CLUB COMPETITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1931, Page 13

CLUB COMPETITIONS.

PROGRESS of the game

(By RUBBERCOEE.)

There was no score better than square ■far the second round of the Kingswell Shield at One Tree Hill, and, strangely pnoueh, A. K. Turner, who achieved the .distinction, did not compete m the first round. His card was also good enough to claim the concurrent bogey, so, all thjncrs considered, he may well be satisfied with his afternoon's outing. Turner we know better in the realms of tennis, but as lie lias the eye for games promises to also make good on the link&. A. Iv. Hawley, who was one down, played some outstanding holes, and though he putted well on the whole missed several very short ones. Ilawley s game has undercone marked improvement, and promises to develop still further. He is one of the likely ones of the competition. L. B. Sclinauer, in finishing 3 down, retains a sound position in the event. He had a card of all square on the opening day, and is capable of repeating that per-1 forma nee. It is satisfactory that, with the final round yet to be played, so many players should stand a chance of success.

Titirangi Performances. Matches for the Taylor Bowl still continue at Titirangi, and the amount of run on the ball for this time of the year is oiving tlie long markers every opportunity*. A like state is noticeable in the captain's prize games at Middlemore. Broadbent, Beaumont and Goyder won tlieir matches, following fairly good golf, and Beaumont is one of the surprise packets of the event. In the first round ]iis win from C. G. Fisher, who was successful in the final last year, had the stamp of merit, as Fisher played the last nine holes in 38. Goyder appears to have a weakness for Titirangi, and his 4 up in the concurrent bogey deservedly met with success. Parr, who opposed him in tlie Bowl, could scarcely be expected to cope with a round of better than 80. 11. McCrystal's hopes vanished when P. Harrison holed one at the seventeenth. Harrison i/s a long hitter, and always a possibility in match play. L. J. Williamson, who won easily from G. M. White, is playing fairly well, and his tee shot, when working satisfactorily, is a strong feature of his game. Brinsden and Dacre are the survivors of the short handicap men, and the former in particular is to be congratulated on his showing. The conditions for play, up to the present, liave certainly not been to the advantage of those-who have to concede handicaps. P. E. Cleary and C. Robinson are a pair of'middle markers who have kept on winning, ■ and each is playing fairly steadily. The veteran R. J. Hamilton has also done well, and is a match player of no mean ability. The club meets 3laungakiekie at the week-end, but will not. require to call on its full strength to afford the new club adequate opposition.

A net 70 gave B. Eae pride of place at North Shore, as well it might. C. Black followed with a card of 92—20—72, and then came Miles Thompson who had the hest gross round, that of 83. It is a feature that the new club already boasts a fair number of players of middle handicap, who should do much to stabilise the standard of play. One notices that A. W. Short was also fairly well up in the list, has it that Short committed the of holing a one before play had officially commenced on the course. This hole is said to be now appropriately named, £>ut one whether the culprit escaped the extreme penalty on the technicality that play had not regularly commenced". The captain's trophy is now under way, and in view of the large number of players of unknown abilities the club wisely arranged for a qualifying i-ourid, handicaps being readjusted therton. Recordbreakers have been busy, and the professional, E. S. Douglas, has a 70 to his credit. Miles Thompson is best of the amateurs with a highly creditable 73. Records cannot, of course, be officially recognised unless as the result of play in club medal round or championship qualifying round. It is highly satisfactory, however, that figures such as these are possible in view of the short time operations have beeir in progress. V Inconsistency at Middlemore.

At Middlemore. though several of the matches were mailed by good golf, sueli proved the*exception inore~than the rule. In the match between y. W. Wilson and 0- Gardner, there were maiiy loose moments,and it could-fairly be said 'that Wilson won more 011 Ms opponent's errors. Gardner.'is' suffering from' an attack of socketing, which eimply demoralises one. ■ Socketing is due to several causes, one of the most common uenig the stiffening of the wrists " and pushing through the lower hand. The Jesuit is that the heel of the club connects first with the ball, which sails off at right angles. The initial part of the cause is, however, that the club is not taken hack properly. I ani sincere in sa, yi n p Gardner has my sympathy. The i I," le ln:i teh between T. E. Olark and E. L. Bartleet also was capable of improvement, there being too many occasions on which opportunity went egging. T. W. Johnson had the busiest Meek-end,- defeating A. B. Lawrence at ie twentieth, a feat he repeated in get{"^nV 1^0 Ie t' l round at the expense rt 1, Colbeck. F. Macky and A. . oni !also contributed to the mediocre in their game, Donald having been in nythmg but the delightful touch of some of his earlier matches. H. Archer and J. F. Aid red again won their games, the latter having had a fair call over " . Hart. There remains plenty of lateiial for surprises, and judging by ie margins that have consistently , 'en to the lot of several of the long narkers, at least one of their number " I 'I "eai'lv reach the final. Middleuore has had its fairways treated with '»ht harrowing, but having regard to e season the result in places is too gorcms. Jii this respect I do not wish e taxed with having been wise after e event, as apostles of the obvious in«r U +i satisfactory that, in plsiymof I ® courso f ew indifferent lies are v „ w ..'i even though the fairway has , erall - v scratched up. Just now eial of the greens are more bare in ."' ass than one would expect, ti*qa r i co '?^' t ' on is no doubt aecen- . e( liy tlie abnormal number nnto? a^e !? taking part in recent towJi% - Sstllßla y was getting !. 3 0 clock before the last pair al)1 e to get away.

