GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 19385, 20 October 1926, Page 10

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE MIRAMAR CONTESTS HIGH'CLASS PLAY [Per United Press Association.] vVELLINGTUN, Ociobei Ly. Willi ideal weather co idmoiis prevailing, and tiie links in periect order, some classic goll was witnessed on ihe Miramar i/ihlrs to-day, when mo second rounds of the Now Zealand amalcui and professional championships were placed. That qualiij will tell was proved by the tact that the stylists came through in tiie amateur battles. A feature of the day’s play was the doleat ol Hector Morrison, amateui champion of Non South Wales, at the hands of 13. V. Wngh,, the nineteon-year-ok! prodigy irom Timuru, whom many good judges tip to go right through the tournament That young players are coming on was apparent in tiie doleat of J Goss, of Wanganui, the New Zealand amateur champion tor 1923, by Ham Wagg, of Lower Hutt. Another win for youth was recorded by N. Bell, the Waikati champ.on, who outplayed an experienced match player in J. C Bidwill, of Wairarapa.

In the orote sional ranks sensational golf was played by A. J Shaw, of Wellington, who recorded a brilliant 73 in the morning, finishing S up on H. B Blair, and going on in the afternoon to win by the remarkable margin of 12 up and 11 to play J. M'intosh, of Mastcrton, defeated E. J. Moss, holder of the professional championship last year, by 4 up and 3 to play. The steady improvement which has been made in the standard of golf in New Zealand was made manifest by the close tights which took place in the majority of the matches in the second round of the New Zealand amateur championship. The time was when most people could noxniiuto with something like certainty the semi-linalists in the amateur championship. There are so many Rinhrnonus in the field to-day that no one can tell who is likely to go through the first round. Two of the matches to-day went to the thirty-sixth green betor„ finality was reached One game went to 2 and 1, and a couple ot matches were decided by the close margin of 3 and 2. One of the closest tussles of the day was fought out between those old rivals, A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington) and J. L. Black (Hutt), who have met each other so often in the past as No. I’s for their clubs. Arthur Duncan started off _ in brilliant fashion in the morning, reeling off the first seven holes in 27 strokes, which was good enough to place him 3 np. The Wellington man struck trouble at tho eighth, where he found the bunker, and abandoned the hole after taking three strokes to dig out. Black played great golf in starting off for the run home, recording 3,4, 3, 4 for the first four holes. Black squared the match at tho thirteenth. Both sliced their drives into the sand bunker at “Tho Gap,” where superior play with tho mashie enabled Duncan to draw 1 up again with 4 to 5. They halved the nest two holes, but Duncan, by recording a perfect 4 at the seventeenth, where ho ran down a 20ft putt, drew 2 up. The eighteenth was halved in 5, Duncan thus finishing 2 up, after Blackhad completed the round in 78. it was tho same story in the afternoon, both men playing high-class golf and making few mistakes. After halving the first three holes in s’s, Black came to light at “ Tho Bay ” (209yds) with a fine 2, running down a putt of 12ft. Black had bad luck at “ The Lupins,” where his opponent robbed him of a win by laying a stymie. Tho Hutt man played a perfect mashie shot at “ Potiki,” laying his ball 2ft from the pin, but Duncan got a half by sinking a “birdie” putt of 24ft for a half in 2. Duncan drew 2 np again by recording a perfect 3 at “ Tho Flax ” (280yds). The veteran's mastery of mashie play was in evidence here, ns ho played such a sweet pitch shot that he was able to hole his putt. Black was lying on the lip of tho hole lor a certain 4, but his was not good enough. The Hutt man lost a chance at the twenty-seventh, when Duncan put his second into the hunker Wild work on the green, where he took three putts saw Black lose the hole in 7 to 6. Duncan was 3 up as they headed for home tho last time. Tho next two holes, however, went to Black through the Wellington champion finding bunkers at both holes. Black failed to reach tho green at " Coates’s Fancy,” and Duncan drew up again with 3 to 4._ “The Outlook” was also halved in the same figures, Duncan again having the luck to lay his opponent a stymie. Both were a bit merry with their seconds at The Gap,” and ran through the green. It looked to be Black’s hole, but for the third time on the round Duncan had the luck to lay a stymie, and a half m 3 went down. Black was lighting stubbornly, and took the thirty-fourth (325yds) with a brilliant 4 to 5. Both got screaming drives and full brassie seconds going to tho thirty-fifth (470yds). Both were close to the green m two, but another beautiful mashie pitch by Duncan, who is a master with chis club, enabled him to take the hole and tho match by winning in 4 to 5. This left him winner of a hard-fought battle by 2 up and 1 to go. The coil displayed by both moi was of a high standard, and tho big gallery who followed them saw something worth while. N. IT. Bell, the Waikato champion, was called upon to crack a hard nut in J. C. Bidwill, of Wairarapa, who put Dr K, Ross out on Monday. They had a spirited argument in tho morning, both men revealing golf of quality. Bell was using his clubs in workmanlike style, and commenced a spurt _ about the turn, where Bidwill showed signs of unsteadiness for a time The Waikato man was 5 up at the twelfth, but Bidwill, who is one of the dourest matchplayers in tho dominion, continued to fight with grim determination, and had reduced the leeway to 2 down when they went into lunch It was a hard battle again in the afternoon, when both men played well. Bidwill wiped off the deficit, and they fought an oven battle for the whole of Boll was I up at the thirty-fourth, but Bidwill made a great effort to draw square at the thirtyfifth (470yds). Both got booming drives, but Bidwill played a sensational brassie second, which carried his ball just through the green. It was one of the finest wooden shots ever scon at a national tourney, as the wind was against him. Hero Bell also played a fine second and a nice mashie pitch, and ended up by holing a putt for a half in 4 from the edge of tho green. The thirty-sixth was halved, and Bell, after a stubborn fight, won by 1 up. One of the most interesting personalities on tho links this year is B. V. Wright, the boy golfer from Timaru. He was called upon to withstand a stiff ordeal to-day in being pitted against Hector Morrison, the amateur champion of New South _ Wales. Sterling golf was produced in this match, though the Sydney champion brought forth tho best golf ho had revealed at the tourney. The Timaru lad was up with him all tho time, and occasionally a bit beyond him. They went neck and neck over the course throughout the journey, and at tho end of the round the colt was leading by 2Tip. A glance at his card will reveal the quality of the golf that the nineteen-year-old Timaru boy was playing:—Out, 5 5 5 3 4 3 5 3 5—38; in, 444434455 —37; total, 75. Though the Now South Wales_ champion put forth the best that was in him, lie could not get upsides with his youthful adversary, who continued to play high-class golf thorughout tho

