GOLF NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 5

GOLF NOTES

New Zealand Championships. The 1938 New Zealand championship meeting is now a thing of the past. The missed putts and fluffed approaches have all been played, and cannot now be retrieved.

The Championship Committee has every reason to be proud of its most efficient running of the big tournament, and almost every player who competed will agree that the 1938 meeting was one or the most successful ever held. The weather was unfortunately inclined to be broken and windy, but this factor did not appear to affect in the least the high standard of scoring. The most pleasing feature of the open as far as Otago golfers were concerned was the magnificent showing of the popular young University player, A. Gibbs, in finishing fourth and first amateur in such distinguished company. Gibbs’s performance was all the more meritorious as he had very little practice beforehand, and just snatched enough time away from his examinations to complete his 'rounds. Gibbs has now firmly established himself as one of the leading amateurs in New Zealand.

T. 13. Ferguson also distinguished himself by finishing with D. C. Bennie in eleventh place. A' word of praise must also be given A. Lucas, who, at his first attempt in the championship, finished tenth amateur, a worthy effort indeed. J. A. Scouler, A. G. Sirae, K. Ross, and H. J. Pollock all finished within the first 35, wliile F. W. Dixon, of St. Clair, played great golf for a 6 handicap man to finish with the good aggregate of 310. Not so very long ago Dixon’s total would have been good enough to win, which serves to snow the advance in standard over the last quarter of a century. T. C. Tyrrell, the Otago Club champion, failed to reproduce anything like his best form, and could only break 80 in one round. This was indeed unfortunate, as Tyrrell would have kept the best of them busy in the amateur. J. N. Sams had a great second round of 73, but was inconsistent in the others.

J. H. M'Dougall started brilliantly with a splendid 74, but faded in the latter rounds. The St. Cair Club’s win in the O’Korke Interclub Challenge Vase was a most popular one.

In the writer’s opinion the selectors made a mistake in dropping the consistent Dr K. Ross from the Otago Club’s No. 1 team. Ross had a fine win over the brilliant 1. A. Ewen in the first round of the amateur at the twenty-first hole, but could not stay, the distance with Brian Silk in the second round. Two Otago players, Bennie and Pollock, and the Southland player, Matheson, reached the last eight in the amateur event. Charlie Shcrriff, the young Otago assistant professional, far exceeded all expectations in reaching the semi-final of the professional championship, having a particularly fine win over B. J, Smith, jun. Shcrriff went down fighting hard against the big-hitting Alf. Guy, and should shortly establish himself as one of New Zealand’s leading professionals. < Otago Cub. The Bruntsfield Medal, for the virtual stroke play championship of the club will be commenced on Saturday week. Should A. Gibbs elect to start, his chances of adding this trophy to his already heavy 1938 bag will be bright indeed. The present holder of the title is J. A. Scouler] To-morrow a foursome Stableford will be held. Diggers’ Tournament. The always-popular diggers’ tournament. will be played on Sunday on Balmacewen. 'A four-ball will be decided in the morning and a medal round will be played in the afternoon. Post entries will be accepted. Such talented golfers as E. S. Douglas, W. G. Wight, J. H M’Dougall, K. Ross, A. Sime, and A. Gamble are sure to be starters, and a high standard is assured. The Little Things Cost So Much in Golf. Regarded as one of the great golfers of all time, record-breaker Sam Snead, who has studied the game in which ha has won fame from all angles, is regarded as a second-to-none authority in America. Commenting on professional golfers as compared with amateurs, Snead says;—“The thing that impresses me is the slight gap between the better amateurs and the leading professionals. The amateurs need only, a few refinements to be on a par with anybody. But these refinements, especially on footwork, are terrible when it comes to 72 holes of medal play. It is the little things in golf that cost you so much.”