Among the Boys. scene of the recent boys' cliamP nslnp, Middlemore lived up to its c n , j tlie organisation was as nla . aS Some promising boy }eis were found, Dupin, Flewellyn, ng and Carr being probably the onge S t quartet. Dupin showed to most the qualifying test, but the se i f ' u quickly' adapting themes. to the conditions, proved his perior toward the end. The finalists, th U w anc '' riewel1 }'", were an able pair, a tter winning a good match at the Ordinarily Flewellyn is not

so forceful a player as Carr, whom he defeated in tlie semi-final. He is, however, the steadier, and on a wellbunkered course tliis turned the scale in his favour. "Youngie" is well known to all at Titirangi, having frequented the course practically since he could toddle. He is still a small lad, but what there is of him is good. The Auckland Club is to be congratulated oh instituting this championship, from which no doubt will arise more than one champion of the future. Glendowie and Akarana. It was left to a junior in D. McGregor to show the way at Glendowie, his net score of CO being a good effort for an eclectic of only two rounds. Quite a group followed with 04 net, and included in the number was J. 1-!. Wendell, who played so well in the opening round. Glendowie is fast getting back to ideal playing order, and the scoring is representative ot' its improved conditions. At Akarana V. Smith had much of his own way, a gross score of 89 being rather unexpected of a 22 handicap player. It is safe to assume that lie has had his day in the twenties. P. Coutts, the runner-up, also had a good card and has been prominent in several recent events.

In the Provincial Centres. The aggregate bogey at St. Andrews, j Hamilton, proved a triumph for the veteran player H. T. Gillies, whose 9 up was exceptional. It is a matter of extreme satisfaction that he should so retain his form. J. L. Black also rendered a sterling performance with 5 up, and is unquestionably one of our greatest players. St. Andrews is in great order, it being a positive pleasure to play over it. Good scores continue to come from Waitemata, and on this occasion W. Miller was successful having played a good round of 2 up. J. Hogan, who is usually near the top, j failed for once. He cannot be expected, however, to always do* so well as he did | the previous week-end.

A. Schlaepfer was best at Pukekohe, and in common with the ruling passion returned a score in the net sixties. Kissling's gross 81 was the best round of tlie day, and he is probably the strongest player next to Johnson, in the club. Pukekohe is yet another course to have undergone marked improvement as the scoring indicates.

Clevedon celebrated its opening when Miss M. Walters, of Papakura, partnered by Bryan, a well known Tauranga member, won the bogey foursomes. Visitors were welcomed by the club captain, Mr. D. M. Bryan, who dwelt on the probabilities of a most successful season, When one considers that clubs exist at Clevedon, Manurewa, Papakura, Everslie, Onewhero, Otahuhu (new), Waiuku, Pukekohe, centres which immediately crop up in one's mind, it is little short of extraordinary uie progress the game has made in the immediate southern environs of Auckland. A gross 79 from the 12 mark put matters beyond' dispute at Taumarumii, the honours going to H. K; Spencer, who has every reason to be proud of his performance. Saiulel, who is well known to Auckland tournament players, put up a sterling ,75, but only tied for second place. Sandel is a determined match player of more than average ability. The possibility is that Taumarunui will produce some sound young players as apart from the fact that several members of the club occupy short marks, the type of soil is suited to golfing conditions. Seymour Colbeck and Dr. Howden earned their scores at Waiuku, and in being handicapped one* stroke better, Colbeck gained the tie with Jerram at.the expense of Howden. The club champion, Ohlson, took 87 for round and is not vet in the form, of the latter part of- last' seasonl ; -