afternoon, and a really fine exhibition of golf ended in favor of the New Zealand colt by 3 up and 2 to play. “ i don’t mind being beaten by a player who produces the qualtiy of golf that Wright did to-day,” remarked Morrison after the match. “ He has the goods all right.” E. M. Macfarlane (.ol Christchurch), last year’s open champion, gave a taste of his true form in his match with J. 11. Drake (Miramar), in the morning Macfarlane drew, 1 up, by recording h brilliant 2 at the lourth (209yds). The Christchurch man was 2 up at the turn, but Drake reduced the leeway. Coming home Macfarlane had a hole in hand at the seventeenth, but lost it through slicing ins tee shot out of bound's. They thus finished up all square over the first half ol the journey. They had just as heated an argument in the afternoon, when both played good golf. They are good match players, and tin contest was close and exciting to the end, when Macfarlane gamed a narrow win by the barest possible margin. . . K Tareba, the sensational driver from Napier, has been a prominent performer at dominion golf tourneys for many years past, and he is always amongst the elect. He was smiting a groat ball off the tecs to-day, and was also more at home than usual on the greens. J. B. Parker (Wellington) stuck to him manfully in the morning and kept the Napier man’s lead down to 2 up, notwithstanding that Tareha did a 78. Kapi, however, rose to supreme heights in the afternoon, when his mighty hitting frequently caused the gallery to gasp. On Saturday bust ho landed his ball from the tec just through the green at The Outlook (380yds). Ho jumped into his best stride this afternoon, and played such great golf that he took the match by 7 up and 5 to play. liana Wagg, the youthful Hutt plaver, lias been steadily gaining experience, and must bo seriously regarded henceforth. Ho did exceedingly well to-day to outplay such a seasoned match player as J. Goss, of Wanganui, who was amateur champion ol tlic dominion in 1923. They ended up all square in tho morning, but Wagg was the steadier in the afternoon, and ran out a winner by 3 and 2. WILL HE HOLD THE TITLE?

