GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1937, Page 5

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

FIRST ROUND OF OPEN amateurs no well [pep. press association.] HAMILTON, September 30. Conditions generally were unpleasant at St. Andrew’s hnks to-rlaj for the opening of the National Gol Championships. Steady rain in morning, which had cleared by the time that the majority commenced to-day, made for tricky going, and many of the good players were at a disadvantage. A strong cross westerly wind rose shortly after n o'clock, and this increased, the players’ difficulties. The best cards were those of B. G. Thomson and A. E.Guy, whose 73’s were excellent efforts under the conditions. Shaw, Murray and H. W. Hattersley, the leading contenders for the open crown, were four to five strokes above Thomson and Guy. Five amateurs are in the first six places. Indeed the features of the day’s play w r ere the fine performances of the amateurs in the leading six places. Hornabrook (amateur holder) and T. S. Galloway showed, good form, but both were dogged with ill luck. Often Hornabrook lost strokes by chipping too strongly when approaching. Galloway by duffing his drive and then staying in the rough till reaching the green, had trouble at the seventeenth. On the green he was short, through being troubled by the holding surface. Neither golfer was playing up to his recent form. C. C. Clements, holder of the professional crown, has never been in better form on his long game than he was to-day, but in his round of 76, he, like many other players', encountered ' difficulties on the green. He repeatedly slipped putts, and at tne eighth he took three strokes on. tne carpet. At the tees and with the iron in the fairway, Clements had perfect control. H. D. Brinsden, whoso recent form has been impressive, is still experiencing the troubles on the tee which he did in his practice rounds earlier in the week. To-day he was one of the few early players who controlled

well on a holding green. The best score in the early rounds was returned by A. Weir (New Plymouth), who .particularly impressed in the second halt of play. He came home in 34, after being out in 42, which included a few lapses on the greens. B. G. Thomson, who won the South Auckland title at St. Andrew’s recently, always looked likely and after playing steady golf, he came off the course with a round of 73. This was equal to the best score, and a splendid performance under the conditions. Thomson was driving splendidly, and his fairway and approach work was the best ofr the early players. At times, however, even Thomson was troubled by the holding greens. Twice, at the fifth and sixth, he missed o foot putts for three’s. To get pin-high with his second stroke was good work. At -the long seventh he sank the ball with a neat four. When in trouble, and that was not often, Thomson’s chipping was almost perfect. Brian Silk and Alex. Murray played consistently in the forenoon, the amateur going round in 79 and the professional in 76. The varying speed of the greens and a rising wind were handicaps, but mistakes were few. Both went out in 41, Murray returning in 35 and Silk in 38. Murray’s mistakes were mostly bn the greens, where he missed one or two fairly easy ones*, while Silk, while he got a good length on the tee, showed a tendency to slice. The professional s card included sixes at the ninth and the 16th, and birdies at the second, eleventh, and 18th. Always a prominent figure on the championship links, Norrie. Bell (the North Shore professional) has been definitely off his game during the past few weeks, but on the last few holes to-day, he showed a definite promise of returning to iorm. , Although, in his own words, he “may be getting near to veteran stage,’’ he should again be capable of recording those low figures which used to characterise his play. H. A. Black, who played with-Bell, was not im.pressiva in scoring 80, and encountered most trouble on the downwind holes. SHAW NOT IN FORM.

The holder of the open title, A. J. ] Shaw, was not at his best in the < morning, particularly on the green. , This weakness was shared by the ] Australian, H. W. Hattersley, with ] Whom he went round, and mediocre < golf saw Shaw with a card of 42 on j •the way out, and Hattersley with 41. < Shaw improved on the homeward j journey, for which his card read 36. ■ Hatersley’s second half started with a string of six fours, while Shaw re- ■ • turned home in 3,4, 4,4, 3,5, 5,4, 4. Both players were getting a good length from the tees. Hitting a tremendous ball from the , tee, and putting very soundly, the unattached professional, A. E. Guy, shared top place with B. G. Thomson \ with 73. Despite a lapse at the second hole where he'took six, his card read; Out; 36354444 4—37 ;in; 2 4 5 4 4 454 4—36; .total 73. Superb judgment in approaching the green enabled J. L. Black to overcome an occasional mediocre drive, and complete the round in the excellent figures of 75, which, with a little luck might have been much better. With perfect command over chip shots. Black made putting comparatively easy for himself. . The former amateur champion, A. G Sime, romped' round his favourite New Zealand course to-day in form which he has not excelled for years, and like Black, who accompanied him, only a little luck would have given him probable command ovei the field. Not once did he mis-hit from the tee and his putting ability was equal to the best that he has produced. At first, Sime started off the right way with a birdie two. Except for a crash at the 17th, where he required a six putt. Sime would have had an attractive card. At the 3rd and 6th his third stroke lipped the cup. At the Sth he sank a 20ft putt for a fine three, a feat which he repeated at the 15th, where another 20ft putt dropped home. In returning the second best card of the day, N. R. Moore, the young Miramar amateur, played very steady golf, dropping a stroke at the seventh, to be out in 37, and on the homeward journey his bogey figures Were spoiled at the fourteenth and fifteenth.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES. The scores in the open championship were as follow: —W. Albon (Poverty Bay) 86; E. Baker (Kaikohe) 98; R, Bell (Remuera) 82; T.

