LADIES’ GOLF

Evening Star, Issue 19546, 3 May 1927, Page 13

LADIES’ GOLF

OTAGO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Wliil BY BBS hi'GARTHV By playing consistent golf throughout, Mrs W. M'Carthy was successful in winning her first provincial title as the result of her victory in the final or the Otago ladies’ open golf championship, which was played on the Baimacewen links yesterday afternoon. The finalists were Mrs M’Carthy andMrs J. A. Cook, both of whom are members of the Otago Club, and as both have had considerable experience, a close game was anticipated.. Mrs Cook has previousy held the title on two occasions, and two years ago was ruuner-up in tho New Zealand ladies championship, while recently she filled second place to Miss Kay in the Canterbury ladies’ open championship. Mrs M'Carthy, like Mrs Cook, has been the holder of tho Otago Club championship, but this is the first time she has reached the provincial final. A fair-sized gallery of enthusiasts followed tho players around, Mr S. Iv. Sleigh acting as referee. Conditions were almost ideal for golf, though the course was on the slow side.' The fresh wind that was blowing had little effect on the play, and, speaking generally, it is safe to assert that the course has rarely looked better at this time of the year. Mrs M'Carthy played steady golf all the way, and it was to this that she owed her rather comfortable win, 4 up and 3 to play. She was driving a long hall, and her putting was very steady, few holeahle. putts being missed by her. At the seventh hole she holed out with a splendid approach of twenty yards for a 4 (one under bogey) after she had been in the bunker with her drive, and it was this same coolness and determination that marked her play throughout. . Mrs Cook did not get her usual dnyes off the tecs, and was unsteady with her putts. Nevertheless, it was a hardfought game, and it is worthy of note that the first four holes were halvedTHE PLAY DESCRIBED. Mrs Cook had the initial honor, both getting good drives away from the first tee. Both hit fair seconds, being on the green with their approaches, Mrs M'Carthy’s being furthest away from the pin. Both missed long putts, the hole being halved in bogey 5. Mrs M'Carthy hit a long ball at the second, outdriving her opponent by 30yds. Mrs Cook topped her second, just hitting it a few yards, Mrs M'Carthy’s second being just short of the green. Mrs Cook played her third on to the edge of the green, Mrs M'Carthy’s being two yards from the hole. Mrs Cook’s fourth was short, but Mrs M'Carthy missed her putt, and Mrs Cook laid her a stymie, making another half in 0. The third was halved in bogey 4, and the short fourth saw the honors again divided with another 4. Tho Terrace is a trying hole for lady players, the lie of the ground making it more difficult than it would appear at first sight. Mrs Cook did not hit her drive too well, hut Mrs M'Carthy got a good one away. Mrs Cook made a fair second, Mrs M'Carthy half-hit-ting her iron. The latter played a beautiful third, and Mrs Cook, though she did not get hers away too brightly, was over the hill, but short of the green. Mrs M'Carthy captured the hole in 4 (one under bogey), making her 1 up. Mrs M'Carthy had the better of two good drives heading for the Ridge, Mrs Cook playing a good second on the green, while’ Mrs M'Carthy pitched short. The latter was short with her nest, Mrs Cook laying her putt dead. Mrs i M'Carthy missed_ her putt, Mrs Cook taking the hole in bogey 4 to 5, the game being all square again, v Camel’s Back looked a certainty for Mrs Cook, but her opponent holed out with a wonderful approach, which gave her 'the hole. Mrs Cook hit a good straight drive from this tee, Mrs M'Carthy slicing hers into tho hunker to the right of the fairway. Mrs M'Carthy did not make a very good recovery in playing herself out, Mrs Cook’s second being on the edge of the green. Mrs M'Carthy hit her third 20yds short of the green, Mrs Cook’s being 6ft short of tho flag. Airs M'Carthy holed out with her approach 20yds from the’ green in 4 (bogey 5), Mrs Cook missing her putt and losing the hole which made Mrs M'Carthy 1 up. Her great recovery at the seventh must have given Airs Al'Carthy renewed confidence, for she made a good drive from the eighth tee, Mrs Cook missing hers. Both played good seconds, hut Airs Cook hooked her third, Airs Al'Carthy’s being 9ft from the pin. Airs Cook played her fourth Bft from the flag, Airs Al'Carthy laying hers dead. Mrs Cook missed the putt, and her clubmate took the hole in bogey 5, making her 2 up Both had good drives at tho Glen, Airs Cook being a little bit short with her second, to the right of the green. Mrs Al’Carthy played a good approach on to the centre of the green, and her opponent put down a bad third. Airs Al’Carthy laid her third 2ft from tho pin, and Airs Cook, over-running with her fourth, the hole fell to Airs M'Carthy in bogey 4, which made her 3 up at the turn. Airs Al'Carthy had been playing very steadily, covering the outward nine holes in 41 (two over bogey) good scoring in a championship final. Airs Al'Carthy carried on her good work at the short tenth; though she just missed the bunker with her drive off the tee. Airs Cook was not so fortunate, and landed in tho'bunker. Mrs Cook played a beautiful shot in getting out, and was 6ft past the flag. Airs M'Carthy’s second was nearly dead, Mrs Cook missing . the putt. Airs M'Carthy sunk hers in bogey 3, making her 4 up. Coming to the long hole (536yds) both got good drives away, though Airs Al'Carthy outdrove Airs Cook, who

