LOCKE BEATS MURRAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 99, 24 October 1938, Page 16

LOCKE BEATS MURRAY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, October 23

A. D. (Bobby) Locke, the South African professional golfer, opened his tour of New Zealand on Saturday, when he beat Alex Murray, former open champion of New Zealand, at the Titirangi links in a match for £25 aside. Two rounds were played. Locke was 3 up at the conclusion of the morning round, and the match ended on the fifteenth green in the afternoon, the visitor winning 4 and 3. There was an attendance, of 300 in the morning and this was swelled to 500 in'the afternoon. The spectators were greatly impressed with Locke's splendid demeanour and it was generally agreed that he is the finest player of iron shots ever seen on the Auckland links, while he is possibly the most accurate putter to visit the Dominion. Murray did not quite do himself justice, this, no doubt, being because of lack of competitive play. He was often struggling for halves against an opponent who had just completed a series of matches in Australia, prior to which he had won the Irish open championship. Locke subsequently paid a tribute to Murray's ability. He suggested^ that the Aucklander should pay a visit to England, where he would be sympathetically received and where he would receive more help than he would if he decided to go to the United States. With plenty of match play in the best company, Murray had prospects of being in the running for the world title. „, Locke did a morning round of n, three under the scratch score for the course, his halves being 36 and 35. Muiray recorded two 37's for a 74. Both were out in 37 in the afternoon, Locke then being 3 up.