GOLF.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 16

GOLF.

FIXTURES. Christchurch Ladies' Club—November 4th.. First match of summer programme. A\ondale Club—November Ist: Open day, end-of-season tourney. Avondale Ladies' Club—October 31st: Sealed holes match (Mrs Stiftkings'e trophy). Eussley Club—October 31st: Closing day; mixed foursome, arrange partners and opponents . Rawhiti Club—November Ist: Closing day, mixed foursome, 2 p.m NOTES OF THE DAY. [By Flagsiicx.] For 6everal reasons the 1031 championship tourney which ended at Shirley on Monday last will bo long and pleasantly remembered, both by the large crowd of enthusiastic golfers and ex-golfers who followed the play, and by the. players themselves. The latter especially will c/irry away memories of perfect late-spring days, and of a course which so experienced a judge as A. I>. S. Duncan declared to have been in better playing condition than any he could remember having played on during his long experience of such contests- a judgment which was confirmed by the professionals who attended the meeting and who signified their appreciation of the work of the Greens Committee by making a small present to its chairman, Mr M. H. Godby. In the second place the tourney was memorable for the number or voung players who added to their laurels bv their success in reaching the later rounds of the amateur championship,'these including J. P. Mortlanu, S. C. Col beck, and the winner ot the title, R. Wagg, at the semi-final stage, and B. J. Smith, jun., in the quarterfinals. B. M. Silk, J. P. Hornabrook, G. P. Roberts, and M. Duncan, the lnst-named being a very long driver, also gave proof of golfing ability that is bound to bring them into prominence iri the near future. B. V. Wright started well, but evidently had not sufficiently recovered from a severe operation to stand the strain of many days of competitive golf. The many close contests and the fine, often superlative, golf that was witnessed maintained tho interest throughout at a. high pitch.

After surviving some fairly easy matches in the parlier rounds of the amateur champibnship, Rana Wagg, the 1931 champion, showed to advantage in the teams match with a fine 73 —without a two in it—in which he had a homeward run of 36, equalling the strict par figures at every hole except the fifteenth, where his card showed a four. From then onwards he maintained a high standard of play, defeating in succession A. R. Blank, champion of the Christchurch Club and winner of the Dobson Cup, H. A. Black, the title holder, and J. P. Mortland, before reaching the final. His strong points are his driving, his chip approach, which on many occasions had to be relied on to off-set some weakness in his seconds with all clubs, and'his putting; it was seldom that his approach putt stopped short of the hole, and consequently he often upswt his opponents' expectations by holing from the edge of the green. The veteran. A. D. S. Duncan, who had played so convincingly in his two preceding rounds against J. L. Black and .S. C. Colbeck, was manifestly a jaded tnan bv the" time the final was reached, and Kis golf fell short of his. usual standard in. two notable respects. The first, of course, was his putting; as the game proceeded the tally of easy putts missed grew longer and longer, and ho was more than once short with those of medium length. His iron play, too, the excellence of which is usually a feature of his game, fell away considerably towards the.'end, and many of his approaches left him with long chips or shots from bunkers.; Thiß part of : his game was very sound, and if supported by even tolerably good putting would "have brought him home a winner.

After E. M. Macfarlane's wonderfully fine play in the open, when he returned even fours for 72 holes, and in the O'Rorke Vase competition—when he was round in 69, and on the homeward run was 33, two strokes under the strict. par of the coutse—it was confidently expected that he would be Erominent in the later stages, but he ad an off day when he met J. Millard during the 18-hole series, and suffered 'defeat. One must sympathise also with H. R. Blair, who played fine golf throughout, and who established himself _as the virtual rnnner-up in the. professional championship, when he fully extended A. J. Shaw in the semi-final, losing only on the last green. J. D. Mcintosh was scarcely so prominent as usual, though he followed up his 78 of the first round of the open championship' with fighting efforts of 72, 72, ana 73. He showed his true form later in the meeting when he won the professional stroke handicap with a score of 141 (72, 69) from scratch.