half-hit her second. Mrs M'Carthy took an iron for her second, but failed to connect. She sliced her third, lying beside the hawthorn hedge on the right. Mrs Cook played a good third with her iron, but Mrs M'Carthy had a . difficult shot for her fourth, and though she recovered wen enough she found further trouble, Mrs Cook s fourth being on the edge or the green to tho right. Mrs Cook overrun with her fifth, but took the hole in bogey 6 to 7, leaving her 3 down. Airs Al'Carthy outdrove her opponent bv 30yds at the twelfth, and Mrs Cook hooked her second, Mrs AI Cartin’ playing a good one on to the green. Airs Cook’s third was short, and she overrun with her fourth, missing the return. Airs Al'Carthy holed out in 4, which made her 4 up again.. Airs Al'Carthy duffed her drive from the thirteenth tee, and landed just over the ditch, Airs Cook hitting a good ball on to the top of the hill. Mrs AlCarthy’s second was lying badly on tne face of the' hill, but she hit a long third to the side of the clump of trees. Airs Cook hit a good second, and Mrs Al'Carthy was on in 4, Airs Cook being through with her third. Airs AI- Carthy holed a great 20ft -putt for n bogey 5, Airs Cook laying her fourth dead for the hole, and she halved in 6, after the chances were in favor of Airs Cook capturing tho honors. Both were well .short of the green at Roy’s with their drives, and Mrs Al'Carthy overran br ffoond by lort, Airs Cook’s being 6ft ator*. thy’s approach putt left J’ er Jft short, and Airs Cook missed her Airs M'Carthy lost her chance of a failing to sink an easy putt. &nd Mrs Cook took the hole in 4 to 5. The game ended on tho fifteenth green, both getting good straight drives away from the tee, though Mrs Cook was again outdriven. She duffed her brassie, but Airs Al'Carthy also failed to play a good second. Airs Cook made a poor shot in playing an iron for her third, Airs Al'Carthy playing a good enough mashic for hers, which was on to tho edge of the green. Airs Cook s fourth was short, and she overran with her fifth. Airs Al'Carthy’s fourth was dead, and Airs Cook missed a putt with her sixth, Mrs Car thy taking the hole and the match m bogey 5. PREVIOUS HOLDERS.

The previous holders of the championship are: —

1908. Aliss K. Rattray. 1909. Airs Fergus. 1910. Aliss W. Scott. 1911. Aliss Gould. 1912. Airs Ward. 1913. Airs Ward. 1914. Mrs Ronald Orhell. 1915. Airs J. A. Cook. 1920.—Airs Ronald Orhell 1922. Airs J. A. Cook. 1923. Airs H. Dodgshun. 1924. Airs H. Dodgshun. 1925. Mrs H. Dodgshun 1926. Airs H. Dodgshun.