AMATEUR GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 219, 15 September 1924, Page 11

AMATEUR GOLF.

A NEW CHAMPION. BRILLIANT FINAX MATCH. WIN FOR LEO QriN. A WELL-EARNED VICTORY. Sustaining the brilliant form " which he had struck this morning, Leo Quin, of Eltham, won the New Zealand amateur championship\ for 1924 at the Middlemore links on Saturday, beating J. Gobs (Wanganui), last year's champion, by 8 and 7. Decisive as the win was, it was attained by magnificent golt when Goss was right on his game, and the niatch is described by many wellinformed spectators as the best championship final played in New Zealand, so far as the standard of play is concerned. The new champion is a young farmer, 24 years of age, who only took up the game four or live years ago. His win came as a surprise to even the best-informed critics who watched the tournament, for in the qualifying rounds Quin finished low down in the list. Later, when he beat George and Gunson, his form came under observation, chiefly from the fact that he got his wins by recoveries in the second round, after failing over the first 18 holes. Although his free driving and second shots were conceded to be good, and he made many fine shots, there was a tendency to discount his recoveries as flukes. * When, however, he went his first round this morning in a brilliant 73, it was generally recognised for the first time that a new champion had arrived. Consistent and brilliant accuracy with hie iron shots was the feature of his game, as he went out to the turn in 37, while Goss, playing highclass golf, took 39, and was 2 down. Then, while keeping on his general game, Quin did sensational*work by holing a 30yd . tnashie shot at the twelfth green, sinking a 14ft putt at the 16th, and rattling a 20ft putt home at the eighteenth, to stand 3 up on Goss on the round. A gallery of something like 400 spectators followed the second round, to see Quin jiot only maintain his position by brilliant approach shots, superimposed on a solid all-round game, but leave Goss hopelessly behind,, to win by Bup and 7to play. "On Quin'3 game to-day,, no'player in New Zealand could have- beaten' Trim," declared the umpire, Mr. W. B. Colbeck, when, as president of the Auckland Club, he presented the winner with his medal and trophy. "It was the most brilliant final that has been played for the New Zealand championship for many years," he added. The cards' for the match were:— ii Quin (73). —Firet round: > Out—• 4 4 4 4 4 4355, 37. Back— 35334 5 3 5 5, 36. Second round: Out—4 514 5 3.2.4 0, 37. Back— 3 4 (8 up). -Goss (77). — Jfirst round: Out— * 5 ?- 5 . 44 3 4 5, 39, Back— 4 5"5 3 444,4 5, 38. Second round: Out —4 5 6-5 44 3 5 5, 41. Back—4 5 (8 down). i .'The Final Sound. hole in the afternoon wa» halved,:.:"both 'players doing it .in., an orthodox. 4. Both got away good drives at the next,; and were short in their seconds. .Goss made a brilliant run-up to ..-within* tw,o_ feet of the pin,; but miseed'an' easy ;putt to win the'hole, Quin having been short with, his third, and missed a long putt. It was halved in s's. - Gose got into a bunker with his drive,"and in trying to play- a.long shot out hit the back of' the bunker, and went jiist overl. He was within putting distance in 4, but .Quins second was on the green, and he was in with his third, making him 4 up. At the fourth hole Goss hooked his second into the rough, and was short with his third.Quin was on the green with a beautiful high iron shot, and won the hole in 4to 5, being now 5 up. Both were on. the green in three at the Pah hole, and Quin missed a long putt, Goss winning "the hole in 4. At the sixth, Quin drove a long straight: ball, and Goss sliced into the rough 6n the-' river bank. Quin's second laid him within 10ft of the pin, and he holed in three. Goss' second ran past the hole 20ft, and his long putt missed, the Bole' going to Quini 5 up. I 'The Challenger Top Good. Af the short"-Tamaki hole, Quin was" on the green 10ft* from the pin, with his tee shdt, while Goss was short 30ft, and overran the hole. Quin sank his putt -beautifully, taking the hole in two. Quin sliced his drive from the eighth tee, played ' a perfect second to within Bft of the pin. - Goss hit a good drive, but his second was at the foot of a-bunker, and his third was short. Missing his putt, he gave up the hole. Quin played his putt and missed, holing in four. Both played good first and second shots at the ninth, but Quin was short, witli his third. Goss' third carried loft past the hole, and he laid his putt dead. Quin approached short, and missed a soft putt. Goss holed in 5 to" 6, and they turned -for home with Quin 6 up. At the tenth,' Goss sliced his tee shot just over the green, while Quin got a run off the right-hand bunker, to be within 20ft of the hole. Goss chipped back too far. Quin lipped the hole for a 2, and Goes did likewise for halving the hole, which went to Quin in 3. At the next, both got away good tee shots, both being a trifle short with their seconds. With his third, Goes lipped the hole, to miss a oft putt, leaving Quin a 4ft putt to get the hole.in 4, and win the match, 8 up and 7 to go. MEN V. WOKEN. THE COMPETITION. The nTi"Ti«l match, between the women and men were played during the -week-end; and in the foursomes the men won handi somely on their handicaps. L. Qnin and J. Goss beat Miss Eva Brown and Mrs. Slack. 3 and 2; T. H. Horton and E. D. Wright beat Miss Payton and Mrs. Blythe, 5 and 4; H. B. Lnsk and B. M. George beat Miss Acheson and Miss Snodgrass, 5 and 4: "H. W. Macfarlane and C. A. Seymour beat Miss Jerris and Mrs. Was*, 0 and 5: A. D. Duncan and W. B. Colbeck best Miss Bell and Cooper, 3 and 2. In the afternoon for the singles play {the men were handicapped two strokes ■ above the handicap for the morning's play, and there were some good contests. Miss I Brown beat L. Quin. 4 «.id 3; J. Goss beat ■ Mrs. Slack at the 18th ;T. E Horton beat ' Miss Payton, 1 np; Mrs. Blytnebeat K." D. Wright, 3 and 1: Mtos Acheeon beat H. B. Lusk, 3 and 2; Miss Snodgrrfsa beat K. M. George, 3 and 2; H. W. Maefarlaoe beat Miss Jerris, 3 and 2: C. A. Seymour beat Mrs. Wagg, 4 and 2: Miss Bell beat A. D. Duncan, 4 and 2; B. _C. Kirk beat Miss Cooper at the IBth. Iln the foursomes the een won "ell ttre matches, and in the singles the men won fire aadjUie worn« -. .... .- ;■ ;

