NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12906, 11 September 1907, Page 7

NOTES ON THE PLAY.

(special to "tub pbiss.") NAPIER, September 10. A stranger's firet impression on arriving at the Wniohiki links after a seven mile drive to-day may be summed up in the two words ''Maoris" and "motors." TJio former are as much in, evidence as players, caddies and critical spectators, whilst the latter tooted most of the day on the main road, which passes through tho links, and thereby much disturbed nervous players making long putte for a half. The Napier Golf Club's clubhoiisu has been built since tho last championship tournament, and although the contractors have hardly finished, there is a great fmprovement in tho accommodation as compared with previous tournaments.

The largo number of entries caused a (considerable, but unavoidable, delay in the- starting, ns although the first couple teed off punctually at 9.15 a.m., tho last two did not get away until a quarter to one. In the first event—the Open Championship—a great deal of interest. Is being taken, ac hitherto amateurs and professionals have not mot in competition on a New Zealand course. The match is 36 holes, stroke play, the first eighteen holes being played to-day whilst the second eighteen will Iks played on Thursday. So far D. Hood, th« Wellington professional, ia leading witli a card of 80, whilst he is closely followed by McLaren, the Otago professional, 82; Arthur Duncan, Kurapo Tareba, J. M. Herd, the Christchurch professional, and G. F. Thornburn, all of wbom went round in 83. Tho Christchurch players were evidently somewhat disconcerted by the keenness of the greens, B. C. Rutherford, B. B. Wood, and H. B. Lusk being 87 each, whilst the others were between 90 and 100. A. H. Fisher, of Dunedin, was 89, and H. Smith and Turnbull were 92 and 94. Simultaneously with the Open Championship, a teams match for tho Williams Cup, was played, Napier lending on tho first rounxf with 348, Christchinch A. team being second with 358, Wellington A. 363, Otago 370, Chrisichurcii B. team 373. In the afternoon tho first round r<l the Amateur Championship was played, the most important' match being thai between K. Duncan, of Wellington, and Kurapo Tareha, the local champion. At ono time it looked as if the aatrro

would win somewhat «vii- bot by bril-wl Duncan wore and finally -horn*-'mSMi Haman and Rutherford, of chuich, had byes, but t&ij tAhF**M$M other in the second, round. Wood, who only arrived in Nimi«» i»Sll last nA beWWiS?by K^/fits| in spite of a recent attact of is evidently m C ood form. Herd hu Si also had inlluensa lately, but soemaWl bo recovering to-day, althoufih suffering from giddiness yeaterdaj; at tho laradale Hotel, hod an cxcjffi -%m expenonoe yesterday morning. A back- 'M blocks busnumn, who wae knockme down a cheque, and was on the wtnW ot dohrium tremens, attacked him wffl a water botUo. 0 Troweek, :tl wont to Macfarlanos aid and th« btlßlh r '> ; vil man was eventually removed. •■■.'■'■■s

(NIKSS ASSOCIATION TIXKUUIt ) -1 NAirn September 10, Tho play at tho Golf UiampiiMMtoip' Meeting was of an. intereebinjj oharwo- * tor, and some exooHont eooros- ww ">'.- : uiado in tho Ojnm Championship «iod ■:i Hawko'e Bay Amateur Chainpjonahip, which wore played together. Th« beo ■ scoras wero made by D. Mood (pTofc** ' sional) and J. C. Bidwill, oJeeoh, ? which ie only one or two off tho record '- for the links. The fiatoo botnvwa r Artiiur Duncan, nuiatour champion/ ¥ and McLaren, the professionai, attriefc. U : .' od tho fiixiatest amount of iivteraet, '*; i Duncan's driving «ncl atmroachinc wei% v;bettor than those of tiro profeewoaeL >' but McLaren beat him at putting,tb» game csnding in McLoron'i favour by ■ * »2 to 83. In the Amateur Champkei- Tj| ship of New Zealand the etoateet tarprise was the defeat of Kurupo Tarohfc -r ■ by Ken. Dunoan. In tlio Tareha did a good round in 83 to Dun- ':'■■■ U cane 95, and tho former wee eipooted to make a big bid for tho olvampiott- ■,' ship. In driving and approaeWae . ;-:; there wa» littlo difforonoo th« two, but Duncan's putting wm cap** '• >;; rior. It was evident, howeveev tihefc ' I Tareha was right off his form; Tawha woe up at the fifteenth hole; tl» aert -=?) was halved; Duncan won the •eT*n« v ;i« teenth and eighteenth. ■ V', j^! The mixed foursomes for tb» Wm4w» ' Cleek were pkyed M Shirley ImA Bttai4«r,> ># Tho following c*rd« were returned t— ;^-.y>is. Mrs Beid and P. Trolov*, l< all I' equaro; Mi«* Rutherford and B. B.- Wood. <Lt-*# 2 down; Mira Harley and L. W. H«W $:■ Viyg 4 do-wn; Mi«e Kettle and J, O. % '• Jl 6 down; Mm Vernon and It.' OottehTl 1 down; Mtee C. Ket,tl« and H, 15, 6 down; Mr* Campbell.»nd A. 0. Fm2:?f!S 5, 8 down; Miw CowlWbsw wd F. B* ley, 6, 13 down. ■•■ ■ ■'•.■.■.<-i-v, : ,'. ~&t£?