NOTES ON THE PLAY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25903, 8 September 1949, Page 7

NOTES ON THE PLAY

L. B. JOHNSTON IN GOOD FORM (New Zealand Presd Association.) HASTINGS, September 7. Neither of the two Christchurch finalists in the Hawke’s Bay amateur and professional championships was seen in nis true light this afternoon. C. J. Ward perhaps could have been excused because he was faced with the task of beating a player right on the top of his form in L. B. Johnston, a plus one player from Titirangi, Auckland. These two met in the amateur final at the Waiohiki links, Napier, this afternoon, and Johnston won comfortably by 5 and 4. R. I-I. Glading, the Christchurch Club professional, who was showing signs of considerably improved form yesterday and also played well in his semi-final of the professional event, was completely out of touch with his tee shots this afternoon and was beaten by James Galloway (Palmerston North), 2 and 1, in the final. Johnston, a player with a high reputation, had not been particularly impressive in the earlier rounds of the tournament, but reached the peak of his form against Ward. With four holes left to play, Johnston was three strokes better than scratch, and if the round had been completed could have easily been round in 68, five strokes better than scratch. If the round had been completed Ward could have had an approximate 73 or 74. His defeat could perhaps be attributed to three putts on the third green and three weak drives later. Apart from these lapses he evenly matched Johnston, who at times was getting exceptional length from the tecs. Ward scored well in the semi-final against Turner and, apart from a lapse over the last three or four noles, played very fine golf. He was 3 up with four holes to play, but two weak drives put him into trouble, and a birdie by Turner squared the match at the eighteenth. Ward won with a scratch 4 on the nineteenth. Gladlng’s Inaccurate Tee Shots The standard of play was not as good in the professional final as in the amateur. Glading, after showing signs of excellent form yesterday and this morning, was veiy inaccurate with many of his tee shots. Galloway, a determined and a steady rather than brilliant player, was quick to take advantage of any of Glading's mistakes and with some very useful putts managed to keep the edge on his opponent. When Glading showed signs of correcting his troubles he immediately followed a good drive with a sliced or hooked one. If he had kept his tee shots straight he would have had no difficulty in beating Galloway. One of the bright spots of this game was the short fourteenth, of 190 yards. Glading had the honour and, playing into a stiff breeze, placed a beautifully flighted iron 10 feet past the flag. Galloway, who also intended playing an iron, changed his club to a spoon, and his shot, perfectly executed, finished only three feet away. Glading played another fine shot at the long sixteenth. 484 yards. His first drive finished out of bounds with a penalty of distance only His second drive was only an average one, but he followed this with a magnificent brassie across the corner of a fence and finished just behind the flag. After being out of bounds he won the hole Otherwise the match might have finished earlier. With still several days for practice, Glading has plenty of opportunity of correcting his difficulties and has every confidence of making a bold bid for the New Zealand open title. MASTER PRINTERS’ ANNUAL TOURNAMENT The annual golf tournament of the Master Printers’ Association was held at the Russley links yesterday. A. T. Cartwright won the Whitcombe Cup, and the run-ner-up was W. E. McDonald. Other results were:—best gross score, T. Davis; Stableford bogey, A. J. McCurdy; putting competition, T. Davis. CHRISTCHURCH LADIES’ CLUB Following were the results of the Ladies’ Golf Union match played by members of the Christchurch Ladies’ Golf Club yesterday:— Silver division: Miss K. Rutherford, 81, 7—74; Miss E. White-Parsons, 85, 11—74; Miss V. Fleming, 79, 4—75; Mrs A. C. Me-Killc-p, 86, 11—75; Miss Z. Hudson, 81, 4 —77; Miss M. Beadel, 85, 8—77. Bronze division: Mrs E. Williams, 103, 36—67; Mrs V. Godfrey, 92, 19—70; Mrs G. Turrell, 93. 28—70; Mrs A. Hobbs. 100, 28—72; Mrs Scott, 92, 19—73: Mrs Wellbrock, 109, 36—73. The winner of the C grade match was Mrs Falcfc. AVONDALE LADIES’ CLUB The following were the best cards returned in a bisque bogey competition played by the Avondale Ladies’ Golf Club:— A Grade.—Mrs A. B. 800 l (16), 1 up; Mrs A. H. Mangin (12), 1 up; Mrs D. A. Gunn (12), 1 up; Mrs J. Martin (15), all square: Mrs H. M. Minson (16), all square. B Grade.—Mrs G. Shirtcliffe (24), 4 up; Miss S. Britton (2). 2 up> Mrs F. Kingsland (23), 2 up; Mrs T. Cc-ndliffe (18), 2 up; Miss F. Donald (18), 2 up; Mrs C. L. Bowles (25), 1 up; Mrs J. Palmer (19), 1 up. WAIMAIRI BEACH LADIES’ CLUB A stroke match played yesterday afternoon resulted: Mrs R. Clark. 104. 36—68; Mrs F. Pridgens. 83, 13—70: Mrs J. Inglis, 99. 29—70: Mrs W. Latham, 88, 13—75; Mrs J. Masterton. 98. 23—75.