GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 124, 25 May 1920, Page 9

GOLF.

OBj XBBLICK.)

The annual In-terclub match between teams representing the Auckland and Mauhgaklekle Golf Clubs was played on Saturday afternoon last, and resulted In an easy win for the eeritor cliib by 15 matches to 3. The remaining 5 matches finished all square. The conditions, owing to the recent heavy rain and a strong westerly Wind, were anything font favourable for good play, but In spite of this some very even matches were played. The surprise of the afternoon was the defeat of the Auckland provincial champion, K. George, at the hands of H. B. Lusk. It was not the defeat co much as the substantial win that was surprising. When two players of suck skill and experience meet no one can say who will •win, but a good game is generally assured. On Saturday the going was pretty solid, and Luck proved In better form than his opponent. Up to the greens there was little .between the players, but Lusk was playing his approaches better, and this enabled aim to win several holes with tout one putt. At the turn George was 2 "own, but his opponent secured 3"s at the 11th nnd -lSth, and although' tie Maungakiekle man played well, hie opponent played fcettes and won the mutch at the 14th, 5 up and 4. Another champion in R. D. Gardner suffered defeat. This player Is a member of both clubs, but In lnterclub fixtures plays for Maungaklekie. Last seaeon he won the championship of the Auckland Club On Saturday Gardner met JO. AlaeCormlck, who this season has been showing such consistent form that hie handicap is down to scratch, and the Aucklander proved a winner 2 up and 1. It was expected that the heavy state of the ground would favour Gardner, as MacConnlck relies on getting a lot of run on hie shots. The Auckland player, however, proved very accurate near and on the green,.and .this enaibled ■ him to gain a close win on the 17th green. Those two good match players Halnser and Waller had a great flght, which finished all square on the 18th. 'Ralph, was much too consistent for C. F. Gardner, and scored an easy win, C and o. W. B. Colbeck found Joyce a tough proposition, the match going to the 18th, ■where ■the Ancklander won 2 up. Both W. a. Colbeck'e sons, G. F. and W. S., kept up their reputation as good match players, the former defeating E- Hirkson and the latter J. C. Wilson. Hickson took his' opponent to the 18th, and only lost 1 up after a very strenuous match, both doing the round in 34, which, considering the conditions, was very good. Wilson put up a good game against Colbeck, who holed his approach at one hole and landed a long putt at another, otherwise the game was very even. F. Trice also took his opponent, S. I pton, to the last green, and this after the AucKlander was 3 up and 4 to play. Chesney, ..who played as emergency against "Rogers,, scored a good, win - np. much to the surprise of many, as the Maunjraklekle player is a much lower handicap than the Aucklander h , moo , f Once again young Wright proved himself n vprv nromising player. In meeting *uiu ' a weninown exponent as Reid be was, cWH MS? SVSSft". ""ill the junior division, which was played on the •Maungaklekie links, the Aucklanders nsaln proved successful, -whining 6 matches to % the re-malning 4 ending aU square. Grey J 'Lngk. D. Marfarlane, Reee, and (Richmond all played well, and scored easy vltfories. Ballin did well to take Caldwell to the sixteenth, as the latter Is a big hitter, and this course should suit him. as most of the holes are short, end good driving gives a short maehle approach. The following matches were all square at the eighteenth:—iHowden and Thomson, Kelly and Hemus, Carr and Hodgea, and Gillie* and ■Beehan. In all *hese the Maungaklekie men did well, end, as they were up against players of a lower handicap, deserve- credit for their performances. The only two to score victories 'were H. K. Cooke, een., and A. t« Sleur. The former Iβ a late beginner at the game, but piaye very steadily, and it proved useful on Saturday. Le Sleur Is also a steady player, and, being a good ' putter, Is hard to hold If In form, aa Fairclongli found out. The good that these matches do Iβ really hard to estimate. There are so many benefits to be gained by them that It 1g a pity that only one is down for the season. Tfcere Is nothing Improves ene> game more tb*n

experience on different courses. Kβ nwa plays aU the season on Ms own dub course a eet style fes developed, and as soon as a different course Is visited he Is the distances are «o different. For Instance, the iMMdlemore member visiting ■MaungakieWe finds that there are very few holes where a braesv is needed through the green, and ac finds'the mashle a useful ctab. 'He also tods the greens smaller, and that several are on the slope—in fact, quite different to the Middlemore greens. Tl; same aSpHra to the Maungakiekie man visiting Middlemore. There the course is very onice longer ond the .brassy is frequently needed. The style of the players from these two clubs. In fact, is quite different. It is very noticeable that the Auckland juniors have a much freer style than the MaungaHekie players. Tils Is to my mlna accounted for by the fact that the brassy Is needed more often, and consequently more practice is obtained at long hitting. Th° Auckland club Is exceptionally strong as regards players lietween the handicaps of 5 and 13, and this accounts for their superiority over 'Mnungaklekie. At this latter clnb there are few players under 8. but a large percentage between this figure and 18. It is experience such as these players obtained on Saturday that will enable them to improve their game.. Quite a number of intending competitors at the Hamilton meeting on June 2, 3 and 4 and that they are unable to make the trip owing to the lack of accommodation, H being winter show time. The third round of the match play tonrney is set down Jor Saturday next at the ■Maungakiekie £lub. - At Middlemore the members of the Auckland Club play the second round ot the E. R. B'.oomfleld Bowl. The winner ot this competition is the player who returns the best two cards of three handicap medal rounds. Competitors may choose their own In order to endeavour to assist, golfers in general, a aeries of articles by well known ■English exponents is appearing in out •Sports Edition eavh Saturday. The third It i a contribution by Wilfred Held on that difficult club "The Mashie."