TITLE LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 10

TITLE LOST.

BEATEN BY RULE. GOLF SENSATION. BREACH ON A GREEN. A. J. MURRAY DISQUALIFIED I (By T.R.8.)

Rules are mndo to b 0 broken!

Piil, (li ( . rules of gr>lf Inid down yearn ft (To by the Royiil and Ancient Club at St. Andrew*, Scotland, «ro inexorable. They apply wherever golf ia played— on world fnnie<l link«, or on country

paddock courses

Dramatically and unhappily thU wa« Illustrated at St. Andrews, Hamilton, on Saturday evening. There A. J. Murray, tlm Auckland professional, had the, open championship of Now Zealand taken away from him after he had staged a gallant uphill tight which had placed him two strokes ahead of the field. Two years ngn at Shirley, Christohurch, Murray won hi* first open title. Luck wa« with him on that occasion, but no big golf contest is freo from some, element of good fortune. Without "tho breaks," n« golfers say, their skill is in vain. Lone Amateur. On Saturday Murray had a "break" -—a long mitt at the seventh hole, giving him the bogey live after he had taken four shots to reach the green. Murray's smile said nil there was to say. He had wived a stroke, and that stroko might mean the difference between victory and defeat. The gallery applauded his effort. Murray lifted his hat. and smiled.

His partner, J. P. Hormibrook, who wan carrying tho Aug of the amateurs in a lone cluillonga to the professionals, marked down that five on Murray's card and noted that his partner was one stroke better than him. They had started their fourth and final round level at '221, three strokes behind the lender, R. J. Moss, and they were overhauling him fast.

And so they wont to tho eighth tec. Again fortune smiled on Murray. His second shot to tho green broke in towards the pin when it looked as if it might bounce off the green. The thought must have run through Murray'* mind that the gods were with him. He was destined to win.

Dame Fortune it fickle. She set a cruel trap for Murray into which he foil at the full flush of his high hopes. Me lifted his ball from his partner's line while Hornabrook played his approach shot from just over the green, and as llornahrnok's ball trickled towards the pin, Murray dropped his at the back of the green and stroked it with his putter. It was an action similar to a jockey's encouraging pat on his mount's neck. Hornabrook putted out and Murray replaced his ball in the centre of the green and holed out in the orthodox two putts. Fomr was Easy. Victory was on the horizon as he played the last hole of the half. The required four was easy for him. Half tho battle was over. Not only had he overhauled Moss, but was one stroke to the good. Already Moss had taken 40 to reach the turn, and Murray 39. A score of 38 for the next nine holes against the scratch figures of 30 caused no anxiety. Murray waa on the crest of the wave. He was confident of victory, and justifiably «o. Serenely he carried his challenge hole by hole until, with but one to play, he had a Ave for victory. It waa a simple five bogey. He was still two strokes ahead of hw partner, the advantage which he had at the turn. No danger lurked in Hornalirook'a challenge. Xelcatlese stale*. A murmur among those who were fully cognisant of the rules—those relentless rules—expressed after Murray's action at the eighth had spread, on the wings of rumour, to all parts of the course, long before he faced the last green. Everyone knew that nothing but a crash at the 18th could rob him of victory, hut suspicion that there was something wrong had become a common 1 dief. Few besides the prospective winner and hie caddi* were unaware of it.

"Play any club you choose," said the caddy as he handed the bag to Murray. "You can't miss a five." Thoughtfully, but confidently, the player selected a No. 2 iron and hit m perfect shot to the groon. The gallery surged around the g.uon and applauded the winner when ho holed out in 4—two strokes ahead of the triple tie for second place, Moss, Slmw and Hornabrook, all SM. But, while Murray was receiving the •nngratulatlons of many, an anxious meeting of the committee waa taking place. The incident on the eighth green had reached their ears. It must be investigated. The text book of the Royal and Ancient was consulted.

The crowd's suspicions were now confirmed, for Murray's name had not been lifted to the top of the score board. Everyone discussed it. Surely such a little matter would not rob Murray of his well-deserved victory? The other players were good sportsmen. Could they not waive their rights? Rules are rules. There was no alternative. The penalty was disqualification. An hour after Murray 'had been cheered on the last green, some of the cheering crowd who had remained for the committee's decision were again shaking his hand. This time they were offering their commiserations that such a gallant fight should have beta futile.