DOCTORS AT PLAY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 130, 26 February 1937, Page 19

DOCTORS AT PLAY

B.M.A. Tournament at

Heretaunga

Delegates attending the annual conference of tbe New Zealand division of the British Medical Association held a golf tournament on the Wellington Golf Club’s links at Heretauuga yesterday afternoon, there being some 50 competitors. A handicap bogey competition was played under threatening weather conditions, and, considering that the majority of the players were on strange links, some really good golf was seen. 'The course was heavy gs the result of tbe recent rain, and a fairly stiff southerly breeze took some battling against. The winner was Dr. Gordon Rich, Christchurch, who, off the 9 mark, finished 1 up on bogey. Next came Dr. G. R. Kingston, a representative of the Timaru Golf Club, who proved that he was well capable of playing to his handicap of 4. He did the out journey in 39, and made the run home in 37, to finish all square. He is a devotee of the pitch and run approach, and frequently found his shot finished short on the heavy fairways. He is also an adept at the eleek shot. Kingston finished in brilliant fashion to record 3’s at the fourteenth (195 yards), tbe fifteenth (120 yards), the sixteenth (265 yards), and he ended up with 4’s at the seventeenth (354 yards) and the eighteenth (413 yards). Dr.'Hugh Steele, Wellington, came third, off the IS mark, with 3 down. Dr. F. C. Hutchinson. Wanganui, a handicap 1 player, covered the course in 80. He was going well, but slipped at the last few holes.

A handicap 4 player, Dr. J. K. Davidson, Christchurch, handled his clubs stylishly to take 40 both ways. He astonished the gallery b.v putting only with the right hand for all but the short putts. This is the third tournament which the New Zealand Division of the British Medical Associnton has held. The first took place at Christchurch in 1930, and was won by Dr. J. Gossip, Christchurch. The second was held at Auckland in 1932, and was won by Dr. J. Aitken Paterson, of the Maungakiakia Golf Club. Strangely enough, the cup theu went astray for some years, but fortunately turned up in time for yesterday’s tournament, after a miniature had been prepared for presentation to the winner.

The cup was presented to the winner by Sir Edmond Spriggs, K.C.V.0., F.R.C.P., of Wales. “I have had no experience in presenting golf trophies,” he humorously remarked, in handing over the cup to' Dr. Rich, “but I have, in my time, presented some school prizes. All that I can do is to remind you that success in life does not depend upon winning prizes. I am informed that the cup was last won in Auckland in 1932, and that since then it had gone missing. I hope that Dr. Rich will see that it is on hand for the next tournament.” Dr. Rich, in accepting the cup, said that they had brought up a pretty sound team from the South Island, and one of them confidently expected to win the cup. He hoped that Christchurch would not disgrace themselves, and would see that the cup was on hand for the next tournament.

The tournament was well organised bv Dr. S. D. Rhind nnd Dr. J. A. Doctor.