In the amateur championship of the United -States, which this year was contested at the Beverly Country Club's course near Chicago, the famous Francis Ouimet scored his second win, "after an interval of seventeen years. Ouimet's first rise to fame dates back to 1913, the year .when E. Ray and H. Vardon were contending for the ■ open championship of the States, and it seemed probable that the title would go to one or other of them, but Ouimet finished well to tie with the pair, and beat them in the play-off, in a match famous in golfing history. In the following year Ouimet beat Jerome Travers for the aniateyn title, and again in 1920 he reached the final only to be beatep by "Chick]' Evans. He has since reached the semifinal several times and has been chosen to represent the United States in practically every match for the Walker Cup, In his final with J. Westland, the Chicago district champion, the veteran's experience stood him in good stead, for he was able to cope with boisterous conditions that upset his ojponent'p game. The latter had ac'counted for Maurice McCarthy, last ybar's metropolitan champion, in the semi-final, and had tied with Arthur Yates, of Rochester, for the medal given for the best qualifying round, beating par by a stroke. He could not adapt his long game to the difficult weather . conditions, and - his putting suffered in consequence, Ouimet winning 6 np and o. The cards read: — Par—Out: 453 4 4354 4—36 In: 353 4 4 44 3 5-35 7.1 , Morning Round: Ouimet— Out: 44445 454 5—39 Westland— Out: 55356464 5—43 Ouimet— In: 3645 34 4 3 5—37—76 Westland— , i In.: 3634 45 4 4 5—38—81 Ouimet 5 up. Afternoon Round: Ouimet— Oat: 6 5 3 5 4 4 6 6 4-42 Westland— Out: 474 5 5354 4—41 Ouimet—ln : 35 3 4 Wefitlarfd—ln: 4 5 3 4 Ouimet 6 up and 5.

The Avondale Club closes its winter programme this year with an all-day tourney on November Ist. With tlieir usual generosity the committee have made tho ©vents open to all members of affiliated clubs, who are assured of a hearty welcome. Ihe rains of September were very favourable to the voung grass of tho fairways, and though eome of this has suffered in some degree from the hot, dry weather of the last fortnight, the course shows u considerable advance on a year's working. Golf at Avondalo is always interesting, and' the occasion should provide a very enjoyable day's outing, especially as post entries will be accepted. This year's champion of the Professional Golfers' Association of the United States is a twenty-year-old player, T. Creavy, who hails from Albany Country Club. He is the youngest player who has ever held this title, and naturally his previous doings are quite unknown in New Zealand. On his way to tho final he did not attract much attention till in the semi-final he defeated E. Sarazen, twice champion in this event. Densmore Slnite, the other finalist, is much better Known to fame, having been chosen as Hagen's partner in the Ryder Cup foursomes, and he gained fresh laurels in this championship by defeating in turn T. D. Armour, holder of the title and British open champion, 'and W. Burke, American open champion for 1931. In the final Shute. more than held his own through the green, but Creavy made good the leeway by some marvellous chipping. So accurate was lie in this department that in the first round he was able to hole with one putt on eleven of the greens. Shute had reached the final mainly by the accuracy of his putting, but could not reach the same standard in the title game till Crenvy had too much in hand to be overtaken. The matches were played at the Wannamoisett Country Club, Hudson, Ohio. Cards: Par— OUt: 4 5 3 4 4 4 1 3 4—35 In: 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 5 4—35—70 Morning Round: Creavy—Out :44254544 4—36 Shute—Out: 44354643 5-r-38 Creavy 2 up. Creavy—ln: 43444345 6 —37—73 Shute—ln: 443345 4 5 6 —38 —76 Creavy 2 up. Afternoon Round: Creavy—Out: 45344443 4—35 Shute—Out: 443 4 4533 4—34 Creavy 1 up. Creavy—rln: 33355365 Shute—ln: 44445246' Creavy 2 up and I.

HAREWOOD LADIES' CLUB.

