N.Z. TOURNEY AT BALMACEWEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27201, 19 November 1953, Page 12

N.Z. TOURNEY AT BALMACEWEN

GOLF

Woon Wins Amateur Title

PROFESSIONAL TO THOMSON (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 18. Peter Thomson, of Australia, brilliantly won his first New Zealand professional golf championship at Balmacewen today, and D. L. Woon, of Hamilton, won his third amateur title. Thomson beat A. Murray (unattached, Auckland), 9 and 7, and • was two under scratch when the match ended. Woon had a 6 and 4 margin over A. R. Timms (St. Clair). Thomson was out in the morning in 35 and home with the same score—two under scratch. Murray went out in 38, and returned in 36. In the afternoon Thomson went out in 35, Murray taking 38. . . Woon went out this morning in 39, and Timms in 40. Woon played the rouijd in 73. ~ Thomson kept close to the line all the way. but Murray ran into the rough frequently. Thomson made only one poor putt in the first 18 holes, but Murray putted badly three times. Murray was always behind, but at no time could Thomson relax. Timms, too, always fought back in spite of the huge lead Woon built up in the first 20 holes. Professional Title Thomson was 4 up after the first 18 holes. He played with fluent grace all the time. The first two holes were halved, but Thomson took the lead with a birdie 3 at the third hole. The short fourth was halved, and the long fifth was halved after Murray was given every chance to win it. Thomson’s tee shot was good,

but he played a poor second wood and his third was equally poor—two of the few poor shots he played in the round. Thomson made a fine recovery to within 4ft of the hole, and just missed the putt. Murray played his second into the rough, but was about 25ft short of the hole with a poor third. He putted short, but could still have won the hole with his next, which rimmed the hole. The hole was halved in 6, one over scratch. Thomson played a perfect tee shot at the sixth, and his second was Bft from the hole. A fine putt stopped on the lip of the hole. Murray went into the rough, and bunkered his second. He exploded out well to within 12ft of the hole, but his putt overran the side of the hole, and Thomson won the hole with a scratch 4. The seventh was almost a triumph for Murray when he holed a 35ft putt for a birdie 3, but Thomson holed a 15ft putt for a birdie 3, after playing his second brilliantly from the rough. Both struck the rough at the eighth, and Murray nearly scored a birdie with a 40ft putt, but it stopped about a foot from the hole, and they halved it in 4. Murray lost a ball at the ninth, and had to play his third from the tee, giving Thomson an easy win. Three up at the turn, Thomson took the tenth hole with a birdie 2 after Murray failed with an Bft putt. The long Tipperary was halved after Thomson missed a 7ft putt for a birdie by the narrowest of margins, and the next was also halved when Murray putted poorly to miss a 7ft putt for a birdie. Murray reduced Thomson’s lead with a birdie 4 on the long thirteenth. His third was 12ft from the hole. At the next nole Thomson missed a 3%ft putt, and his lead was reduced to two. Murray was

in the rough at the. fifteenth, and Thomson won the hole in scratch figures. Thomson missed a birdie when a 25ft putt stopped on the edge of the holfe at the sixteenth, but Murray’s putt overran the hole, and Thomson was 4 up. Murray missed a 3ft putt on the eighteenth green for a birdie 3, and Thomson chipped to within a foot of the hole from 80ft away to halve. An 18ft putt that stopped on the lip of the hole denied Murray a birdie 3 at the nineteenth, and the hole was halved. A birdie 3 at the next made Thomson 5 up. Thomson played a perfect tee shot to land on the twenty-first green, apd he took two putts for a birdie 3 and another win, to be 6 up He missed a birdie at the next by inches, but a scratch 3 won the hole. The next was halved in 5, but Thomson failed to hole his putt for a scratch 4 at the twenty-fourth, and Murray won, to reduce Thomson’s lead to 6.

The next hole was halved, and Thomson won the twenty-sixth in scratch 4, after Murray’s second rolled off the edge of a plateau green. Murray narrowly missed with his putt at the twenty-seventh, and Thomson remained 7 up. Another narrowly-missed putt for a scratch 3 cost Murray the next hole, and Thomson was dormie 8. The long Tipperary hole came next. Murray’s second lodged against the base of a tree, and he had to play out to the open before approaching the green with his fourth. Thomson took two putts for a birdie 4 and won (9 and 7). Amateur Final Timms won the first hole in scratch figures, Woon going into the rough with his second and his approach being too strong. The second was halved. Woon played a weak shot into a bunker with his second, and exploded opt to the back of the green, but he holed a long putt. In the rough at the third after hooking his drive, Woon played out skilfully, and scored an excellent birdie to square the match. The 309-yard sixth gave Woon the lead, but Timms squared the match at the seventh hole. Woon showed his superiority at the eighth after they both played poor seconds. Timms was in a bunker, but Woon, though clear of this hazard, was down below the bank of this ridged green. He chipped up fairly strongly, but holed the putt for a scratch 4. Timms took 5, and was 1 down.

