GOLF SURPRISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 8

GOLF SURPRISE.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

BELL DEFEATS CLEMENTS.

XITTO ROUND TN 69,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association^

HAMILTON, this day. There was a surprise in the fir.;t round of the professional championship, played at St. Andrews this mornuig, when N. Bell (North Shore) be<)t 'J. C. Clements (Russley), the title-holder Bell had played indifferently in the Open, and yesterday in the four»omes. Clements last year won the title iiv.m A. J. Shaw.

The weather wae overcast in the morning, with gusty westerly wind making conditions fairly difficult. Though the lesue was never in doubt, Moss did not play hie best golf in defeating Fuller. Leading all the way, B. J. Smith was always in a comfortable position against J. A. Clement*. He was 2 up at the fourth and '.i at the turn. The eecond half saw Smith increase his lead, and at the eleventh he was 5 up, having won the tenth in 3 and the eleventh in bogey 4. He waft stymied at the twelfth for 4, and lost the fourteenth when" he failed to hole a fairly ea«y putt, but he took the fifteenth and the match.

After losing the first hole, Guy went out in 38 against Ritchie and was superior to him generally. Douglas had to hole a chip fihot for a birdie 3 at the seventeenth to square his game with Dyke, and then won at the eighteenth, where his opponent's second wae bunkered.

■Sensationally Bell flashed back to form to defeat Clements. The latter's golf was not good over the first nine holes. He fought back well when his opponent's lead was too big a hurdle. Bell started off with a birdie 2, but Clements won the next with an eagle 3. Bogey' figure*, 4, halved the third, but Bell holed in eagle to win the fourth. At the turn Bell was 3 up, after going out in 37, one under the scratch score. Bogey figures saw the pair halve the next four holes. Bell won at the seventeenth after a great game.

Hornabrook Tested. J. P. Hornabrook, who is defending the amateur title, experienced a repetition of the opposition he received from L. J. Bryant, the Hamilton player, in the first round at New Plymouth last year, when he met J. P. Mortland this morning. Whereas Bryant took the champion to the 19th, Mortland to-day finished 1 down at the ISth. Mortland played a fighting game throughout, and, after being" 2 down at the 12th. he took the 13th and maintained the position of 1 clown to the end.

A bad start lost Mortland the first hole, his tee shot finding the river, and 1 he also lost the next hole. The third was halved, and from that stage until the turn bogey figures were obtained by both players. At the ninth Hornabrook sliced down the river bank, and with his second entered the rough. He then chipped oil to the green, finishing the hole in 4. Mortland took three putts and lost the hole, finishing the outward journey in 40 against Hornabrook's 38. Hovnabrook maintained his lead until Mortland took the 12th and 13th. The 15th was halved in bogey 4. Both got birdie fours at the next, and another half followed at the 17th. Wanting the last hole to square the match, Mortland hooked liis drive, and his second over a tree ended near the first green. He took 6 to hole out, and Homabrook could do no better. He had bunker trouble and took 4 to reach the gTeen. Brinsden, the outstanding player from Auckland this season, was eliminated by Horton, but another Aucklander, Thomson, playing at the top of his form, had no difficulty in eliminating the youthful K. C. Ward.

Brilliancy of Youth. With the. background of his knowledge of the use of golf clulw since the aae of seven, but merely four years in club piny, combined with confidence in his own ability, the 10-year-old Seafi-eld champion K. F. Kitto leapt to the position of one of the finest amateur golfers in the Dominion to-day. Playing in his second New Zealand championship tournament he unofficially equalled the course record of St. Andrews with a brilliant round of 00. The feat cannot be recognised ae it was not accomplished in stroke play.

After winning his match against P. G. F. Smith, the young Auckland star, with a score of 5 and 3. Kitto completed the course to finish in the remarkable figures of 09. This is five strokes below the standard scratch score of 74. A farmer by occupation, Kitto ha« played on a private course at his home in Brunswick since childhood. He ie one of a golfing family. His score to-day was mainly the result of almost consummate putting.

The course record is jointly held by Sloan Morpeth. B. G. Thomson and R. H. G lading. Kitto's card read: — Out: 3. 4. 4, 3. 4. 4. 4. 5. 4—35. In: 3, 4. 4. 3, 3, 4, 5. 3, 3—34. Total: 09. In his round of 70 on the second day of the open E. J. Mos* came home in 33. Professional Championship. First Round. E. J. Moss beat N. IT. Fuller 3 and 2. A. E. Guy bent G. W. Ritchie', 4 jind 3. B. J. Smith, jun., beat J. A. Cl<>rieiH« 4 and 3. J. Weir beat J. Melntosh, 4 ami 2. E. S. Douglas beat A. i:yke, 1 up. T. S. Galloway beat F. Brand;, r> and 4. N. Bell beat C. C. Clements, ?. and 1. A. J. Shaw beat J. Lair.bie, 2 and 1. The Amateurs. First Round. J. P. Hornabrook beat P. J. Moulaud, 1 up. B. G. Thomson hywtt K. C. Ward, 5 an 1 4. ■ .'?■ A. D. S. Duncan beat H. P Dale 4 and 2. T. H. Horton beat H. D. B ir-nden 4 and 3. J. L. Black beat H. A. Black, at the nineteenth. A. R. Kitto beat J. H. Young, 0 and 5 A. G. Sime beat F. H. McDonald. 4 and 2. R. F. Kitto beat P. G. F Smith 5 and 3. B. M. Silk beat H. J. Long*taff 4 and 3. R. G. Holland beat J. Logan. 4 and 3. I. A. Ewen beat A. R. Blank, 4 and 2 J. R. Hobbs beat G. B. Roberts. 3 and 2. W. G. Home beat S. G. Cooper :? and 1. ! B. H. Menzies beat P. L. Peacock, at ! the nineteenth. K. Ross won by default from XI. R. Moore. H. W. Hattersley beat R. H. Gladin?, 4 and 3. w i