NEW ZEALAND TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 143, 21 June 1927, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

DOINGS IN SYDNEY

HOETON'S SPLENDID EOUND

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 16th June.

Although the New Zealand golfers at present in Sydney have not done as well in the'"'New South "Wales amateur, championships, as it was hoped they would do, they have nevertheless given a good account of themselves. The qualifying rounds of the championship, were played under conditions reminiscent of Miramar on a cold and blustery day and many of those fancied to distinguish themselves fell by the wayside. It was a day on'which experience triumphed over youthful exuberance. "When the reckoning came at the end of the day most of the younger candidates were among the also started. The Boyal Sydney links are a severe test of true hitting and on a day like Saturday last they provided a severe trial. Several of the old and tried players also fell short of expectations, victims to the conditions.

Of the New Zealanders, A. D. S. Duncan and .T. H. Horton were the only ones to emerge entirely unscathed. They filled the third and fourth places respectively in the qualifying list. E. M. Macfarlane, who has not shown anything like his New Zealand form since being in Sydney, had to fight out with four other contestants another round to decide who should fill the last three places among the sixteen. Fortunately he was able to score well enough to find a place, but at that was not at his best by any means. The other New Zealanders, who were expected at least to qualify, L. Quin, and Dr. K. Ross, failed altogether. to live up to their reputations. Quin's lapse was one of those unaccountable things that will happen in the gainej but there" was some reason for Boss's failure. The little doctor had the misfortune to be paired for the -round with a player who by some handicapper's indiscretion had been placed on a mark to Which his game had never entitled him, but which unfortunately permitted him to compete in championship events. It was a glaring instance of the looseness ftf toe Australian handicap system, or lack of system, ami Dr. Boss was the yictim., The player in question took exactly 100 strokes to go round and topped'the century in the afternoon. Not unnaturally, Dr. Boss'failed to produce his best form. It was exceptionally unfortunate because ever since he has-been in Sydney he hag never been ■worse than 76, which was the best score registered on' the day. ■ The remainder of the New Zealand contingent ■were never in the picture. DUNCAN OPP HIS PUTT. A. D. S. Duncan, the New Zealand amateur, champion, was matched in the first round of. the match/ play with one of the best match players in the State, Erie Apporly. Duncan started the morning round with his old dash. He was hitting his shots with crisp precision, and his short game was all that could be desired. He was out in even 4's. Coming home, however, the veteran had several lapses, and Apperly, quick to take advantage of them, overtook Duncan and eventually finished the round a hole to the good. In the afternoon Duncan continusd to play his long game as solidly as ever but unaccountably lapsed in his short: shots, usually so sound a department of his game. Ajiperly was able to consolidate his position and won the match 3 up and 2 to play. Duncan's failure was disappointing to the Australians as his personality and reputation had attracted large galleries to see him play. E. M. Macfarlane, the Christchurch crack, was right out of touch in his match against the Australian open champion, Ivo Whitton, and was not even able to make a game of it. Whitton was playing in faultless style and reeling off a 74 effortlessly finished the morning round 7 up on Macfarlane. The latter, considering it useless to continue the debacle in the afternoon, scratched for the second round. ' T. H. Horton was the only New Zealander left in at the end of the first round. .Playing a young candidate from Manly, A. M. Thorn, Horton made no raco of it from the start, and had a simple victory, 9 up and 8 to play. HOETON'S BRILLIANCE. Horton struck an entirely different proposition in the second round. This was a former open champion of Australia, Alex Bnssell, of Melbourne. The match between these two was one of the best soen in Sydney for years. The pair started off in great heart. Horton set the pace by holing his chip shot for two at the first hole. From then out' they vied with each other to accomplish the sensational. Out in 34 each, with a best ball of 30, they maintained a similar standard for the rest of the round, first one having the advantage and then the' other. It was amazing golf with only occasional lapses, each taking advantage of the other's least mistake. KusseH.completed tho zound one hole to the good with a stroke round of 71 to Horton's 72. Such a pace was too strong to be maintained in the afternoon, when the standard slipped under the strain. Nevertheless, tho golf was of . good quality. Horton was the first to show signs of the strain. This began to show at the tenth hole, Bussell increasing his lead to 4 up at the eleventh. The twelfth was halved, Tour up and 6 to go, Bussell looked to be in at very comfortable position, but he had some uncomfortable moments. before the match ended. He. cracked at the next hole, and Horton also took the following one. Another half at the fifteenth, where Bussell negotiated a stymie and then Horton sensationally won tin next, reducing the lead to 1 up. New Zealand supporters were jubilant, but the run had come too late. Bussell played a faultless tee shot at , the next, finding the green within eight feet of the hole. Horton's was slightly pulled and ran down a bank at tho side of the green. He still had a sporting chance for a half iv three, bat as he was addressing his ball it rolled, and he lost a penalty stroke and picked up, Bussell winning the match, two up and one to play. < It was an unsatisfactory anti-climax, to a great match.