Woon, taking no chances at the Glen, Which caused many a downfall during the tournament, used an iron off the tee. Timms, always steady with his woods, for the first time of the day outdrove his opponent. But Woon played his second nearer the hole. Timms was through with his first putt and had to play again after Woon left himself handy. He missed, but Woon misjudged his putt also.

It was not brilliant golf, but it held the interest of a bigger gallery than the professionals were drawing. Woon , went to 2 up at the 564-yard eleventh. He was straight down the middle, but Timms sliced his drive and landed in a bunker at the neighbouring thirteenth. Woon played a No. 3 iron to within a few feet of the green. and won the hole with a fine birdie 4. A scratch 5 gave Woon the thirteenth. Woon increased his lead at the difficult Spion Kop with a fine birdie 3, and Timms conceded the short sixteenth after he had taken

four strokes to the green. The next two holes were halved, leaving Woon 5 up. Wooh went to 6 up at the nineteenth when Timms took three putts, but he lost the next when he was short with his second. He was 6 up again after the twenty-first, .where he scored a fine birdie. They halved the next, and then Woon went to 7 up after two tremendous woods placed him on the green at the long uphill twenty-third. Woon just missed an eagle 3. The twenty-fourth was halved in scratch figures, and Timms lost the next when he missed an easy putt after making a great recovery chip from beyond the green. They halved the twentysixth in scratch figures after Timms had played the better second, and Timms won the twenty-seventh with a birdie. Timms halved the twenty-eighth, and held on desperately at the next. Woon had a fine chance of a birdie, but even he was beginning to show signs of the strain. At the tMrtieth hole Timms was not far short with his second, but Woon hooked and ran away to the rough on the neighbouring - hole. Timms’s ball wavered for a. moment and then caught the edge t and dropped in. Woon missed with a good attempt at a birdie. At the next, Timms drove into the edge of tne rough, but Woon’s drive was no more than 20ft from the hole and nearly level with it. Timms chipped out fairly well, but was 18ft from the hole. Woon won the game with a fine putt for an eagle 2. t Superior on the greens and in many of his drives, T. J. Jeffery (New Plymouth) had a 4 and 3 win over T. P. Jones (Taumarunui) in the final of the amateur plate. The putting of the 1950 New Zealand professional champion, E. A. Southerden (Napier), failed badly in the final of the professional plate against I. Arundel (Russley). Arundel, who arrived from Scotland only seven months ago, beat Southerden, 2 up. Results:— Professional Championship Final.—P. W. Thomson (Victoria) beat A. Murray (unattached, Auckland), 9 and 7 Amateur Championship Final.—D. L. Woon (Hamilton) beat A. R. Timms (St. Clair), 6 and 4. Professional Plate Final.—l. Arundel (Russley) beat E. A. Southerden (Napier), 2 up. Amateur Plate Semi-finals.—T. J. Jeffery (New Plymouth) beat N. J.* Thornton (Rotorua), 1 up; T. P. Jones (Taumarunui) beat F. W. Dixon (Otago), 5 and 4. Final.—Jeffery beat Jones, 4 and 3. Events at the tournament were won as follows: Open championship: P. W. Thomson (Victoria); runner-up. F. X. Buckler (unattached, Auckland). Amateur championship: D. L. Woon (Hamilton); runner-up, A. R. Timms (St. Clair). Amateur plate: T. J. Jeffery (New Plymouth); runner-up, T. P. Jones (Taumarunui). Professional plate: I. Arundel (Russley); runner-up. E. A. Southerden (Napier). . Open foursomes: A. Gibbs (Otago) and A. R. Timms (St. Clair). Amateur foursomes: A. R. Timms (St. Clair) and A. Gibbs (Otago); runners-up. J. Mitchell (Dannevirke) and D. L. Woon (Hamilton). Bledisloe Cup for the leading amateur in the open championship: D. L. Woon (Hamilton). Earl Jellicoe Cup for the best single round in the open championship: F. X. 43uckler (unattached, Auckland). Professional champidnship foursomes: J. H. Rogers (St. Clair) and T. W. Wight (Otago); runners-up, A. B. Jolly (unattached, Auckland) and A. Murray (unattached, Auckland). Professional championship: P. W. Thomson (Victoria); runner-up, A. Murray (unattached, Auckland). Inter-club Challenge Vase: Wanganui Club (B. M. Silk, A. R: Kitto, J. F. Collins. and C. S. Bristol). For the open championship Thomson received £lOO, and for the professional championship £7O. CHRISTCHURCH LADIES’ CLUB The annual meeting of the Christchurch Ladies’ Golf Club was held at the clubhouse, Shirley, yesterday. The captain (Mrs A. C. McKillop) presided. It was decided to continue to sponsor a child under the Save the Children Fund, and as the English child formerly sponsored by the club has now reached the earning stage, it was decided to sponsor aEuroEean child. The surplus of funds from Ist year’s sponsorship, it was decided, would be given to Heritage. Mrs McKillop did not seek re-election ! as captain. ’Hie following officers were elected:— Lady Wigram; president, Mrs M. H. Godby; vice-president, Mrs G. E. i F. Kingscote; captain. Miss E. M. B. Nutt; secretary-treasurer. Miss P. Norton; com- >' mlttee, Mrs McKillop, Mrs S. G. Bowron,

