CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 15

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

FIRST DAY FOR THE OPEN

TITLE.

A. J. SHAW IN THE LEAD,

MOSS AND BELL CLOSE UP,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent)

HAMILTON, Friday.

While in the early morning the weather looked doubtful the sun broke through in the opening stages of the first rounds for the open championship and throughout the day conditions were ideal. The breeze, which sprang up early, dried up the fairways and this gave a longer run for the balls, but the greens were still somewhat dead, causing the competitors some worry and, apart from a few exceptions, green work was not all that could be desired. Last year's winner again came to the front with a total of 149 for the two rounds, his afternoon effort being very fine, a 73, and the card read: —

Out: 3, 5, 4, a, 5, 3. 5, 4, 4; In: 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4—73.

E. J. Moss was close up with 151 and Norrie Bell won on his heels with 152 and J. D. Mcintosh a stroke behind. The open winner should come from these four, with either Rana Wagg, J. L. Black and R. C. Butters fbr a boil over

Rana Wagg showed a 76. and 7.8 with good, consistent golf, Jack Black did the same and Butters, after doing a 79 in the morning, returned a 75 after his lunch.

A. D. S. Duncan was very much in and out all day, putting well, but taking too long to reach the greens. Kapi Tareha was not convincing, though at the third he made a brilliant recovery after two bad shots in the rough, finished with a four there.

Details of the Play. Details of play in the first two rounds of the open championship are:— First Second round, round. Total. A. J. Shaw 76 73 149 E. J. Moss 74 77 151 N. Bell 76 76 152 J. D. Mcintosh... 7S . 7"> 153 Rana Wagg 76 78 154 J. L. Black 76 7S 154 R. C. Butters 79 75 154 H. R. Blair 76 79 155 B. N. Wright 76 79 155 H. B. Lusk 76 80 156 T. H. Horton 77 79 106 C. C. Clements.... 77 79 156 Kapi Tareha 79 77 156 G. F. Colbeck 80 76 156 W. Dobson 80 77 157 Sloan Morpeth... 76 S3 159 W. Si Ralph 77 82 159 „F. Branch 76 84 160 R. R. Wright 78 82 1 60 M. Macbeth 79 81 160 R. M. George 79 81 160 A.J.Clements.... 80 SO 160 J.R.Galloway.... S2 7S 160 L. Quin 80 . SI 161 M. M. Duncan.... 80 SI 16l K. D. Duncan 7S So 163 Digby Giles 78' S3 163 ' P. Dale 80 83 163 J. Goss 82 81 163 A. G. Sime 82 81 163 L. V. Bellingham 79 §5 164 J. W. Ross 79 85 164 A. D. S. Duncan.. 81 83 164 H. W. Tidmarsh.. 81 S3 164 H. Green SI 84 165 J. M. Hussey So SO 165 W. A. Keeling.... 86 80 166 J. Watt 82 85 167 T. H. Goulding... S4 S3 167 Donald Grant.... S4 S3 167 F. Quin ; 84 83 167 •- W. C. Wynne 83' •' Bft 16!> V. Grev So 84 169 L. D. Hurst 85 S4 i«9 F. C. Fryer 86 S3 16» R. O. Gardner.... 85 85 170 G. W. Ritchie S7 S3 170 lan MacEwan.... 87 S4 171 C. A. Brown 87 84 171 G. B. Forrest 88 83 171 A. R. Blank 86 86 172 T. Galloway.. *... 88 84 174 'W.P.Anderson... 85 88 173 H. McDougall.... 85 8S 173 L. Rees 86 S7 1?3 H. A. Black 91 82 I*3 B. J. Smith 84 91 175 H. Wiggins....... 82 93 175 H. T. Gillies S7 SS 175 L. W. Delph S7 SS lts J?. C. Hutchison... S9 S7 176 tW; O'Callaghan... 86 91 177 ; H. Tidmsirsh S6 91 177 R. 15. Guy. SS S9 177 J. Forrest';....... 89 88 177 j. S. Harrison.... 93 S4 177 A. E. Robinson... 89 89 178 T. M. Horton 93 85 178 E. W.Perry 86 93 179 J. Har01d.......i 90 ' 89 179 O, J. Wilson 90 94 184 A. A. Stitehbury.. 93 91 184 COMMENT ON THE PLAY. PROFESSIONALS SET HOT PACE. (By RUBBERCORE.) .St. Andrews was,at its best for the -open championship, the course reflecting the greatest credit'on the management and also upon F. Branch, the club professional, who has worked wonders in the eoadition of greens and approaches.

