ON THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 3000, 19 December 1935, Page 22

ON THE LINKS.

EXHIBITION GAMES. FEATURES OF THE PLAY, AUSTRALIANS LOOK IN. Probably no more successful day has been held for amateurs and professionals than that promoted by the Maungakiekie Club at the week-end. The course was in splendid order considering the lateness of the season, two smart downpours on Saturday afternoon having proved providential from a scoring point of view. There remained, of course, plenty of run on the ball, and with the majority of the greens playing, if anything, a little heavy, the short course presented a happy hunting ground for the champions. In the morning A. Murray, open and professional champion, set the standard with a round of 70, though he experienced' a fortunate get out at the eighteenth, where his second shot, much too strong, rebounded from the pin and lay within holing distance. Up to tjie (sixteenth green he had at times been rather shaded by Moss, with whom he was paired, the Middlemore professional having had a two strokes advantage at this stage. Murray, however, recovered a stroke with a fine 3 at the seventeenth, and then in somewhat sensational circumstances was enabled to win when at the eighteenth. Moss, in an endeavour to hole the three for a total of 09, threeputted to finish with 71. On the Crest. Murray was, perhaps, fortunate to win, but lie has displayed such rare opportunism when given the slightest latitude that his winning performance cannot be discounted. A case in point was at the first short hole, where a masterly tee shot by Moss finished dead to the hole. Murray's ball lay beyond the edge of the cut, but he chipped out for the 2. On the crest of the wave, with his confidence unimpaired. Murray continues in winning vein. -That lie is blessed with inspiration is plain. All champions are, and his remark at the sixteenth at Middlemore in the morning round a week previous was typical. His second lay at the base of the mounds to the right of the pin, and he almost holed his third. "I thought I might sneak that one," was his remark. In the afternoon his second shot occupied an almost similar position. This time he did sneak it, and ended the match. It was obvious from his demeanour as he was about to play the chip, that he had a complete mental picture of what was required. Without that mental picture few players are able to reach the top. Not So Far Bohind. In the wake of Murray and Moss came J. S. Galloway, the diminutive Maungakiekie professional, with 71. Galloway missed a tiny putt at the eleventh, and also several others that lie might well have holed. He played grand golf throughout, but in the language of the luck of the game it was not his turn to win. F. Rutter's 75 included the penalty of his ball having struck Galloway's on the eighteenth green, though the happening made no difference to the result. N. Bell, 7C, was best of the others, but lie confessed to rather broken concentration in wondering when J. H. Earle, the Maungakiekie champion," who was in his four, would break down', or up. .. Earle's Performance of Promise. The Maungakiekie youth reached the ninth tee in two under fours, after having slipped a stroke to the scratch score at the eighth hole. He had, however, done some pretty effective work between times and in playing the ninth well, compassed the half in 34. Earle found Colonel liogey a relentless old gentleman over the last nine, but at the eighteenth was left with a 4 for a total of 70. The strain provefi. too exacting, but a 5 for a 71 gave him a three strokes' advantage from A. E. Browne, who had matched him stroke for stroke during the greater part of the round. Earle had a round of 70 in Saturday's medal and his consecutive scores constitute a record so far as his.club is concerned. It was a grand performance and places Earle with "the elect of Auckland's amateurs. It would seem that he has not only arrived, but that he has come to stay. Naturally, some of his shots arc as yet not wholly formed, but it can be accepted that he possesses real abilities in the game. Cricket to Golf. Coupled with Browne was J. M. Coltman (Titirangi), who played sound golf and deserved to have been a stroke or two better. Along with Browne he was at times deceived by the holding nature of the greens. Of the other amateurs, A. Woolley experienced-a field day, combining long hitting with putting which was the envy-of his associates, though having started out last in the four : ball, A. L. Morpeth and H. Roy were literally hrst, home, their card of 4 up, wresting what promised to be additional honours for Woolley and Saunders, his partner Roy is the erstwhile fast bowler of cl'io cricket, and displays considerable ability and albeit enthusiasm, in his new-found game. Professional Handicap.

Perhaps the most popular win of the day was that of B. J. Smith, sen., and J Weir in the professionals handicap four-ball. It is true tluit it was only as the result of a count back from 1. vjailoway and F. Rutter, but the veteran came in for ' warm congratulations. A happy day was brought to a conclusion when All. 11. Morpeth, club captain, presented the prizes won during the day. Mr. Morpeth s interest in sport is legion, and as is known lie pioneered the idea of open days ioi the encouragement of the proressionals. Glimpse of the Australians. Maungakiekie was also the venue for the exhibition games between the Australian and Auckland professionals when the former touched port on Tuesday en route to San Francisco. As was the case when the American professionals were homeward bound from Australia the weather misbehaved, and spectators were rewarded with but a glimpse of the prowess of the visitors. The play of the Australians has already been given due prominence, so that comment need be but brief. Kelly's style found favour with many, while E. Naismith's action was voted a little unusual. Bolger (lid not putt with the certainty that has given him premiership. but possibly, in being just off ship, -he found the greens rolling up to meet him Moss was as delightfully accurate as usual, and Galloway and Bell showed the way to the * Naismith cousins. An renewing old associations of his year or so spent in Australia, Murray treated the visitors to some vigorous hitting, including a drive pin high to the 3/syd eighteenth hole. The shot was, however, down wind, and down hill from the pitch of the ball. The Australians are a cheery and vigorous team, and can be depended upon to keep the flag flying. Locally we with little of a com--netitive nature until the new season opens. Tlie exception is the annual summer tournament conducted by the North Shore Club, for which entries close shortly. -Lhe North Shore course will be in capita order for the event, and enthusiasts will not be lacking in numbers. So far as this column is concerned, as the ram sends the cricketers lielter skelter for the pavilion, so the ravages of old Sol call a halt for the season.