GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 220, 14 September 1923, Page 8

GOLF.

S. AUCKLAND GOLF TOURNEY. BELL WINS FROM GEORGE. AN EXCITING FINISH. The final of the South Auckland Golf Championship, between Norrie Bell 1 Hamilton) and Hex George (Maungakiekie), at St. Andrew's Links, was very exciting, for neither were more than two up at any stage, the morning play ending all square, and again on the ;>ot'h they came all square. The match seemed ended on the .10th, when Bell pushed his second out of bounds, but George took three putts, and Bell halved in fives. It. was then thought, as George had won twice at No. 1 during ihe day, it would be his again, but the hole proved to be a champion finish. Bell hit a beauty to within 10ft of hole, pin high, and George followed with an equally fine one, pitching within liin of Bell and stopping lSin off; Bell then holed out, and George failed only by the narrowest of margins. Bell has now won the following championships: Hamilton Club, AVaikato, and (South Auckland. Their cards were as follows: — Bell.—Morning round: ."3, picked up at 2nd, 4, 5, 4, 4, li, 5, 5; home, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 5, 0, 4. Afternoon: 4, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, li, 4, 5; home, 4, 4, 5, 5, 3, 0. 5, 4. 5, 2. George. —Morning: 2, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 7, 4, 5; home, 4, 5, 4, (i, 4, !>, fl, fl, 5. Afternoon: 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 0, 4, 4; home, 5, H, 4. 7, 3, f>, 5, o. 0, 3. In the afternoon round at the Ist hole, Bell's tee shot was pin high, just off tiie green, George playing a very line one 10ft past the pin. Bell was short in his approach and taking four, George won in a good three. At tho second Bell half-topped ids drive into the rough, George being well down, Bell recovering well with his iron, while George dragged his second witli a brassie into rough, but played brilliantly his 3rd to» within a few inches of the hole, winning in 4 to Bell's 5. At the 3rd George sliced his tee shot, and, playing a fine second, reached the corner of the green. Bell's drive was a good one, and his second well on the green. George played his third dead and halved the hole "with Bell's correctly jdaved four. At the 4th Bell pushed his tee out into the rough, but recovered with a good second. George hit a good ball off the tee, but pulled his second into the rough. Both approached in good form, Bell missing his putt, as did George, and the hole was halved in fives. At the sth both had short drives against the strong wind, just reaching the fairway. George pulled his second through to'the rough and failed to hole in four. Bell was pin high at the edge of the green and put down for four. George I up. At the 6th both drove well, and Bell won this, George taking three putts. All square. Bell drove a better ball at tlie long 7th, and both got away with poor seconds, and were on the green with thirds, George putting his fourth dead and winning, s—o. At the Sth both drove well, Bell having the better ball, but was short with his second, George being on the green. Bell ran up nicely and the hole was halved in fours. Bell sliced his tee shot at the ninth to the edge of the bank, but recovered from a bad position with his second. George just found fairway from the tee, was short with his second and laid his third within Oin, winning the hole, 4—5. George 2 up. At the tenth both were well up in their drives, Bell getting on the edge of the bunker guarding the green. George was again short with his run up, Bell getting over green and winning the hole, 4—5, George taking three putts. At the 11th both got good drives and Bell was on with his second, George, pin high, just off. Bell .won the hole 4—5, George missing a 2ft putt. At the 12th Bell had the better drive, but George won the hole, putting down a "ft putt, and Bell missing a four-footer for a half. At the 13th George was in the rough with his drive, and got badly into trouble, putting his second out of bounds and his third into bunker, taking five to reach the green. Bell, after topping liis second, reached the green in three, and won the hole in live. All square. At the 14th Bell pulled his tee shot, which landed on the edge of green and rolled down the hill into the rough. He recovered with a very fine pitch, and holed an eight-foot putt, to halve in 3. At the loth Bell drove a fine ball well down the fairway, George's shot being slightly cut, but still a fair length. He then pulled his second -badly, Bell topping his second and taking three to reach the green. He missed a loin putt, George winning the hole. At the Kith both drove well, and were just short with their seconds. The hole was halved in fives, both missing medium putts. At the 17th Bell had a beautiful drive nnd landed on with his second. George also well-placed his drive and his second was just off green; he then over-ran the hole with a run up, and failed with a live-foot putt, losing the hole, 5 —4. All square. At tlie ISth both got good drives, George's being in the best position in the centre of the fairway. Bell pushed bis second out of bounds, playing his third to left of the green. George was well over with his second, but took three putts, and Bell, playing his fourth dead, halved in fives; while the 371h was as above stated. There was also played a four-ball best-ball bogey handicap, which resulted in a tic, Foster and Fleming both being 2 up. TAKAPUNA CLUB. On Saturday a handicap medal round will ■be played in conjunction with the first round of the championship. The winner will receive a silver cup. The following is the draw for the championship, the first round to be played during the week-end:—Gale v. Ealls. Binnev v. Minogne, B. Hart v. Stokes, Dean v. Sp'iller, Kolkard v. Ashfield, Gaghan v. Chapman, 1.. Hart v. Wilson, Bindon v. Blntnnold, Hedpath v. Vercoe, Cahlll v. Armstrong. WAITEMATA CUTS. To-morrow the c-lub will play a teams match against the 'Whangarei Golf Club n't Whangarei. The eaptnln's prize, which was to bave been played for, will be postponed