Bloomfield (Waiuku) 84; IL Boon (New Plymouth) 85; K. Caldwell (Onewhero) 07; L. Clifford (Titirangi) 87; R. Holland (Waiwetu) SO; P. Hutchison (Wanganui) SI; H. Longstaff (Hastings) 80; W. Morrice (Motutara) 78; W .Monk (Rotorua) 91; J. Mowat (Tauranga) 88; F. McDonald (Shandon) 82; I. Orr (Macandrew Bay) 84; H. Preston (North Shore) 86; G. Roberts (Hutt.) 81; K. Tompkins (New Plymouth) 96; ,1. H. Young (Titirangi) 79: J. L. Black (Titahi) 75; A. G. Sime (Otago) 7;»: ,L Galloway (Titirangi) 7S; J. IL Galloway (Manawatu) 87; K. C. tVard (Akarana) SO; R. Moore (Miramar) 74; A. Browne (North Shore) 81; Aubrey Dyke (Maraenui) 76; J. Earle (Maungakiekie) 83; N. Fuller (Judgeford Country) 78; J. Hobbs (Napier) 79; A. Holland (Amberley) 87; C. Jacobsen (Auckland) 84; C. Munckton (Waipukurau) 88; D. McCathie (Cambriwdge) 85; C. Riddell (Waipukurau) 83; G. W. Ritchie (unattached) SO; P Savage (Auckland) 83; W. Donald (Auckland) 84; K. Dyke (Glendownie) 85; R. Hayward (Shandon) 85; T. Horton (Masterton) 78; I. McEwan (Auckland), 85; J. Park (Shandon) 82; B. Stratmore (Manor Park) 85; A. R. Blank (Christchurch) 80; J. A. Clements (unattached) 83; J. Coltman (Titirangi) 84; S. G. Cooper (Morrinsville) 76; H. E. Cross (Napier) 78; A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington) 81; A. Ekstedy (Palmerston North) 81; Jack Galloway (Ohaupo) 86; Randhley (Belmont) 90; L. Haworth (Cambridge) 87; M. Houlihan (Timaru) 81; J. Jeffries (Marlborough) 88; R. Love (Hamilton) 83; E. J. Moss (unattached) 76; P. Peacock (Waipukurau) SO; A. C. Runciman (Hawera) 86; J. A. Scouler (Otago) 84; K. Williams (unattached) 82; G. Wynard (Richmond Hill) 89; W.’ Horen (Hutt) 81; J. Jackson (Christchurch) 82; B. Kiernan (Featherston) 92; R. Kitto (Seafield) SO W. Kuru (Waipukurau) S 3; J. Logan (Shandon) 81: G. Melvin (Hamilton) 87; A. McLean (Auckland) 82: J. Shanly (Maungakiekie) 83; .1. Shelly (Miramar) 82; R. Wallace (Te Awamutu) 79; S. Watson (Wellington) 83; C. Thomas (Hamilton) 81; E. Anderson (Manokorihi) 84; W. Barker (Poverty Bay) 81; H. M. Cutler (Royal Sydney) 86; R. Fryer (Napier) 82; P. Godby (Chiistchurch) 82; IT. Harsant. (Kaikohe) 77; A. J. Branch (unattached) 86; L. .1. Bryant (Hamilton) SO; R. Du,thie (Maraenui) 91; Jack'. Galloway (Ohaupo) 87: H. Heldey (Taumarunui) 82; S. I. Peacock (Waipukurau) 100: J. M. Ramsay (Palmerston N.) 86; L. A. Sandel (Taumarunui) 87: A. D. Smith (Strathmore Park) 83; Basil J. Smith, jui< (Invercargill) 79;V. J. Stitchbury (Feilding) 84; J. Watt (Wellington) 85; K. M. Wilson (Auckland) 81; H. A. Black (Miramar) 80; D. C. Collins (Featherston) 82; E. S. Douglas (Otago) 82; I. A. Ewen (Hutt) 75; J. G. Ferguson (Hamilton) S 3; A. E. Guy (unattached) 73; R. D. Harding (Hamilton) 87; H. W. Hattersley (Australia) 79; J. Lambie (Hastings) 80; A. Murray .(unattached) 76; V. Salek (Akarana) 85: A. J. Shaw (unattached) 78; B. M. Silk (Wanganui) 79; G. F. Smith (Akarana.) 78; E. L. Bartlett. (Auckland) 84; R. C. Butters (Miramar) 87; L. R. Curtis (New Plymouth) 91; H. P. Dale (Te Aroha) 80; W. H. Dillicar (Shandon) 90; B. H. Menzies (Auckland) 81: J. D. Mclntosh (unattached) 80; K. Ross (Otago) 79; G. L. Taylor (Ohaupo) 84; B. G. Thomson (Auckland) 73; B. G. Ward (Hutt) 89; H. Wiggins (Te Aroha) 79; J. Binsdale (Te Kuiti) 88; W. Davidge (Titirangi) 78; T. S. Galloway (Maungakiekie) 79; T. W. Green (Masterton) 83; J. T. Hornabrook (Manawatu) 77; J. Weir (New Plymouth) 76; N. W. Amon (Rangitikei) 86; 11. R. Blair (Christchurch) 85; F. Branch (M hangarei) 77; H. D. Brinsden (Titirangi) 79; C. O. Clements (Russley) 76; R. M. George (Titirangi) 86; R. H. Binding (Hamilton) 78; A. Kitto (Seafield) 77; J. Mortland (Taihape) 85; Basil J. Smith (Akarana) 87.

