GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10148, 22 September 1898, Page 3

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

This contest was resumed yesterday morning, and the increasing interest evinced in it and the increasing interest evinced in itwas shown by the larger attendance of spectators, who attached themselves to the game, which promised to be more exciting, and from the evenness of its character, for some time left the result in doubt. The competitors were again favoured with, sporting weather, and the shower of rain which fell during the night was enough to bo appreciated. Thifc morning the Handicap Match, the second on the official programme, commences, and in the afternoon the semi-final of the championship will be j played. For to-morrow morning a team match has been arranged between Otago and ' Christchurch, in which four foursomes will J be engaged, for Mr Hanm.er'i« Challenge | Shield, and in the afternooD the final for the championship will be played off. Saturday is to bo devoted to such games as may be arranged to suit the visitors and others hoving time at their disposal. Yesterday the third round foi the championship was continued, the first game to finish being that between Mr W. Pryde, of the Hiitt. and Mr C. E. i>. Gillies, the Auckland α-ack player. Both men drove extremely well and made some fine approaches, but when it came to putting Mr Pryde proved to b£ better than his opponent, and provided his health holds good he is expected to be well in foi the final. The game was finished, in thirteen hole?, Mr Pryde winning by 7 up and 5 to play. He did his first. 9 holes in 36, and in another 20 made the other 4 holes. The game betAveen Mr 11. T. Wheeler and Mi- J .0. Wilson was a good fight, neither being able to get an advantage of any consequence, and Mr Wheeler won on the last hole. Mr A. Tapper had little difficulty in beating Mr T. D. Harmau by 3up and 1 to play. A close contest wai that between Mr N. F. Pcrston and Mr T. W. Gmnshaw, in which the latWr was defeated, by 4 tip and 2 to play, and in the course of the round eleven holes were balved. Mr A. Strang was successful over Mr C. F. C. Wilson by 4 up and 3 to play. The game between Mr E. Wilder and Mr D. B. Howden ended the third round, the former winning by 5 up and 4 to play. The match was very even for half way, after which the Christchurch player got away from his opponent. The earliest to get ever their troubles in the fourth round were Mr Kitto, the local dhampion, and Mr Harold, who was defeated by 7up and sto play. In the first 9 holes Mr Kitto was 6 up, but this lead was slightly reduced at the next hole, and at the 11th Mr Harold, who was playing freely, suffered misfortune by his caddy getting in the road of Mr Kitto's ball, and securing to him the hole, tihus increasing his lead from 5 to 6 again. The game finished in 13 holes. Th 6 fight between Mr Tapper and Mr Wheeler was a very even one, and ended in a win for the former by 1 hole, Mr Wheeler failing with the put at the last hole. In the course of the game 7 holes were faplved. In Mr Wilder and Mr Strang's game the latter did not play up to the form he had already shown in the tournament, and his opponent practically beat him from half way. The greatest interest was shown in the struggle between Mx Pryde and Mr Preston*, wno at different ttages had a lead. At the end of 9 "holes matters were even. At the 16th Mr Pryde assumed the lead for the first time, having obtained it by a long steal. Hβ won the 17th, -which gave him the game. Mr Persfcon played a very steady and skilful game, and gave his experienced opponent a good fight. Mr Pryde's win was a popular one, and there was general pleasure when it was known that he had secured a place in the semi-final or fifHh, round, in which the contestants are Mr Kitto (Christchurch) v Mr Pryde (Hutt), and Mr Tapper (Otago) y Mr Wilder (Christchurch), and from which it will be seen that the local club has two chances left for the championship. The following are tihe results: — > Championship—Third round (continued): W. Pryde.(Hutt) beat C. E. S. Gillies (Auckland), by 7 up and 5 to- play; R. T. Wheeler (Otego) beat, J. C. Wilson by 1 hole; A. Tapper (Otago) beat T. D. Harmon {Christchurch) by 3 up and 1 to play; N. F. Perston (Timaru) beat T. W. Qrimshaw (Auckland) by 4up and 2 to play; A; Strang (Manawatu) beat T. W. Grimshaw (Christchurch) by 4 up and 3 to play; E. Wilder, (Christchurch) beat D. B. Howden (Hutt)'by 5 up and 4 to play. Fourth round—Mr R. L. M. Kitto (Christchurch) beat Mr J. Harold (Wanganui) by 7 up and 5 to play; Mr A. Tapper (Otago) beat Mr R. T. Wheeler (Otago) by 1 hole: Mr Pryde (Hutt) beat Mr N. P. Perston (Timaru) by 2 up and 1 to play; and Mr Wilder (Christchurch) beat Mr A. Strang (Manawatu) by 4 up and 3 to play. The following is the draw for the Handk cap to be "played this morning:—-Kitto (2) plays Tapper (5), Somerville (4) plays Gillies (scr), Scott (5) play'a Perston (4), Pryde (scr) plays Wilder (2), Wheeler (5) plays Carr (6),f Strang (6) plays Burns (6), T. D. Harman (6) plays Brassey (10), C. Wilson (7) plays D.B. Howden. (8), Harold (6) plays W. Hannan (6), 'Darling (8) playe Leitch (7), C. R. Eowden (10) plays Walker (10), Roxby (8) plays Grimshaw (6), Taylor (10) plays Leigh (8), J. C. Wilson(6) plays Stilling (9), Brown; (7) plays Pearce (8), Laing (12) plays Stronach (11), Neill (12) plays Marshall (12).