T. H- Horton, of Masterton, holder of the title, has been in the front rank of New Zealand golfers since 1922, when he was runner-up to Arthur Duncan for the championship. That he will not lightly relinquish prido of place ho demonstrated to-day, when he outclassed J. L. Petley (Miramar) to the tune of 5 up and 4 to go. They had an even battle in the morning, when Horton was not putting too well. Ho got on to his game in the afternoon, however, and speedily ran out a winner bv 5 and 4. It will take good golf to dethrone Horton from tho box scat. Leo Quin, of Eltham, who was leading amateur of the dominion in 1924, aave a glimpse of his best form in his match with M. H. Duncan. Tho Wellington colt was in line form in tho morning, handling all his clubs welt. Ho finished 3 up on tho first round, but Quin came on to his game in the afternoon, and quickly wiped off the deficit. He then romped away, and took th'j match by sup and 3to play. His afternoon card road; Out—4, 4,6, 4, .3, 2.4, 4, 5—36; in—4, 4,3, 4,3, 4,3, 7, G—33; total, 14 THE PROFESSIONALS. A. ,1. Shaw was in irresistiblo_ form m his match against 11. 11. Blair lor tho professional championship. Ho went out in 34, being 5 up at tho turn, and ran homo in 39, registering 73 for tho round—the best returned so far at the tournament. This was good enough to give him a load of 8 up. His figures were: Out—4, 4,5, 3,3, 2,5, 4, 4 34; in—4, 5,3, 5,4, 4,4, 5, 5—39; total, 73. Continuing in the same brilliant strain in tho nlternoon he took tho match by tho sensational margin of 12 up and 11 to play. In the other semi-final J. MMntosh (Masterton) proved too good for E. .1. Moss (Auckland), holder of tho title last year, tho margin being 4 and 3. Moss made a good fight of it in the morning, when there was only one hole in M'lntosh’s favor. The Masterton man went round in 74 to Moss’s 76. M'lntosh, continuing to play solid golf, increased his lead in the afternoon, and took the match by 4 and 3. Shaw and M'lntosh will meet in the final on Friday. Details: — AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. —Second Round. N. Bell beat J. C. Bidwill, 1 up. L. Quin beat M. Duncan, 5 and 3. K. Tareha beat J. B. Parker, 7 and 5. R. Wagg beat J. Goss, 3 and 2. A, Duncan beat J. L. Black, 2 and 1. E. Maefarlane boat J. Drake, 1 up. B. V. Wright beat H. Morrison, 3 and 2. T. 11 Horton beat J. L. Petley, 5 and 4. PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. —Second Round.— J. M'lntosh beat E. J. Moss, 4 and 3. A. J Shaw beat H. R. Blair, 12 and n. The stroke handicap was won by H. P Blundol 81 (handicap 8), 73, with J. B Parker 78 (handicap 1), 77, second. They are both llcretaungn players.

. LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP

DSHJiELLY GOP MATCH The New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Championship Meeting yesterday afternoon was continued, the Donnelly Cup match being played under unpleasant weather conditions. Nevertheless, there were some good cards, three players tieing with net scores of 79, Bliss Culling (Auckland), Bliss Gwitha Shand (Christchurch), and Mrs Kingscote (Christchurch) beuig the successful ladies. With a net score of SO Bliss D. Williams (Otago) won the second grade section. Bliss 0. Kay (St. Clair) and Bliss 81. Payton (Auckland) tied for tho best gross score with 84. Tho best cards in tho Donnelly Cup were as follow;

MELLSOP CUP. The Mellsop Cup (for the best aggregate of three medal rounds) re-

suited in a tie between Mrs Dodgshun (Otago) and Miss 0. Kay (St. Clair). The scores were as follow:

CLUB TEAMS’ MATCH. The club teams’ match in comic tion with the Donnelly Cup was wor by the Niristciuirch team, which had a* 20-point margin. The scores wore as follow:

Miss Gwitha Shand Gross. Hep. Net. ... 84 !> - 79 Mrs Kingscole ... 86 7 — 79 Miss Culling ... 85 6 — 79 Miss 0. Kay ... 84 4 — 80 Miss D. Williams ... 97 17 — 80 Miss Lowry ... 91 11 — 80 Miss Hertslet ... 90 9 - 82 Miss G. A. Shand ... 93 12 — 81 Mrs Pumphrey ... 86 5 - 81 Miss White-Parsons ... 91 9 — 82 Miss Payton ... 84 2 - 82 Mrs Henderson ... 95 13 — 82 Mrs Lemon ... L. ... 97 15 — 82 Mrs Caffin ... 99 17 — 82 Miss Chrystall ... 85 2 - 83 Miss Collinson * ... ... 88 5 — 83 Mrs M'Carthy ... 88 5 - 83 Miss Achoson ... 89 5 - 84 Mrs C. Jones ... 95 10 — 85 Miss 0. Stevens ... ... 97 12 — 85 Miss Hutton ... 98 12 - 86 Miss M. Cook ... 102 16 — 86 Mrs Barron ... 101 15 - 86 Miss Bristed ... 93 7 — 86 Mrs Dodgshun ... 86 — — 86 Mrs Cook ... 92 6 — 86 Mrs M'Donald ... 101 14 — 87 Mrs Gamble ... 107 20 — 87 Miss Cooper ... 94 7 - 87 Mrs Grace ... 92 4 — 88 Miss Dickson ... 10C 18 - 83 Mrs Bell ... 100 12 - 83 Miss Theomin ... 94 5 - 89 Mrs Haudyside ... 103 14 - 89 Miss C. Williams ... ... 104 15 - 89

i»4 P5 53 d d bO be d d Q Mrs Dodgshun (0.) 85 86 86 257 Miss 0. Kay (St. Clair) 86 87 84 257 Miss M. Payton (Auck.) 86 90 84 260 Mrs M'Carthy (0.) ... 87 90 88 265 Mrs Cook (0.) 89 89 92 270

CmUSTCHUJtCH. Miss Cbrystall . 8b Mrs Pumphrey . .. 86 Mrs iviugc-cjtc • .. 86 Miss G. Stand .. 84 341 OTAGO. Mrs 86 Miss M. Slovens .. 95 Mrs M'Cartby .. 88 Mrs Cook .. 98 ' 361