GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 25

GOLF.

JOTTINGS FROM THE LINKS

In spite of the torrential downpour, conditions were good at Titirangi, the only matches of interest being the games played in the Taylor Bowl competition, and in which R. McCrystal opposed T. A. Goulding, and N. G. Morris met R. M. George. The former proved a very stern tussle, in which McCrystal finally emerged triumphant. Good golf was witnessed to the eighth, where McCrystal held a 1 up advantage, but Goulding evened the score with a wellplayed four at the ninth. Goulding played two fine shots to the tenth to within about six .yards of the pin, while McCrystal lay about four yards away with his third. A weak approach putt by Colliding gave his opponent a fighting chance, and, promptly holing hi 6 putt, he won the hole in 4 to 5. Goulding again evened matters at the eleventh, and the game proceeded with varying fortune to the short fifteenth, where a weak tee shot by Goulding enabled his opponent to notch a win in 4 to 5. The seventeenth was won by Goulding, and the last hole was entered upon with the players square. McCrystal here hit two bailies out of the bag, finishing within a few feet of the pin and being in receipt of a stroke, the match was over, lt was a good performance on the part of the winner, although his play through the green was at times ■unconvincing. On the greens, however, he was in his element, his work in this department being the factor in his success. The loser has been very much in the limelight recently, and his performances pointed to him eventually gaining the coveted trophy, but in recording this interruption in his run of success it is recognised he met one displaying his best. McCrystal now meets J. 0. Gardner in the semi-final in the top half of the draw.

In the match between Morris and George the former opened auspiciously, and at the fifth held a two-up advantage. Faulty work at the sixth, seventh and eighth lost him his lead, and by a rather fortunate stymie at the ninth George was enabled to turn for home 1 up. His advantage was, however, short-lived, as a badly-pulled second at the tenth afforded Morris an easy win. Morris made an error at the eleventh, and became again 1 down, but sitting fours at the twelfth and thirteenth again gave him the lead, and George was hard pressed in conceding his handicap and halving at the fifteenth and sixteenth. A weak second at the seventeenth lost Morris the hole, and the match was square, with Morris in receipt of a stroke at the home hole. His first and second were somewhat weak, and, 'being too strong with his third, he eventually lost the hole in 6 to 4, and the match 1 down. Morris was frequently outdistancing his opponent from the tee, and was holing putts of a decidedly useful nature, his downfall occurring purely through inconsistency.

At One Tree Hill F. Wiseman was the winner of a bogey handicap with the good card of two up. His win was a decidedly easy one, as the next best cards returned were no less than 0 down. The course is reported to have been in anything but satisfactory condition, but even in view of its state the rest of the players can only be considered as offering opposition of a very feeble nature.

Middlemore was unable to adequately withstand the soaking it had received, consequently the committee postponed the qualifying rounds for the junior championship. The majority of the games in the second round of the senior championship were also left in abeyance, as was the match between H. B. Lusk and W. S. Ralph in the semi-final of the match play tournament. This should prove a really fine struggle, and the provincial champion will require to be at his best to concede Ralph his handicap and win. The only game played in the senior championship was that between E. L. Bartleet and D. MacCormick, and Bsft-tleet was the winner 3 up and 2to play. The wet condition of the course would be against MacCormick, as his already limited length would be curtailed, and he is, moreover, hardly a vigorous enough player to cope with such conditions. Bartleet has ascended the ladder quite rapidly, and the introduction of additional evenness in his methods would rank him close upon scratch.

Dr F. Macky and R. 0. Gardner decided to play their round in the match play tournament, and the doctor won at the sixteenth" green. The day should really have suited Gardner, as he has shown distinct partiality to wet conditions, but upon this occasion he failed to act in accordance with his reputation. Indifferent work from the tee had him in difficulty throughout, and perhaps it may justly be observed that he did well to concede his handicap and take the match so far in spite of errors in so important a department of the game. Macky is performing very creditably in the event, and now that the issue is fast narrowing will need to continue to display his best to emerge successfully.

The Ballin Cup competition at the Otahuhu Club is now reaching an interesting stage, and amongst the defeated is L. Croxson, the present champion of the club, B. H. Menzies having administered to him a severe beating. The club's vice-president still retains his place, and recently defeated A. Jaggs, who for so long was associated with the game in Taranaki district. R. G. Moffit is as yet undefeated, and in view of his experience and the handicap he enjoys should at least make his presence felt. H. Plumley recently returned a splendid card of six up on bogey, being round in 80, and, recognising the general condition of the course, there is considerable merit attaching to the performance. His record indicates he has played the game in various parts of the Dominion,, and that the score under review is not in any degree outside that of which he is cap"able.

The committee at Glendowie decided against play, and in view of the newness of the course the conclusion to be drawn is that the action savours of wisdom. At Pupuke, one who has figured prominently lately was again to the fore. This was F. M. Mingay, whose card of SO—9—7l was a grand one. Takiiif a run over this course on a squally day a season or so ago one of Auckland's short markers experienced difficulty in breaking 78, and if the course be still the same the card handed in by the winner represents a very sound display. Thomson, whose score was 88—15—73, was next followed by Howden, ' 86—9—77.

Pukekohe and Papakura were to have met to try inter-club conclusions, but the fixture was relegated to the pastponed. Club matches at Pukekohe resulted in a big win for J. W. Johns over H. J. Wily in the bogey tie, while in the spoons match T. J." Lally and H. J. Charlesworth have reached the final to do ultimate battle at a date to be decided on.