GOLF TITLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 8

GOLF TITLES.

NATIONAL TOURNEY. i A. J. SHAW FAVOURITE. J. D. McINTOSH BRILLIANT, (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHUECH, this day. Nearly all the visiting players for the New Zealand golf championships, which begin on Friday, have arrived and are busy practising at Shirley. Rain is needed to slow up the course,Vbut a heavy fall does not appear likely, and, with the greens in such perfect condition, there should be low scoring. Nevertheless, good golf will be required to equal A. J. Shaw'« aggregate of 287 made in 1931. Players who took part in the 1931 tournament are impressed by the great ira* provement that has been brought about in the course as a whole, and the new fifteenth green is particularly praised. Shaw, the present open and professional champion, appears to be as brilliant as ever. In the first nine holes of a practice round lie recorded 31. He will again be favourite for the open, but there are other players in the field who will keep him busy. J. D. Mcintosh rattled up a brilliant"67 in iiis first practice game, and must be prominent in the open and professional events. Murray Impressive. The Auckland professional, A. Murray, who is making his first appearance at Shirley, returned a 69. Murray has been here some days putting in steady practice, and should be at the top of his form. Hia long game is impressive. T. Galloway, the Maungakiekie professional, has found the course to his liking. He has returned a 68 and two 69's. Such figures do not allow for any errors, and if Galloway can repeat them he will make things interesting. A. Dyke, an unattached Auckland professional, is showing good form. He ha« had no difficulty in returning two roundi of 70.

None of the amateurs has so far beaten 70 and 71 has been the best returned. Dr. Hamilton Gibbs went out brilliantly in 3'2, but slipped to 39 in the home ruu to record a 71. Similar figures were also made by J. L. Mackay and J. P. Horna 4 brook. Quite a few of the amateurs have had rounds in the region of 72. Since last playing here J. P. Horna* brook has shortened bis swing and haJ I more control. He must be nearly favourite for the amateur event. Two scratch players from the Auckland Club in B. Menzies and B. Thomson are making their first appearance in the South Island, and from the little that has been seen of their game thev should have no difficulty in justifying their handicaps. Wagg Not Competing. Rana Wagg. who won the amateur title at Shirley in 1931, will not be a competitor on this occasion. The first round of the open will be played on Friday and the second rouud the next day. At the end of the second round of the open all except the leading seventy who have entered for the open, plus ail ties for seventieth place, and phis also all those who have entered for ti'.o amateur only whose scores equal or better those of the leading seventy, will be eliminated. The thirty-two amateurs returning the lowest aggregate in four rounds of tne open qualify for the amateur champion*, ship ami wii] play off by match play under an automatic draw, the first three rounds over 18 holes and the semi-final and fin* l ' over 30 holes. The holder of the amateur title is B. M. Silk.