GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10147, 21 September 1898, Page 2

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

The annual New Zealand Golf. Championship was commenced on Christclmrch Club's links, at *agley *>** ye*terday, under the most favourable conditions, lne weather was very fine and the hgnt norwester which blew made the putting men very keen. The competitors teed off before eleven o'clock, and by the luncheon adjournment, the first round was complete. In the afternoon the second round was.got otf, and two games in the third round, which will be resumed this morning. Some close games were witnessed during the course of tho first and second rounds, tho closer finishes being between Mr N. F. Perston, of Timaru, and Mr H. M. Roxby, of Oaniaru, who lost by 3 holes up and 1 to play; Mr R. L.M. Kitto,'of (Jhristchurch, who defeated Mr R. Sommerville, of Timaru, by one hole; Mr W. Pryde, of the Hutt, who won against Mr J. Laing, of Dunedin, by 4uo and 2to play; Mr C. F. C. Wilson, of Christchurch, who succeeded in defeating his Christchurch mate,' Major Taylor, by a similar score, and Mr A. Strang, of Manawatu, against Mr H. D. Stronach, of Otago, who lost by only one hole, and Mr T. W. Grimshaw, of Auckland, who was victorious over his club mate, Mr R. A. Carr, by 2 up and - to play. The most strenuously fought and exciting game of the day was that between Mr D. B. Howden, of the Hutt Club, Wellington, and Mr T. J. Brassey, of Auckland. After a thoroughly ding-dong light, Mr Brassey became dormy two at the 16th' hole. Mr Howden drove splendidly to the edge of the green for the 17t>h hole, but he experienced, the misfortune of finding his ball in a deep cut some 15yds from tn£ hole, and tihis cost him a stroke. Relief came to him in the fact that Mr Brassey's drive lay in the rushes, and in the extrication of his ball he had to take one stroke. Mr Brassey's approach not being up, the hole fell to Mr Howden in sto 6. The same player secured the 18th hole in 4, to his opponent's 5, and matters were even. At the 19th hole both' had fair drives, and put their seconds on to the edge of the green. Mr Brassey's approach left him with a put of some Bft, while Mr Howden was stone dead. Mr Brassey, however, got his ball down, and the hole was halved. Ho had a splendid drive to within 30ft of the 20th hole, while Air Howden sliced his into the rushes, but he made an excellent recovery to the edge of the green some 20ft from the hole. Mr Brassey played the like, and lay within 3ft of the hole. Mr Howden got down in four, Mr Brassey missing a. 3ft put for a win in three. Each player for some time had been struggling to save the odd stroke, and botih had fair drives to the 21st hole, and Mr Brassey, playing the odd, laid his ball within 18ft of the coveted spot. Mr Howden's second lay some Byds from the hole, and the match looked a "moral" for the Aucklander. However, after very carefully* studying the put, tihe Hutt representative played a beautiful ball, which holed. Mr Brassey had a short put of 18in to halve, but the ball ran round the ring and stayed out, thus terminating the match in favour of Mr Howden by one at the 21st hole. As the rounds are worked off the games become more interesting, and the one expected to, be the keenest to-day is that between Mr C. E.«. Gillies, of Auckland, and Mr W. Pryde, of the Hufct, the brother of the present holder of the, cup, who is not competing this year. The number of competitors has been reduced by three, Mr J. Holmes, of Oainaru, Mr J. H. Hosking, of Otago, and Mr W. G McGregor, of .Otago,'being unable to attend. This places Dr. Brown, Mr J- C. Wilson and J. Harold in the third round.

Amateur Championship of New Zealand, over 18 holes _ game to be scored by holes; winner to receive a trophy and also be considered the winner of the Challenge Cup (at present held by Mr D. M. Pryde, of the Hutt Club, Wellington). — There were thirty-five competitors, 'i'lie results wera. as under: -«.

First round — T. W. Grimshaw beat B. H. Burns by 5 up and 4 to play ; N. F. Perston beat H. M. Roxby by 3 up and 1 to play j R. A. Carr, beat W. R. Darling by.4 .and 3 to play, A. Tapper *>eat W. T. Neill by Bup and 6 tx> play; T.\ D. Harman beat J. M. Turnbull by 5 up and 3 to play; W. Harman beat W. _. Charlewood by 5 up and 3 to play.

Second round—R. L. M. Kitto (Christchurch) beat R. Sommerville (Timaru) by 1 hole; F. J- Stilling (Otago) beat A. Si. Walker.(Auckland) by 7 up and 6 to play; W. Pryde (Hutt) beat J. Laing (Dunedin) by 4 up and 2 to play; G. E. S. Gillie* (Auckland) beat E. S. Pearce (Wellington) by Bup and 6 to play; R. T. Wheeler (Otago) beat F. Leitch (Otago) by 4 up and 3to play; D. B. Howden (Hutt) beat T. J. Brassey (Auckland) at the 21st hole;; E". Wilder '(Christchurch) beat J. (Otago) by 4 up and 3 to pJay; O/'f , . -0. Wilson (Clmstchurch) beat I&ajo_£¥aylor by 4 up and 2 to play; A. Strang (Manawatu) beat H. D. Sti-onach (Otago) by. 4 up and 2 to play; N. F. Perston (Timaru) beat J. W. H. Wood (Christchurch) by 3 up and 2 to play; T. D. Harman (Christchurch) beat B. H. D. Leigh (Waimate) Dy 4 up and 2 to play; A. Tapper (Otago) beat W. Harman by 4up and 2to play; T. W. Grimshaw (Auckland) beat R. A. Can , (Auckland) by 2 up and 1 to play. Third round—R. L. M. Kitto (Cliristchurch) beat Dr. Brown (Otago) by 5 up and 4 to play; J. Harold (Wanganui) beat F. J. Stilling (Otago) by 7 up and 6 to play.

The other players in this round are: — W. Pryde plays C. E. S. Gillies, N. ft Perston plays T. W. Grimsha*, A. Tapper plays T. I). Harman, R. T. Wheeler plays J. C. Wilson, D. B. Howden plays E. Wilder, 0. F. C. Wilson plays A. Strang.