sinie lOtago) 75 79 154 N. H. Fuller (unattached), pro. .. 77 77 154 J. B. Tunnell (Bangimarie) .. 80 74 154 A. Lawrence (St. Clair) 76 78 154 A. Lucas (Otago) 76 78 154 B. W. Caulton (Greymouth) 78 76 154 J. A. McLennan (Alexandra) .. 74 81 155 J- ■*«• Sams (Otago) 82 73 155 D. A. Ferguson (Otago) 75 80 155 B. V. Wright (Otago) si 74 J55 R. G. Butters (Miramar), pro. .. 80 7>» i".t JP. W. Dixon (St. Clair ... 79 76 T55 R. G. Holland (Wahvetu) 76 79 {55 ?*W #iK (Christchurch). pro. 77 7.9 156 J. w. MclntosU (Otago) 79 77 ir, K M-W. Wilson (North Otago) .. S3 73 15H r; V • ,Jaf hson (Arondale) 78 78 r.<! H. J Pofiock (Otago) 81 75 IsC u Clements (AlaungaUiekie), pro f, „„ .,_ J. W. Logan (Busslcy) ...::.':' 79 73 157 ,J- (Harcwood) 80 78 158 1 %^ iW <Rotorua). Pro. .. S3* 75 153 •f. bhelly (Mmiiuar) 82 7a lr , 8 H. Rogers (tovcrcarKlll) 76-82 I5S It. Hay McKenzie (Westport) ... 83-75 158 D. s. McLean (St. Clair) 81 78 1 159 i. C ; Tyrell (Otago) 78 %i j^jj B. Kiernan (Greytown) 81 78 159 R. V. Fowler (North Otago), pro. 82 77 159 S. E. Field (Otago) ......'..... 80 79 15-J D. R. Milliner (St. Clair), pro. .. 80 80 1(30 1>. B. Stratraore (Mornington) .. 80 80 160 J. Forrest (Avondale), pro 80 -81 101 VV. D, Wood (Christchurch) .... 82 79 161 A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington) .. 80 81 161 D. J. Oliver (Wahvetu) 85 76 161 D. H. Butcher (Christehurcn) .. 83 78 161 J. S. Park (Shandon) 84 77 161 C. Bryant (Hanraer). pro 82 79 161 J. D. JNash (Ranglmarle) ...... 79 82 161 P. F. Francla (Ranglmarle) 82 80 162 A N. Haggltt (Otago) ..."; 78 85 163 J. T. Dodgshun (Otago) 84 79 163 A. Thom (Inyercargill) '. 77 86 163 P. Qulnn (Akarana) 86 77 163 J. P. Hornabrooki (Masterton) .. 78 86 164 G. W. Melvln (Hamilton), pro. .. 82 83 165 V R. Rughes (Inverear2ill) .... 85 80 165 3. B. N'icolaus (Shandon) 85 80 1G5 S. J. Hlnes (New South Wales) .. S3 83 166 VI. W. Clayton (St. Clair) 86 80 166

F. Avent (Otago) J. A. Dunning (Otago) J. 15. Laidlaw (Otago) B. .T. Smith, sen. (Abaraua), pro. M. T. Houlihan (Timaru) A. H. Boyd (Otago) It. Deacon (Waimate) ».... J. G- Dick (Otago) W. H. ( Dtllicar (Shandon) H. H. Harris (Timaru) James Watt (Wellington), pro. .. I. R. P. Douglas (Otago) John Watt (Wellington), pro. .. K. C. Williams (Russley) 82 89 79 88 84 87 SI 87 85 85 89 83 84 02 7S 88 SO 84 82 88 82 85 87 S3 83 02 85 167 16" 167 108 108 109 169 169 170 172 172 172 170 177