GOLF.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 5

GOLF.

♦ CHRISTCHURCH v OTAGO.

The hoavy downpour of rain which commanced yesterday morning would have been sufficient to damp the enthusiasm of any sportsman or athlete other than a devotee of golf. The teeming rain was not per- I mittod to interfere with the progress of yesterday's matches, however much it minimised the enjoyment of them. The first match was that for the llanmer Challenge Shield, which was presented in 1893 by Mr N. G. W. Hanmer, of Christohurch, to bo played for annually in foursome matches by teams representing tho Christchurch and Otago Golf Clubs. The Chrirtchurch Club were the holders, and had five previous wins to their credit against Otago's four. The respective teams were: —Christohurch: Messrs B. C. Rutherford, H. B. Lusk, \V. Hajman (captain), C. Treweek, H. E. Wright, and C. K. Sams. Otago: Messrs W. Macgr&gor (captain), H. D. Strcnaoh, R. J. Smith, H. C. Smith, H. A. Salmon, and B. Smith. 11. C. Smith and B. J. Smith (Otago) went out atrainst B. C. Rutherford and H. B. Luck (Christchurch), and came homo tho victors by one up, aftex * remarkably close .contest. The first hole was won by Otago, but at tho fourth the Christchurch men were two up. At the turn tho Smith Bros, had reduced tho lead to one, and by good putting they had secured,, at the sixteenth hole, a lead of one up, and two to go. The southern players made sure of the match by getting tho next hole. Rutherford and Lusk secured the last ho!«, and so finished only one down. H. D. Stronach and R. J. Smith (Otngo) met W. Harcnan »nd C. Trewcck (Christcburch), and suffered defeat by one up, after a very even g*me. Tho Christchurch playcre h-d the misfortune to lose the last hole, previous to which they had b*-en two up. At "The Lupins." the eleventh hole. Smith made an excellent Ehot. which secured the holo in three—a rather unuroal performance. "Land's End" was halved in five, both sides playing extremely well. The Christchurch men made a very fine approach, lying within holing distance in three, but the put was jurt misled. Driving for the last hole, and Christchurch being two up, Stronach misled his drive, leaving a difficult second for hifl partner. Troweek, playing second to Harman, ovex-rrvn th-e green with his stroke, landing the ball in the long grans, from which they were unnblo to holo out, and the tead wae reduced to one up in fnvour of Chrirtchureh. The result of thesft two grumes gave an additional interest to the contest between W. C. Maogregor and H. A. Salmon (Otago) and H. E. Wright and C. K. Sams (Christohurch). At the ninth hole the teams were all square, and Otago won "the n«xt. Both parties had good drive« towards "Tho Lupins," and both reached the preen with second ehots. Same played for the hole, but was short. and Mncgregor, who .played next ran abotrt - yard past. Wright ih<n laid the Ota-go men a dead stymie, which Salmon failed to lift ovetr, and the hole was halved in five. Tho round continued with varying success, and at tho rixteenth hole the teams were once more all square. At the seventeenth holo both drives were up to the edge of tne jrroen, but Salmon had tho better approach, end the hole was won in three, le a " n .e O*ago one up and one to play. At tms Pta/c news arrived that tho fate of the Shield was trembling'in the balance, as the result of the other matches left the play on the day all square, and if Christchurch won tho last holo the match would bo drawn. Salmon drove off, but topped his drive, and Wright followed with a shot down close to the creek. Macgregor played a long approach over the creek to the edge cf the green, and Sams followed suit with a better one on tho green, but- just past the hole. Salmon made a good shot from outside tho green, but tho ball went about two yards past. Wright tried a long put, but just missed, and tho ball lay a yard away. The Otago captain then holed vnth a capital tut. and Sams inipsed a shorter one lor n. half. The Teeult of tho game was tha. Otago came home two up, and secured the Shield by that margin. The Shield was won in previous years as follows:—1803, Christchurch; 18!>9, Christnhuroh, 1900, a dTaw; 1901, Otago; 1002, Ota."*)" 1303, Otago; 190J, Chnstchurcn, 190.% Otago; 1906, Chmtehurch; 1907, Christcl.urch. In the afternoon the llosking-Campbell Challenge Shield Match was played. The Shield, which was held la.'t year by Otago, was presented in 1!»6 by Mr J. H. Hoiking, of Dunedin, and Dri' Graham Campbell, of Christchurch., to bo piayed, for annually in singles by teams representing the. Christchurch and Otago Golf Clubs. The following was the draw:—B- C. Rutherford v H .C. Smith, H B. Lusk v B. J. Smith, W. Harman v J. R. Smith, C. K. Sains v W. Mucgregor, C. Tic week v. H. D. Stronach, H. E. Wright v 11. A. Salmon. Very great interest was taken in the meeting of Rutherford and H. C. Smith. Both players kept on very steadily, and at times really brilliant shotg. were made. All square was announced a*, the end of the round, and four more holes were played before Smith made the , poor shot which secured the game to .Rutherford. Both drives from the tee were goodj but -Smith got in a much better second. Rutherford's approach to tfoo green was from a difficult position, but ho landed tha ball on the ed§o of the green. Smith, from an. easier position, also went right to the edge. Putting in Smith ray about four feoi from tbe hole, and Rutherford about eight. The latter holed with a very nice shot but Smith misFod very badly. Tho game between H. D. Lusk and Basil Smith Tcsultcd im decisive win for the Christciiurch man, who did tho round in 78, equal to the best scoro during tho tournament. Beth his putting and driving were excollent, while Smith was right off. W. Harman beat J. R. Smith handsom-elv. and C. K. Sains beat the Otago captain. W. C. Macgre-gor. Sams made a brilliant finish, doing several oi the best hoes under the standard allowed the invisible colonel. H. D. Stronach, who has played a good steady gam* all through the tournament, beat Treweek by a alight margin, and the other Otago man, H. A. Salmon, who went round brilliantly in 78, beat H.. E. Wright. Christcbureh fecured 4he Shield by four wins to two. The Shield had been won six times previously by Otago, and twice by Christchurch, as follows:—1900, Christchurch; 1901, 1902, Christchurch; 1903, Otago; 1904, Otago j 1906, Otago; 1006. Otago: 1907, OUvgo. The result of the day's play is that Christchurch and Ota-o exchange the Shields which they held respectively last y«ar.