GOLF SOUTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 10

GOLF SOUTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT

TITLE WON BY E. G. KERR

TIMARU BOY BEATEN 4 AND 3 (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, June 1. E. G. Kerr, the most consistent performer over the six rounds played during the week-end, won the South Island amateur golf championship at Timaru today. He beat the Timaru youngster, lan Harvey, in the final 4 up and 3 to play. Kerr, now approaching the veteran class, has been one of the most consistent players in Canterbury for many years and his knowledge of the Highfield course was too comprehensive for the competitors he met. Conditions were good for the last day’s play today, although the course was still soggy. The 15-year-old schoolboy, Harvey, did not win the championship, but he has established himself as a brilliant golfer with good prospects. Not only did Harvey play well, but he conducted himself perfectly on the course. During the three days he played many bad shots, but he showed no signs of disappointment. Kerr has an impressive record on the Highfield course. This morning he beat the former Otago and South Canterbury champion, B. A. Whitburn (Otago), and this afternoon he beat Harvey easily. Decisive Putts Missed Kerr matched his young opponent from the tees when extra length was required, and he putted much better. Harvey had many opportunities, and he putted well. He hit some magnificent drives that amazed the gallery of about 300 which followed the final. They reached the turn in 36, three strokes more than the scratch score. Kerr had established an early advantage by holing a putt of 15ft at the third hole for a birdie, but his putting Was uncertain later, and they turned all square after Kerr had taken three putts on the ninth green. Kerr’s homeward figures for the five holes played were good. He had two birdies, and had scratch figures at the other three holes. He won four of them and the match finished on the fifteenth green.

Harvey was tired after a gruelling match against D. M. Robertson in the semi-finals, and although he played well he made too many errors against such a steady opponent as Kerr. The Semi-finals

Kerr, as in his previous rounds, started by building up a good lead against Whitburn, who was out of form. Kerr had scratch figures for the 13 holes of the match. His homeward run of 3,3, 4, 3 an eagie, a birdie and two bogeys—won him the game. The other semi-final match between Harvey and another good young player,

Robertson, was a tense struggle. Harvey had every opportunity of finishing the match before the eighteenth hole, but he missed three short putts and was fortunate to win on the twenty-second green. Their figures were not impressive, both being round in 77. eight strokes more than the scratch score, but their figures and golf over the extra four holes were good. Both the youngsters were under strain about the sixteenth hole, which Harvey won with a scratch four, but he promptly lost the seventeenth and eighteenth by missing a short putt and then approaching short and missing a five foot putt. The nineteenth hole was a stern test for both. They hooked their drives towards a small plantation. Harvey was clear of the trees, but Robertson could only just get clear with his second. His approach was inside Harvey’s second, and after Harvey had missed his putt for a birdie Robertson holed a similarly difficult putt for a half. The next two holes were halved in scratch figures, and Harvey won the twenty-second hole with a scratch three.

The South Island Plate, for those comi petitors eliminated in the first round of I the championship was won by M. W. . Stanley who beat J. S. Hamilton-Gibbs ‘ final on the last green. HamiltonGibbs was one of the best players in the held, and should have given a better per- ■ formance, but, as in all his other matches, i he could not hole the shorter putts. • “Wonderful Future” for Harvey ; The president of the Timaru Golf Club (Mr P. H. Davies), before presenting the trophies, said that he thought that the tournament should be played later in the ■ year when conditions were better When he had received his trophv Kerr, in a . short informal speech, said he would like to pay a tribute to his young opponent, Harvey. “He has a wonderful future, and will bring great credit to this club as a golfer and a gentleman," Kerr said. i Mr J. A. Scouler, a member of the New Zealand Golf Association, while congratulating Kerr on his win. said that he would like also to congratulate Harvey. 1 do not think I have ever seen a lad of his age with greater possibilities” Mr Scouler said. He suggested that , inem- ; bers of the Timaru club should take Harvey in hand, play with him, and encourage him. “It is the duty of club members who have had a lot out of golf to see that lan is looked after,” he said. Results South Island Championship ; ,„?SP 1 ’ flnals — E - G Kerr .beat B. A. Whitburn. 6 and 5; I. S. ira-vev beat D. I M. Robertson at the twenty-second. Final.—Kerr beat Harvey, 4 and 3. South Island Plate ■ First Round.—M, W. Stanley beat I. B. Cromb, 3 and 2; J. B. Forrest beat R. D. ; Kearns, 3 and 2; J. S. Hamilton-Gibbs K !£• Boyd > 2 and N - c - Martin beat B. V. Wright, by default. Semi-finals.—Stanley beat Forrest at the nineteenth; Hamilton-Gibb beat Martin 2 and 1. Final.—Stanley beat Hamilton-Gibbs, 1 up. Intermediate Championship First Round.—H. Coxhead beat F. P. Fogerty, 2 and 1; A. R. Woods beat R. J. Carleton, 7 and 6; C. B. Kerr beat G. R. Innes-Jones. 1 up; H. N. Dyne beat R. G. Holmes, 2 and 1; J. W. Thorp beat N, H. Gould. 1 up; D. Evans beat A# B. Munro, 1 “Pi, H - R - Rendall beat R. C. Tonkin, 4 and 3; G. R. Kingston beat J. W. Loper, 4 and o. Second Round—Coxhead beat Woods, 1 up; Dyne beat Kerr. 5 and 4; Evans beat Thorp, 4 and 2; Rendall beat Kingston, 1 up. Semi-final.—Dyne beat Coxhead, 3 and 2; Evans beat Renda’l, 5 and 4. Final.—Evans beat Dyne, 3 and 2. A Flight First Round.—D. A. Smith beat P. A. H. Davies, 1 up; B. R. Meyers beat J. G. Scott; T. M. Stout beat V. Watt. 4 and 2: P- Lewis beat N. M. Fowke, 4 and 3; M. Atkinson beat T. A. Pannett; H. J. Gosset beat J. M. Kerr; B. Watson beat B A. Colquhoun; M. Loughlan beat T. J. Atkins. Second Round.—Smith beat Meyers, 3 and 2; Stout beat Lewis, 2 and 1; Gosset beat Atkinson, 4 and 2; Coughlan beat Watson, 2 up. Semi-finals.—Stout beat Smith. 5 and 4; Gosset beat Coughlan. 4 and 3, Final.—Stout beat Gosset, 2 and 1. B Flight First Round.—K. Galloway beat J. ' Russell; D. J. Mcßeath beat L. V. Pilcher 1 U R ; 2; C - Watson beat H. D Roberts; : A. R Timms beat T. C. Tyrell; R. Caughley beat K. C. Kearns; W. Me- : Gavock beat M. Millar; R. L. Gallowav beat O. Ford; R. W. Jones beat J. G. Mangan. Second Round.—Galloway beat Mcßeath 2 and 1; Timms beat Watson, 5 and 4; McGavock beat Caughley, 6 and 5; Galloway beat Jones at the nineteenth. Semi-finals.—K. Galloway beat Timms, 2 and 1; R. L. Galloway beat McGavock, 5 and 4. Final.—K. Galloway beat R. L. Gallo- ' way, 5 and 4.