A GOLF DUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 7

A GOLF DUEL.

HAGEN PLAYS MITCHELL.

WIN FOR AMERICAN.

IN A FIGHTING FINISH.

(By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.)

LO.NDOX, June 20. A £500 challenge golf match of 72 holes (four rounds) was played yesterday and to-day between Abe Mitchell, the British profes- ■' ■ ■sional, and Walter J. Hagen (America). Mitchell was three up at the end of the first round yesterday and four up at the end of the ■?fi holes. The American took the lead at the sixth in the morning, but Mitchell squared at the next and took the lead at the eighth. Hagen won the ninth and they turned square. Four halves followed. Mitchell won the fourteenth, halved the fifteenth, won the sixteenth and seventeenth, and halved the eighteenth. Mitchell won the first hole in the afternoon, halved the second, won the third, and halved the fourth. He picked up his ball in the fifth, at which stage he was only four up. but he recovered this at the ninth and turned five up. Hagen won the tentli and fourteenth, reducing his deficit to three, but after halves to the eighteenth, where Hagen was waterlogged in a bunker, Mitchell finished the day four up. MITCHELL TAKES THE LEAD. Describing the first day's play the "Daily Mail" says: Mitchell went out in the afternoon like a tiger thirsting for its prey. He sank a 20yds putt to win the first (453 yds) in three and a 10yds putt to win the third. He apparently had Hagen on the run when he missed an Bft putt. Hagen, believing the game had taken a turn, exhibited his renowned fighting capacity. Mitchell responded stoutheartedly and a desperate duel enstied. Hagen reached the turn in 35, nevertheless he was five down. Mitchell hooked a drive at the eighteenth, and his ball landed in a cart rut. He eportingly declined to lift it, but played it unsuccessfully. Hagen had a golden opportunity of winning the hole, but was bunkered. At his second shot the ball lay 6in deep in casual water. He took two to recover and lost the hole. HAGEITS GREAT RECOVERY. The third and fourth rounds were played to-day in glorious weather. Two thousand people followed the game. Hagen made a wonderful recovery, due mainly to his magnificent putting. He squared the match at the sixth hole in the morning, and turned all square. A masterly approach gave the American the lead at the tenth. He was two up at the fifteenth, Mitchell reducing the deficit to one at the seventeenth.

In the afternoon Hagen won the fourth. Mitchell won the sixth, but Hagen turned one up. Hagen holed a ten-yards putt at the thirteenth, where he was again two up, but Mitchell squared the match again by winning the fourteenth and fifteenth. Hagen had a fine four at the sixteenth and regained the lead, Mitchell cutting his second at the seventeenth into the roadway and being unable to halve.

Hagen thus won by two up and one to play.—(A. and N.Z.-Reuter.)

BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

LONDON, June 20.

The Open Uolf Championship, for which Popplewell, Howard, Kirkwood and ten amateurs—have qualified, begins at St. Anne's-on-Sea on Wednesday next, June 23. Eighteen holes on each day will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, after which those players who are fifteen etrokes and upwards behind the leader will be eliminated.

Those remaining will then play the last thirty-six holes on Friday morning. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)