BRILLIANT GOLF

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 179, 23 April 1924, Page 4

BRILLIANT GOLF

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP DUNCAN DEFEATED BY HORTON INTERESTING PLAY IN FINAL Tho final in the Wellington provincial golf champions!)! p yesterday will long be remembered for the brilliant manner in which T. 14. Horton (Masterton) outplayed the veteran A. Duncan (Wellington) with almost perfect golf. It was a. strenuous fight,_ in which the element of luck was entirely eliminated. Both were in their game, but tho fine judgment of the younger man told as the game advanced, and he captured the championship—so often held by his opponent—at the sixteenth hole. Mrs. D. W. Duthie, wife of tho president, made the presentations at the conclusion. In the semi-finals, Horton had an interesting round with Tucker, whom he disposed of 3 and 2. A. Duncan qualified to meet Horton in the final bv defeating J. D. Hawkins 6 and 5, both contests producing good, consistent golf. The Final Struggle. Those who had been watching Horton carefully, gave him a pretty good chance against the more experienced player, but ffew realised that he was capable of making the round in 71 with such brilliant golf. At the first holo both came out all square with bogey, lioleing out in 4, and at the second their fours were one under bogey. Similarly at the third, the hole was halved in 3, and it was then that the big crowd of spectators realised that a grim Struggle was inevitable. At the fourth, neither player was successful with his approach shot, and both left themselves long putts. Duncan missed his, and the hole went to the Masterton man. Duncan, after making a good drive, reached the green in 2, whereas Horton socketed his club. With his third, Duncan laid a stymie which Horton negotiated at the expense of 2, enabling Duncan to reduce his opponents’ lead to 1 up. The sixth was halved in 5, and Horton took the next, 4—5, both driving splendidly against a moderately strong wind, and Horton laying a stymie with his fourth. The eighth was habitid, and the ninth again taken by Horton 3—4. The feature of the tenth hole was a remarkably fine mashie shot by Horton from the edge of the fairway. He was lying almost stymie with a big tree but played a fine cut-shot and found the green with his second, halving the hole in 4. Tho eleventh and twc'iih were also Tiaiveil, both players struggling vainly. Duncan had a good chance of reducing Horton’s lead at the.twelfth, but pulled his putt. At tho thirteenth, Horton laid another stymie, which Duncan tackled boldly and glanced into the hole, winning it, 4—5. Horton found the green in one at the fourteenth, and Duncan, now fighting for his life, sunk a long putt ai'.Jer getting into a bunker, and halved this hole in 3. Horton was dormy three at the fifteenth, when Duncan handed his ball to the younger man, with the remark: “You’ve beaten me fairly and squarely?’ The sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth, were halved in fours, Horton’s card showing a brilliant 71, as against an equally fine aggregate of 74. The cards were: HORTON. Out: 443435453—35 In: 445533444—36 71 (Six strokes less than bogey.) DUNCAN. Out: 443545554—39 In: 445433444—35 74 (Three strokes less than bogey.) THE CHAMPION. T. H. Horton has knocked at the door on many occasions, but his recent play, culminating with his victory yesterday, have led critics to declare that there are few players capable of defeating him in New Zealand, and possibly. Australia. On his present form ho is. bound to figure prominently in the New Zealand championships. He is a player of a more modern school than Duncan, and has a complete mastery over the ball. Coupled with this, he is tomperamenta'lly suited for the game, and is precise to a degree. His iron plav is good, and he does not strive after a few extra yards if it is not going to be worth it. It is quite conceivable that Horton would have drawn level with Duncan’s link record of 68, had he not missed one or two putts which seemed likely. It, is interesting to recall. however, that Duncan made that record some years ago, he has twice this year brought it down to 67 in ordinary, unofficial play. PREVIOUS' CHAMPIONS. The cup was won by A. Duncan in 1913 and 1914, and again when it was competed for after the war in 1919 and 1920. L. D. Hurst won it in 1921. but had to return it to Duncan in 1922. J. C. Bidwell carried it away last year, but did not fare well enough in the qualifying rounds this year’ to defend the title. BOGEY HANDICAP. Following are tho leading scores in tho bogey handicap:— J. H. Drake (2). 5 up. AV. K. Cooke (6), 5 up. D. Hartwell (6). 4 up. ,T. Marchbanks (8), 3 up. AV. H. Percy (6), 3 up. H. R- H. Balneavis (2), 3 up. R. AV. Scott (6), 3 up. FOURSOME BOGEA’ HANDICAP. The foursome bogey handicap was won by H. A. Boddington and A. 0. Boddiiigton (8). 5 up, D. Hartwell and H. J. Shanks following with (8), 3 up. AUCKLAND TOURNEY AV I<IG H T RIFT A TNS AM A TEUR. CHAMPIONSHIP. By Tm.vGn.-.m' ’ «-o-r vnnv. Auckland, April 22. R„ D. AVright (holder) retained the Auckland amateur provincial golf championship. Tn the semi-finals AVright beat Hamilton 4 and 3; Clements beat Gunson on the 20th green. In tho final AVright beat Clements 7 and 5, after a game in which poor golf was shown.