THIS MORNING’S PLAY HAMILTON, October 1. Improved conditions were experienced on St. Andrew's links, to-day, when the second round of Hie open championship and the qualifying rounds lor the professional and amateur titles were played. Despite the steady rain of yesterday and last evening, the course, with its porous sub-soil, had dried out considerably, while the strong wind of yesterday had also dropped. Scores in to-day’s round, with the aggregate, are as follow: — A. Ewen 76/151, A. Dyke 83/159, .1. P. Hornahrook 73/150, R. Harsant 83/160, W. Morrice 78/156, T. S. Gallowav 78/157. N. Bell 81/158. R. G. Holland 78/158, 11. A. Black 83/163, F. C. Hutchison 83/164. E. B. Thomas 83/164, F. H. HcDonald 79/161, E. S. Douglas 71/15.3, ,T. Watt 84/169, D. J. Smith 84/171, ,L R. Galloway 83/170, L. A. Reid 78/166, W. Monk 82/173, B. Kiernan 90/182. K. L. Caldwell S5/182. A. E. Guy 75/148, A. Murray 75/151. 'K. Ross 81/160, G. Ritchie 78/158, J. Lambio 77/157, G. Roberts 79/160, Al. Houlihan 87/168, P. Godby 82/164, 11. Hedley 84/166, .1. Ferguson 86/169, V. Stichbury 83/167, .1. A. Scouler 86/1.70, R. Boon 87/172, A. Runciman 87/173.

RATTRAY CUP. ( ( NAPIER, September 30. < In the first bogey handicap and ' first round of the Rattray Cup, play- • cd this afternoon, under varying conditions of rain, wind squalls and I sunshine, the first division was a lie 1 between Miss O. Smith (Napier) (S) and Miss J. Betts (Nelson) (2), with three up. Miss Smith won on the count back over the last nine holes. In the second division there was a triple tie, Miss J. Clark (Napier) (11), Mrs A. O. Wellwood (Christchurch) (12) and Miss K. O’Sullivan (Hawera) (11). all returning cards of four down. Miss Clarke won on a count back. An outstanding round was that of Miss J. Betts (Nelson) 78, with a five at the short 17th. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. NAPIER, October 1. In the first round of the championship Miss* Kernot beat Mrs. Latham four and two. Miss Duncan beat Miss Rutherford one up. Miss White Parsons beat Mrs. Hall Jones three and two. Mrs. Hawkes beat Miss Todd two up. Miss Betts beat Mrs. Rota five and four. Mrs. McKillop beat Miss Lefevre six and five. Miss Smith beat Mrs. Marshall four and three. Mrs. McFadyen beat Miss Wray two and one. Miss Tolhurst beat Miss Claire Smith two up. Miss Wilson beat Mrs. Crerar six and five. Miss Seifert beat Miss Cheney one. up. Mrs. Fullerton Smith beat Mrs. Curl is ten and eight. Miss Horwell beat Mrs. Hutchinson one up. Mrs. Upton beat Miss Buchanan one • up, Mrs. Foreman beat Miss Okane one up. Mrs. Wilson beat Mrs. Tareha L j one up. Miss Fleming beat Miss Lucas . eight and seven. Mrs. Slater beat Mrs. Sfiiith«at the nineteenth.