GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 14

GOLF.

LADIES' TOURNAMENT. AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY MISS CULLING. The final of the Auckland ladies" provjnoia] golf championship was decided ati Middleni'ire yesterday afternoon, when Mis? E. Culling defeated Miss M. Payton 1 up at the 10th hole, after an interesting game. The course was heavy after the overnight rains, and the ball pulled up very quickly on the fairway and greens. The final stages of the match were played in rain showers, but this, and the threat of the impending downpour at the commencement of the proceedings, did not deter quite a large crowd of enthusiasts from following the fortunes of the two finalists round the links. Mis? Culling's victory na« in large measure due to her steadiness throughout, and especially her longer driving. Miss Payton put up a great fipht. for. although she was 3 down at the 12th, she made it all square at the ISth. and the last hole provided an exciting finale. This is Miss Culling's first victory in the provinc-ial championship, in which she was beaten last year by Miss Kay, of Whangarei. Both Miss Culling and Miss Payton are members of tbe Auckland Ladies' Golf Club, the former's handicap being S and the latter's "2. The Play. Both competitors played steady golf in the opening stages, the first four holes being halved. Miss Culling won the fifth. Mis? Payton netting into difficulties with a sand bunker. Miss Payton, however, made it all square at the next bole. The iseventh found Miss Culline 1 up. which she increased to 2 up at the ninth, and •1 at the 12th. Sound all-round play by iMiss Payton saw her gradually reduce the cap. while once or twice her opponent was unsteady in her driving, the accuracy and length of which bad been a big factor in her success in the earlier stage? of the game. At the last hole, both players drove off well, and Miss Culling reached the green with her second, a territorial advantage which save her the hole in 4 to o, and the match. At the conclusion of the match, the prizes won during the tournament were presented by Mrs. T. S. Culling, vicepresident of the Auckland Ladies' Golf Club. Miss J. Beid. club captain, also congratulated both the winner and the runner-up on the splendid games they had played in tbe final. She also referred to the able manner in which Miss N. MacCormack bad carried out the duties of tournament secretary. A four-ball match was played in the morning, the best cards returned being: Misses D. and K. Horton 7 up. Misses F. Rathbone and K. Knight 6 up. Miss K. Clarke and Mrs. McDonald 3 up. The play-off in the senior medal handicap match between Mrs. Abbott and Miss H. Laurenson was won by Miss Laurenson. Miss T. Bayly won the aggregate putting competition.