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. ' COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. After the match there was a large assemblage on the golf-house green, where Mr. "W. B. Colbeck presented the : prizes, after referring to the presence of Mr. C. R. Kirk, who had done much for golf in this dbuntry, both on the links and as a) member and president of the Golf Council. In presenting to E. J. Moss, the Auckland professional, the Brodie Breeze challenge cup and other, prizes connected with the winning of the open championship, Mr. Colbeck declared his conviction that Moss was playing the best golf in New Zealand to-day. That fact had been emphasised by his win in the professional match. Indeed, from what he knew, and had been able to glean from well-informed players, he considered Moss among the three best golfers at present in Australasia. He had had an opportunity of seeing the final in the professional championship, and felt it was an education that amateurs might well have benefited by. The sportsmanship of that match was fine, and the play was better even than the sportsmanship. When Mr. Arthur Duncan, of Wellington, was called up to receive the Gover-nor-General's cup for the best score in the tournament, Mr. Colbeck, to the accompaniment of hearty applause, statad that, it was distinctly fitting that the cup for the first time shouid go to a player who had been for. many years a foremost figure at New Zealand championship golf tournaments. He cordially congratulated Mr. Duncan on winning the cup and on the record round of 71 wth which he had won it, especially as it was known that Mr. Duncan had not been in the best of health during the tournament. Mr. J. B. Lusk congratulated Ihe committee, as well as Mr. Rhind and his staff, on the beautiful" condition of the links and the excellent arrangements which had characterised the tournament in every respect. He stated that he had heard praise of the arrangements from many of the visiting players. GLENDOWIE LADIES' CLUB. In the semi-finals of the championship Miss D. Walsh beat Miss Mona Hill 1 up, and Miss Searell beat Mrs. Hawknlg 1 up. The draw for the L.G.U. medal competition to be played on the Kohimarama links Is as follows:—Miss M. English v. Miss Mona Hill, Mrs. Hawkins v. Mrs. Gresham. Mrs. Browne v. Mrs. Hill, Miss D. Walsh v. A. N. Other. Another round of the C Grade eclectic will be played:—Miss V. Walsh v. Miss Brookfleld, Mrs. Wilson v. Miss Montgomery, Miss Maden v. Miss Friar, Mrs. Hamilton v. Miss Amess, Miss Meadows v. Miss Bell. Miss Nixon v. Mrs. Markwlck. Miss O. English v. Miss Scott, Miss.Arnell v. Miss Johnson. MAUNGAKIEKTE CLUB. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. \ ■ The final round for the Junior championship of the Maungaklekle Golf Club was completed at Titirangl on Saturday, A. Fairburn beating L. H. Shroff, 2 up and 1 to play. The match was over 36 holes, the first IS of which were played at Maungaklekle on the previous Saturday, when Fairburn was' 2 up. He maintained that lead at Titirangi. TE AROHA CHAMPIONSHIP. In the Te Aroha golf championship, Mrs. Halligan won the ladles' A grade championship, 5 and 4. Mrs. A. Burrows won the B grade from Miss Fitzgerald on the twentysixth h01e.:...-.-

MAUNGAKIEKIE LADIES' CLUB. The Ii.G.TJ. medal handicap, played by members of the Maungaklekie Ladles' Golf Club on the Titirangi Links last week, was won by Mies McCftbe, 107—32—75. Tbc last four-ball best-ball bogey was won by Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Russell, 5 up. The following Is the draw for the flag match to be played on the One links on Wednesday:—Mies Grove plays Mrs. J. H. Stewart, Miss Duder plays Mies Stubbe, Mine Churton plays Mrs. RlchardHon. Mrs. Kuescll ploys Minn Hnttlett, Miss Newell plays Mrs. Carr, Miss -Kirk plays Mrs. Horton, Miss McGowan plays Miss J. Easton, Mies Grtereon plays Miss Dickson, Mies Preece plays Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Blair plays Mies Horton, Miss Cornnga plays Miss McCabe, Miss Johnston plays Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Cooke plays Mrs. J. A. Stewart. Miss Millincton plays Mrs. Brown. Miss Yonge plays Mrs. Kllner, Mrs. Owen plays Miss M. Kouhy, Mrs. Robinson plays MiHS Bvanß, Mrs. White plays Miss Harvey, MrR. Sutcllffe plays Miss Blackburn, Mrs. Gibson plays Mies Hill. -