A nice breeze, just sufficient to call iorth the best in players, added to the intricacies of the course, and Offered every opportunity for sound judgment. The outstanding performances of the day were unquestionably those of Moss and Shaw, the professionals setting a pace that gradually outdistanced the amateurs. •

Moss met with a little by way of circumstance that clipped a stroke or two from him, but throughout gave a sterling exhibition of clean hitting characterised by a brainy appreciation. His morning score of 74 led for the Jellicoe vase, but this was displaced by Shaw's great afternoon round. Shaw was one over fours with two holes to go. and a splendid chip and putt saw the seventeenth left behind with the same average. A safe drive and a splendid iron left him on the edge of the ISth. and making no mistakes he holed a four for the 73 after a round during which it was noticeable the big hitter kept well within himself.

Mcintosh opened as usual, rather unconvincingly, but a solidly played second round of 75 placed him in fourth position at the end of the day. We have not yet seen the best of Mcintosh, although probably bis forte is the match play element.

Butters also essayed a fine recovery in the afternoon, his linal putt lifting the cup for 74. He is still in the fighting division, and considering his war disability, scores wonderiully well.

C. C. Clements was seen to more advantage than was his brother, and had he experienced any luck on the greens would have been right in the righting division. Branch, the local professional, was seen at his best in the morning, the afternoon session seeing him just missing the figures. H. E. Blair, of Shirley, was consistent rather than brilliant, and will need two Very good finishing rounds to make up his leeway.

Of the amateurs, Bell's performance was the most inspiring in that at no time did he appear likely to crash. His scoring was very uniform, being soundness itself. His elubmate, G. F. Colbeck, was at his best in the afternoon, his 76 reading very favourably.

K. D. Duncan opened very auspiciously, but could not sustain his effort, while A. D. S. Duncan never really got into his stride. He is not playing well so far. but being such a seasoned campaigner may do anything toward the end. Rana Way? and J. L. Black, both of the Hutt Club, played excellently, with the former perhaps tho more attractive. \\ agg should do well at the tournament, as should B. V. W right, the evenness of whose scoring makes him most difficult lo ?hake off.

Digbv Giles, of Australia, opened with a 7S, but in the aggregate is six worse than \\. Dobson. who also hails from across the Tasman. Dobson is playing reaHy attractively, and it is a pity his entry is confined to the open event, business preventing him from competing for lb® amateur title.

H. B. Lusk, \V. S. Ralpli and R. D Wright are all performing conspicuously for Auckland, the quality of their open ing rounds in particular being encouraging. Lusk is very sound, and although he had lapses halfway through - th» afternoon round, he finished with characteristic determination to pull off two spectacular fours. T. H. Horton, though fairly well up, is not going too freelv. and I fancy his chances of conceding the ■professionals, their lead are very remote. He is, however, a most polished j'layer, his irons being a revelation.

H. A. Black arrived with a reputation, but has failed to live up to it. He is y.d-tmger brother of J. L. Black, who he resembles greatly in mannerisms and style. Too much • notice need not be taken of his play so far, there being yet a long lane to traverse.

•Sloan Morpeth opened auspiciously, but committed some grave errors after lunch. Two badly sliced tee shots were the forerunner of a 7, and the only bright spot of his play was his recovery to finish in the early eighties. His play is. however, interspersed with a brilliance that will show to advantage in the amateur in which event he will take a (rood deal of beating. F. C. Fryer, of All Black fame, who 'captained" Kapi in the foursome, scored fairly steadily, as did A. G. Sime who. though bis figures mounted, played better golf than they would indicate. J. Goss, who partnered R. M. George, could not get his tee shot working, which was woefully astray. A very able display on the greens, however, saved the flay, he being only 3 strokes behind the latter in the aggregate. T. A. Gouldinjy had a heart-breaking experience on the greens which was in contravention to his long game which, throughout. was excellent. Kapi Tareha's 79 and 77 were rather rocky, the demon driver being very much off nolotir with his wood just now. He still hits prodigious distances when he sets on to the ball, which, however, is not nearly so often ns formerly. Still, he i* always likely to strike a brilliant patch and cannot be kept out of the calculations.