FIRST CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 10

FIRST CONTEST.

WOMEN'S GOLF.

NEW ZEALAND V. AUSTRALIA.

TEAM SAILS ON FRIDAY.

A team representing tflie cream of New Zealand women's golf is to leave for Australia by the Wanganella nexi Friday to play the inaugural contest with a representative team of Australians.

For some years there has been a desire on both sides of the Tasman foi representative contests between Dominion and Commonwealth women golfers, and it is being fulfilled by the visit this vear of the New Zealanders to Melbourne. It is anticipated that this will initiate regular matches, to bs played alternately in the two countries. A fund to finance the project in New Zealand was started by the gift three years ago by Miss Muriel Paton. then secretary of the Ladies' Golf Union, ot a trophy known as the Aotearoa Cup. Members of all the affiliated women s clubs in the Dominion were eligible to compete for the cup, and the entrance fees were set aside for financing tlie expenses of the New Zealanders visit. This was supplemented by the donations from the New Zealand Golf Council, and the first contest has been made possible. The Dominion team comprises: Mrs. Guy Williams, captain and

manager. Mrs. Templer (Wainiate), present champion. v Mrs. Dodgslmn (Balmacewan). Miss Oliver Kay (Balmacewan). Miss Bessie Gaisford (Marton). The last-named three have all held the championship title. , Mrs. Williams is the doyen of ladies o-olf in the Dominion, and before lie"" marriage won the championship m 1924She was also the victor in 1913 and 1914, and again in 1921 and 19-2. Apart £rom her achievements m championship play, she has been an outstanding figure in the admimstration of the L.G.U., and it is fitting that she should captain the first side to compete in the representative fixtures. Mrs Templer won the ehampions.iip last year at Timaru, and had previously bee successful in two consecutive rears, 1919 and 1920. Mrs. Dodgslmn has twice held the title,' in 1925 and 1929. Miss Kay was hailed as a prodigy when at the age of fifteen she made her debut in the championship meeting at Hann - ton, and her play since has not disappointed the hopes then aroused. Tliou c h she has won the championship on one occasion only, 1930. at Heretaunga, she lias been many times runner-up, and her performances in other competitions has revealed her as. the outstanding plaver of the Dominion. She plays on a plus two mark. Miss Gaisford, too, has only once won the championship, in 1931, when she wrested it from Miss Kav at Rotorua, but, like Mrs. Templer, she is a splendid stylist. On a two mark, she ranks next to Miss Kay on a handicap basis. The contest will be played m conjunction with the Australian women s championship gathering, in which the New Zealanders will compete. Ine tournament will be held on the Cheltenham course, Melbourne, commencing on August 2S. The representative contest will be singles and foursomes and will be player on September 1. On Thursday next at Titirangi the Dominion's team will play a match against a st-ong tean of Auckland men, and they should acquit themselves well.