GOLF

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 10

GOLF

PROFESSIONAL PLAY YESTERDAY’S MATCHES CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMENCE TO-DAY In hot, sunny weather yesterday the ■golf professionals assembled for the professional championship, played, a handicap bogey match in the morning, and a stroke handicap match in the afternoon, at Heretaunga. The course was fast, and the fairways close cut, while the pace on the greens was lightning. Approaches played without under spin ran as if they never would stop, and balls merely tapped on the green overran the hole. The conditions were, once the pace of the greens had been mastered, ideal, but many of the cards reflected the result of the fiery greens in fairly high scores. The professionals included A. J. Shaw (Wellington), who won the first professional championship two years ago, and F. G. Hood (Miramar) who won it last year at Nelson. Others participating in the championships are J. A. Clements (Hagley), H. R. Blair (Shirley), G. B. Forrest (Timaru), G. W. Ritchie (New Plymouth), B. J. Smith (Oamaru), R. C. Butters (Wanganui), J. R. Galloway (Palmerston North), T. Galloway (Miramar), J. Alclntosh (Hutt), and H. Green (Heretaunga) . BOGEY HANDICAP.

In the bogey handicap match the best score was returned by A. J. Shaw, who was driving a tremendous ball, far and true, playing his irons faultlessly, and running up delicate mashie clips from anywhere just outside the green to within handsbreadths of the pin. Even though he missed one or two short putts, he returned a very nice 72 (out, 453445453—37 ; in, 444533444—35).. H. R. Blair (Shirley) played a beautifully steady round of 73 (out, 443445 553— 37; in 454433445 —36). He played all his clubs well, and gave the most thoroughly consistent display of golf. R. C. Bijtters (Wanganui) and J. R. Galloway (Palmerston North) returned 75’s. Butter’s, card read: out, 553444 554— in, 544542354—36. Galloway_’s card read: out, 453534453 —36; in, 454 544355—39.

J. Mclntosh (Hutt) took 40 going out, but put in a nice 35 (553434344) coming back. Hood (Aliramar) was not in the best of form, and did a 79. G. W. Ritchie (New Plymouth) was driving a ball of equal length with Shaw at most holes, but not so straight, and found difficulty with his short putts. He did an even 38 going out one under bogey, and took bogey on. the return (38). B. J. Smith (Oamaru) who has only lately taken up the game professionally d'id not return a card, finding difficulty in gauging distances, while he was not too sure off the tee. Hard work breaking in the new. Oamaru course has muscle-bound him a bit. J. A. Clements (Hagley) showed glimpses of fine form, but could not better 78. H. Green (Heretaunga) did not finish, landing his mashie snot at the fifteenth in the toitoi. G. B. Forrest (Timaru) did an 81. T. Galloway, the colt from Aliramar, was not always straight from the tee, but nevertheless returned an 83. These were the gross scores in each case, and as the handicaps are not for publication, the playing of the players is immaterial. AIEDAL HANDICAP. A light breeze made things more pleasant in the alternoon. The. surprise of the afternoon was the. win of T. Gajjowav, ot Aliramar. This eigh-teen-vear-old player, starting off with a seven at the first hole (through a drive placed into a bunker, out of which he did not get far with his. second, and played a short third), finished with a gross 78. At the 16th he topped his drive into the creek. Playing his third shot from the tee, he laid it within Sft. of the pin (266 yards), and holed his fourth, at this 4 bogey hole. He took the 6th, a 409 yards bogey 5 hole, in 3. When he connects at the tee he certainly gets length. His card is worth recording;—Out, 75443563, 41; in, 454433455, 37. Clements played a nice round of .76, 38 out and 38 back. Shaw., who found the feather-weight putting irksome, did a 77, quite a lot of it on the greens. He was playing a very long ball, and only a trifling error in direction prevented him being on the Bth (512 yards) in 2. Blair played steadily and did a 78. Forrest (who had blistered feet) did a 41'out, but came back in 37. Hood, who remained a trifle off colour, did a 79, equalling his morning’s form. Alclntosh played a little wildly at the 11th, and was not keeping the best of direction generally. He did a 79. Other cards were J. R. GalIcwav 81, Ritchie 83, Butters 83, Green 84. 'The handicap placing is immaterial.

The first round of the professional championship will be played this morning.

WELLINGTON CLUB The following is the draw for the Wellington Goff Club’s championship, the first round of which is to be played next week-end: — A. Duncan plays V. G. Rhind. J. B. Mac Ewen plays J. B. Parker. M. Duncan plays J. T. Tucker. R. O. Chesney plays 11. P. Blundell. K. Duncan plays O’. J. Wilson. T L Chapman plays J. D. G. Duncan., ... Strang plays E. H. Rawson. A. D. Morris plays H. R. H. Balneavis. These matches will be over 36 holes. The draw for the junior championship matches, which are played oyer 18 holes, except in the final, which is 36, is as follows:— L. Wl.itcombc, a bye. W. A. Bowring plays E. C. Batters, by. C. M. Turrell plays D. M. Findlay. C. J. Reakes plays B. Edkins. ' Whitcombe plays W. L. Rothenberg, j. W. G. Brodie, a bye. H. Steele plays F. E. Reading. K. Douglas, a bye. There has been some misunderstanding about the entries for the Easter tournament. The handicap qualification of 8 or less applies only to outside clubs, the tournament being of course open to all members of th ■ home club. Entries will be received up to Apn.

ANOTHER EASTER TOURNA-

MENT Ranui has practically decided, in vie" of the exclusion of over 8 handicap men from the Wellington Club’s Easter tournament, to run a three-day tournament, at which all golfers will be welcomed, irrespective of handicap. They will provide the longer handicap men of the city with, an enjoyab Easter, without voyaging afield fo: their golf. Arrangements are bei made to cater for visitors at Easter at Ranui, which the lengthening of the holes has considerably improved.