GOLF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 217, 11 June 1935, Page 14

GOLF

Highlights at Leeds

COTTON’S TRIUMPH

New Open Champion in

America

(By

Niblick.)

Play in the American open and the British professional championship at Leeds last week would point to the fact that some dazzling golf should be seen in the match between fhe American and British professionals for the Ryder Cup in the United States in September next. Recently the president of the American Professional Golfers’ Association predicted that this year would see the older brigade superseded by younger players, but even he must have been considerably surprised when Sam Parks, jun., a 25-year-old player from Pittsburg, who has only been a professional for three years, carried off the American open championship last week with an aggregate of 299 for the four rounds.

The cables did not enlighten us as to what the weather conditions were like, but the scoring in the American open cannot be said to be anything out of the ordinary, as an average of over 74 should not be good enough to win an American or British open championship to-day. James Thomson, of Longbeach, came second wth 301, and then followed Walter Hagen, 302; Sarazen, Picard, and Kruger, 306; Metz and Runyan, 307. Notable players who also fell by the wayside included Olin Dutra, Cruickshank, Sid. Brews (the South African), Craig, Wood, Ky Laffoon, Johnny Goodman, Revolta, and Espinosa. The Oakmount course, on which the tournament was played, provides a searching test of golf.

British Players in Better Trim. The Americans will have to shape better if they expect to win the Ryder Cup this year, as some brilliant form was revealed in the Leeds £750 professional tournament last week. In the first qualifying round, some sensational scoring was done on the Sandmoor course, which is 6300 yards in length. Jarman went round in 67, Cox (Addington) in 68, and Cox (Saffron Walden) in 69 against bogey 74. And this despite the fact that heavy rain fell for part of the time. Even more amazing golf was turned on in the second round. R. Burton' (Hooton) played immaculate golf to record 65, going out in 34, and returning in 31. He holed a full niblick shot for a 2 at the second, and approached so unerringly that he had seven 3’s on his card. Cox (Addington) covered the course in 67, Podgham had the same figures, Compston did 68, Robertson 66, Busson 68, and Cotton 69. When it came to match play, however, T. H. Cotton, British open champion, once again proved that he is supreme on his side of the Atlantic. He beat Compston in the second round 3 and 2; and played golf of an amazing brand to do it. After getting a half in 2 at the seventh, the British open champion did the next six holes in 17, including two more 2’s. No wonder Gene Sarazen, after the British open last year, said that Cotton had set a new standard in golf. Cotton is probably, the best player in the world when a high wind has to be fought. The final at Leeds was played in a gale, and Cotton,was in his element, defeating Alliss by 3 and 2. The champion had a slice of luck at the thirtyfourth. as his approach shot struck and knocked out a spectator, but the ball 'rebounded, giving him an easy putt for,a half, which gave him the match. Problem of Congestion. Golf is becoming so increasingly popular with the public that the problem of controlling crowds at important tournaments is a most difficult one. When Americans have been competing at tournaments in England in the past they have more than once formed a bodyguard to clear a space for compatriots still in the tournament, and have more than once had to use physical force to enable the player to make his strokes. This crowding of golf links is not confined to Great Britain; it is.a worldwide problem. Even at Middjemore, Auckland, last year during the Kirkmatch between New Zealand South Wales, swarms of spectators rushed ahead and squatted round the greens, and players had frequently to make their approaches to greens surrounded by a human ring, and, once or twice, balls which would have over-run the green were stopped by the human fence. British Women’s Team. Women golfers in Australia and New Zealand will regret that Miss Wanda Morgan, the British champion, has notified that she will be unable to accompany the British women’s team to Australia and New Zealand this year. Miss Jessie Anderson, who has been selected to take Miss Morgan’s place, did well in the British women’s championship this year. She was girl champion in 1933. Hutt’s Success. Hutt had a convincing win over Miramar in the match played on Saturday. The A teams had a fairly even tussle on the Miramar links, victory going to Hutt by six games to four, with two games halved. Not for some years has the Miramar course been in such excellent condition as it is at present, and the green committee are to be heartily congratulated upon the result of their labours. Th o greens were in tip-top condition, and there was a good sward of grass on the fairways. Bryan Silk, amateur champion of the Dominion, has considerably strengthened the Hutt Glub this year. He makes a solid No. 1, and outplayed J. H. Drake by 5 and 3on Saturday. Oujt in 36, Silk was two up at the turn, and drew 4 up with two perfect 4’s against the wind at the tenth and eleventh. Lapses at the thirteenth and eighteenth which both cost him 6, saw him take 39 for the run home, which gave him 75 for the round. J. H. Drake, the Miramar champion, had an off day, taking 38 for the run out, and 43 for the home journey, one of the worst rounds he has recorded for many years. The Black brothers. Jack (Hutt) and Harold (Miramar) had a very even fight, victory going to Jack by 1 up. They played good golf on the out journey, both taking even 4’s, and Jack came home in 40 to Harold’s 41. W. K. Cook, J. F. Pym, J. Ke.mber. and H. K. Adamson, secured wins for Hutt, and L. Seifert, J. Shelly. H. E. 11. Aplin, and D. S. Halley recorded victories for Miramar. Two games were halved, these being between W. G. ITorne (Hutt) and K. V. Jeffery (Miramar) and C. N. Armstrong (Hutt) and IV. A. Robertson (Miramar). A Clean Sweep. The match between the B teams on the Hutt links was remarkable for the fact that the Hutt players won every one of the twelve games, which gave Hutt a commanding win in the match by IS games to 4. with two games halved. Shandon’s Day Out. Shandon did well on Saturday to defeat Titahi at Titahi in the IVntt Cup match by 71 games to 4J. and also to score a - win in the Ranish Cup match by six games to four. W. J. Davidge is proving n reliable No. 1 for Shandon, as he halved his game with Max Moore by running down a 15-foot putt on the home green. This co surprised the Titahi champion flint lie missed a foot putt for a half. C. E. Hollis, W. R. Tustin. R. Ltilham. W. R. Stuckey. W. Lauchlan. F. Desmond and A. E. Park were in winning vein for Shandon, while wins were notched for Titahi by R. F. Aitken. D. B. Strntniore, Dacre, and W. Marchant. It was a good performance on Shandon's part, n.s local knowledge counts for a good deal on the Titahi course. Manor Park’s New Course. Tiie Manor Park club's opening of the new 18-holo lay-out took place on Saturday. 73 members taking part in an 18-hole qualifying round, and 32 players turning in net cards of under 80. Members are well pleased with the new course. The executive intends to hold an official open-

ing as soon as the now greens reach the usual Manor Park standard. Visiting players will find the new course interesting, a.s every hole requires careful judgment to obtain the best, results. If anything the new course is n more exacting bogey 72 than the old 13-liole bogey 71. Curious “Fluke.” An extraordinary “Huke" occurred on the Miramar course on Sunday. Playing at the fourteenth hole. E. Liddle pulled his tee shot into the wind and his ball came to rest in ;i hollow 2.> yards from the hole. His niblick second shot hit the top of the pin and dropped straight into the hole.