years afterwards.” Mrs E. H. Watkins. Mrs G. R. Crdcroft Wilson, Miss Z. Hudson. Mrs Kingscote presented the prizes won during the year as follows: Club championship: Miss V. Fleming; runner-up, Miss B. Murray. Junior Challenge Cup: Mrs P. Hall; runner-up, MM A. H. Willis. Godby Bowl: Mrs H. S. Richards; runner-up Mrs H. M. S. Dawson; Melva Wake trophy: Mrs G. Van Asch. Vernon salver: Mrs J. S. Middleton; runner-up, Mrs G. Guy. Wilkih Cup: Mrs W. D. Wood; runner-up, Mrs H. M. S. Dawson. Kingscote Cups: Miss V. Fleming and Miss E. M-. B. Nutt; runnersup, Miss H. Buchanan and Mrs J. B. Hay. , Wigram Cup: Miss V. Fleming and Mi** B. Murray; runners-up, Mrs P. Thomson and Mrs P. Hall. Best gross (Mrs Toomey’s prize): Miss Fleming and Miw Murray. Ladies* Golf Union silver medal: Miss L. Dalzell and Miss S. Grigg. Ladle*’ Golf Union bronze medal: Miss A, H. Riedle. Ladies’ Golf Union monthly matches: March, Miss S. Grigg, Miss B. Coop; April, Miss L. Dalzell, Miss A. H. Riedle; May, Mrs W. D. Wood. Miss M. Gray; June, Miss L. Dalzell. .Mrs H. ,v. Rossi; July, Mrs M. Roberts, Mrs G. Guy; August, Mrs R. G. Davey, Mrs G. Guy; September, Miss S. Grigg, Miss J. Burt; ' October, Mrs C. J. Ward, Miss B. Williams; November, Miss M. Donaldson, Ift* Hall. Monthly bogeys: April, Miss, B. Murray, Mrs P. O’Shea; May, Miss V. Fleming, Mrs E. J. Corcoran; MrgR. G. Davey, Mrs G. Guy; July, Mrs F.JB» Sundstrum. Miss B. Coop; August, MM* White-Parsons, Mrs G. Guy; Septemboj Mrs R. E. Alexander, Mrs G. Guy; October, Miss B. Coop, Mrs H. C. Smart; Np* s vember, Miss E. White-Parsons, Mr* S. E. G. Crimp. Senior and junior Stableford: Miss H. Buchanan, Mrs H. V. Ros*. Championship, Stableford: Miss M. Saunders. .Mrs C. D. Dallison. Champion fourball: Mrs B. E. Andrewes and Mrs H. S. Smart. Closing day foursome: Mrs T. Armstrong and Mrs E. G. Mitchell; run-ners-up, Miss M. Saunders and Mrs w. D. Wood. Senior ringer: gross. Mi** Fleming and Miss Donaldson; net, MM* Donaldson. Junior ringer; gross, Mr* P. H. N. Freeth; net (Sims salver), Mr* G. Guy apd Mrs W. J. Mac Gibbon. Weekend ringer: Miss M. Talbot. Week-end knockout (Mrs M. W. Simes’ trophy): Miss J. Burt. Hill-Skinner Cup: Jft* and R. E. Alexander.