CLOSE OF THE SEASON. $ The 1931 season was closed yesterday, when a four-ball bogey match -was played, and was won by Hiss M. Ward and Mrs Fraser. The best cards were:— Miss M. Ward and Mrs Fraser . . 3 up Mrs I). Skinner and Mrs C. Quano 1 up Mrs Stevens and Mrs Redpath .. all square Miss Best and Miss Hepburn .. Miss Page and Miss Tliacker .. all square Mrs Page and Mrs Wallace .. 1 down Mrs C. Bell and Mrs Orr .. 4 down Mrs G. Beaven and Miss B. Beadel S down Mrs Blank and Mrs Crozier .. '5 down Mrs Tingey and Mrs Geddes .. 6 down Mrs Binns and Miss Mitchell .. 7 down Daring afternoon tea, Mrs Binns (captain) and Mr A. R. Blank congratulated the 1931 prize-winners: "Championship, Mrs N. E. Tingey; runner-up, Mrs S. Byjns. Junior championship, Mrs 0. Skinner; runner-up, Miss L. Page. Slyer medal, M. Ward; bronze medal, Mrs T. 0. Wallaco. David Crozier Cup, Miss M. Ward; two-life, Miss M. Miller (Mrs D. Crozier's prize); eclectic, Mrs G. Hamilton; knock-out. Miss J. Mitchell; senior ringer, Miss M. Ward; junior riuger, Mrs A. R. Blank (Mr Wallace's prize) ; Captain v. Secretary teams' match, Secretary's team; Canadian foursome, Miss J. Mitchell and MisS B. Beadel; flag matches, MSbs J. Mitchell (Mrs M. H. Godby's prize). Miss B. Beadel, and Miss M. Miller (Miss Mitchell's prize); sealed hole, Miss D. Hepburn; fourball bogeys (opening day), Mrs Fraser and Mrs Wallace, Miss Miller and Miss Best* and Miss Ward and Mrs E. Beaven; L.G.U.medals; Seniors, Miss M. Ward (5) and Miss M. Miller (3); juniors, Miss M. Orr, Mrs Wallace (2), Mrs Blank, Miss J. Mitchell (2), Miss M. Thacker, Miss D. Hepburn, and Miss L. Page; non handicap competitions, Miss Hepbprn, Miss K. Tench (2), Mrs Grant, and Miss Molly Haisty (2); bogey matches, Mrs D. Crozier (2),' Miss Hepburn, Mrs Eraser, Miss Miller, and Mrs Page.

RUSSLEY LADIES' CLUB. In the closing tlay matches played at 'ftussley yesterday, Mrs H. Harmon was the winner of the senior bogey match, for which the prize was kindly presented by Mrs G. H. Walton. Mrs' J. Stringer was the winner in the - junior division, and the medal foursome was won by Miss G. Baxter and Miss E. Johnstone. Follbwing were the results: — BOGEY-* MATCH. Senior. Hep. Score. Mrs Harman .. 12 1 down Mrs McClatclii# ..9 2 down Miss D. Bruce . . 8 3 down Miss G. Cotton 8 5 down Junior. Mrs Stringer - • J<> f down Mrs H. F. Richards .. 15 5 down Mrs Hanna • • 21 5 down MEDAL FOURSOME. Miss Johnstone and Miss Baxter 93 18 75 Mrs M. F. Brown and Miss _ : V. Fleming •• 95 17 78 Miss^i Hall R. Miss Lawler and Miss ' Rennie ..96 Xo ou Although the season will close officially this week, a number of matches will be arranged for those wishing to continue play during the next few .weeks. On November sth a medal match will be played, for which the players are to choose partners.

STEVENS' CUP. . The Stevens Cup will be competed lor at Harewood links on November Ist, when ohemiats from near and. far will be enjoying themselves. . The conditions of play are one round (18) holes of stroke, play on handicap, any chemist x>r chemist's assistant, retail or wholesale, is eligible to compete; the cup is to be competed for qnco annually at one of the Cbristchurch links. The winner is to hold the cup for one year, after having his name engraved thereon. RUSSLEY CLUB, / To-morrow the competition season of the Russley Club will be closed, the final competition for the afternoon being a mixed foursome, for which players wilt arrange 'their own partners, opponents, and 'Starting times. At about 4.50 p.m. the prizes won during the season will be presented by the president of the club, Mr E. J. Ross,

CLUB. The Rakaia Club will have its closing day to-morrow, when a flag match will be played. The draw is as follows:—J. S. Connolly v. L. O. Oakley, P. J. Hanrahan v. G. S. Hardy, C. C. Holmes v. L. Langley, L. Cordner v. W. L. Harrison, H. A. Harrison v. C. Nelson, T. A. Bicharda 5. L. H. Blank, E. A. Oakley v. scorer. MISS UPHAM WINS MIRAMAR , CHAMPIONSHIP. (PBZSB ASSOCIATION TELE3EAII) WELLINGTON, October 29. Miss G. TJpham, by defeating Mrs Banks at, the nineteenth' grgeu to-day, won ihe Miramar Ladies' Golf Club's open championship for 1931. Miss Upham had played the test round of the tournament in recording an 84 on Wednesday and had also played consistent golf throughout the three days. Mrs Banks was also runner-up for the championship last year.

Economy is to-day's watchword. Use "NAZOL" for coughs and colds this winter—a quick, efficient remedy Th<* new double-size bottle contains 120 full doses for 2s 6d. Ordinary size contains 60 doses for Is 6d. —2