TRIED FOR HIS LIFE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 15

TRIED FOR HIS LIFE

Mussolini Declared To Be

War Criminal

AGAINST ITALIAN PEOPLE

Rec. 4.30 p.m. LONDON, April 27. Reuters Rome correspondent says that the Public Prosecutor demanded that Mussolini be tried for his life before the High Court. It is agreed that he was a war criminal, but the Italians argue that first and foremost he was guilty of innumerable crimes against the Italian people. <

With the long markers shooting extraordinary scores at Orakei, players on tight marks have had little opportunity to figure in the limelight recently. Wally Jones, however, took the honours in a scramble this week-end, when he produced a round of 69 gross, equal to the scratch score of the course. With a handicap of 2 he returned a stableford score of 3S points, 18 on the first half and 20 in the second. There were three birdies in the last nine, two of them at the finishing holes, which are five bogey. Jones' played the last nine holes in 3?, one less than the standard.

When he obtained a birdie three at the seventeenth hole against H. F. Shoen at Akarana last Saturday in the Wiseman Trophy (match play event) W. J. Rogers, the club captain, finished the match two and one. Playing the last hole in another three, an eagle, Rogers finished up with a round of 77 off a nine handicap. Rogers played the first nine holes in 42, but came home in 35, one under scratch. Obviously Shoen was not loafing on the journey—his opponent's performance drew the attention of handlcapper J. Linton, who reduced him two strokes. Several other competitors had their handicaps reviewed after last week end's play. * * * *

With members returning from overseas in good force and an increased interest in competitive golf again the Akarana club has decided to resume the winter championship during the King's Birthday weekend. This was a popular fixture before the war, and although a tournament has been held since, the championship has not been decided since 1940. The Titirangi club had previously decided to hold a three-day tournament in October at the Labour Day week-end. The club is also holding a one-day open tournament on Sunday, May 20.

Of several players whose nett scores were equal to, or better than the scratch score, in the Ballin Cup, the first of the major match play events at Titirangi, L. H. Robinson set the pace with a card of 83 —15 — 68. His halves were 44 and 39, his first nine being marred by a 7 and an 8. Bar these blemishes it was a first rate effort for a player on his mark and fully merited the reduction of two strokes which followed. Robinson recently returned from the Middle East.

C. J. Bunting goes on improving. A reduction of a stroke did not prevent him returning a nett 72 last Saturday, with a sound 38 for the first nine. He has come down to

Rapid progress has been made by the Titirangi junior, T. W. Gill. He commenced the season on a 20 mark and quickly reduced a stroke. The next day he won a scramble with a nett 62, for which he was clocked four strokes. In the Ballin Cup he was still equal to a nett 72 and he will now play off 14.

N. A. Naismith, who a few seasons ago played off a low mark at Titirangi, has taken up the game again and found it easy last Saturday off 14. It would occasion no surprise to see him back among the single figure players before the season is over.

The only competitors to break SO in the Ballin Cup were the two scratch players Jack Young and B. T. Laycock, with 74 and 78, gross, respectively. Young's game is approaching the brilliance of yore, as evidenced by his first nine holes: 4, 3, 5, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5—36. He was home in 38 after slipping a stroke at the 15th and 16th and picking up one of them at the 17th.

The Australian, Jim Ferrier, won £1426 and finished in sixth place among American professional golfers for earnings in the past season. Byron Nelson easily topped the list with £7671. Then came Sammy Snead (£5269), Jug McSpaden (£3832), Sammy Bryd (£3362), and Ky Laffoon (£1432).

Spacious greens is a feature of the lay-out of the Maungakiekie Club's new course at Mount Roskill. Enthusiastic members who gave up play for work during the last two week-ends had this impressed on them when they had levelled, manured, raked and sowed 14 of them. Still they felt well satisfied at the results of their endeavours which reflect the enterprising spirit which prevails in the club. A remarkable change has been made in the property from its condition 12 months ago and it is expected that by the end of this week ail the fairways will have been sown. In consequence of the working bee all club competitions were postponed and the committee will rearrange the programme to fit in the Kingswell Shield—one of the major events—which would have been played this month.

Middlemore competitions this season have been spread over the weekend, which, of course, gives players varying conditions. The best Stableford performance so far is that of C. S. White, who tallied 38, and had a medal round of 82—16—66. His halves were 41 each way and White's possibilities are illustrated in the fact that he made a bad start comipg home with 4, 5, 6 against the scratch sc<?re of 3. 4. 5. lie was rehandicapped two strokes for his performance.