WOMEN’S GOLF

Evening Star, Issue 25927, 19 October 1946, Page 9

WOMEN’S GOLF

FIRST ROUND OF CHAMPIONSHIPS NO MAJOR SURPRISES (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 18. ' There were no major surprises when the first round of the New Zealand women’s amateur golf championship was played at Shirley to-jlay. Two of ..the eight seeded players won their ‘'matches by default, and the remaining six all won their games fairly comfortably. Overnight rain had taken most of the pace from the course, and with the fall continuing for most of the day, conditions for golf were unpleasant. The change in playing conditions compared with the previous day was most marked, although players found they could pitch up to the pin with safety, a procedure which brought disaster on the first day. Most of them were unable to handle the wet greens, especially in the early stages. One of the best performances of the day was that of Miss R. Hodges, the 21-year-old Aucklander, who beat Mrs W. Toomey _ (Christchurch) 3 and 2. Although Miss Hodges had a six at the first and a seven at the 424-yard seventh, she was out in 40 to lead 3 up at the turn. Her tee shot at the short ninth finished two feet from the pin, and her half in the conditions was ah excellent effort. Miss Hodges has an easy, natural swing, her tee shots were consistently sound, and her iron play clean and sure. On the greens, too, she was sound, and for a player who has had only about three years of competitive golf she is remarkably well equipped Mrs Toomey hit her tee shots well, but suffered occasional lapses with her irons. She reduced her opponent’s lead to one at the twelfth green, but was unable to retain the initiative.

Mrs D. A. F. Crombie, of Wellington, one of the lowest-handcapped players, played soundly in beating Miss J. Sutherland, of Hanmer, 6 and 4. The first three holes were .halved, but thereafter Miss Sutherland fought a losing battle, and was 3 down at the turn. Mrs Crombie played her irons and woods smoothly and well. Mrs H. Topliss (Nelson) had an easy win over Miss E. M. Parsons (Hanmer), being 5 up at the turn. Miss Parsons was out of touch and could not cope with the consistent accuracy of her opponent. The Canterbury provincial champion, Miss Z. Hudson,- had an interesting game with Mrs R. G. Edward (Ilangiora). Although in the second half Miss Hudson was on several occasions hard pressed, she refused to be rattled and owed her victory as much, perhaps, to excellent temperament as to steady golf. Miss Hudson won the first two holes in rather unimpressive fives, Mrs Edwards taking four putts on the very wet second green. Both women hit good tee shots almost throughout the round, but in the early stages Mrs Edward lost several opportunities on the greens.. Miss Hudson had a great chance of a birdie at the short ninth, but halved the hole to lead 2 up turning for home. She was not playing brilliant golf, but her 42 out was a steady effort. Miss Hudson, won the tenth and halved the eleventh, and the game appeared to be going in her favour, but Mrs Edward sank a good putt firmly to win the next. BOTH HIT THE PIN. At the short thirteenth, “ Old Nick ” (128 yards), the game took a most unusual turn. Both players found a bunker to the right of : the •green with their tee shots. Miss Hudson exploded out and appeared likely to go well through, but the ball hit the flag about two feet from the top and bopnced straight back, to leave her a p\itt of about 10 feet. Mrs Edward then' exploded out, her shot being low. It also hit the pm and bounced back, to lay Miss Hudson a half-stymie. Mrs Edward won the hole to become 1 down. At the next Miss Hudson again hit the pin _ with her approach, but Mrs Edward ignored tne challenge and halved with a careful 5. Mjss Hudson won the fifteenth when she obtained a partial stymie, but lost the long sixteenth when her second shot found the creek. Mrs Edward, 1 down with two to play, was on the bank of the creek with her second at the next hole, and she could not recover sufficiently to keep the game alive. The wmner played solid golf, and Mrs Edward, apart from early putting lapses, was also sound. „ „ , ~ Of the other seeded players, Mrs G. Hollis (Titirangi), formerly Miss Oliver Kay, had an easy win, and Mrs P R. Glanville (Te Awamutu) also had little trouble in, entering the second round. Miss,' J. Horwell (Timaru) won by default, but a seeded player from Invercargill, Miss C. Smith, defaulted because of an injured wrist.