SOUTH ISLAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

(P A ) TIMARU, June 7. A fully representative field played in the South Island amateur golf championships which began on Saturday on the High field course at Timaru. D. L. Woon (Canterbury), who represented New Zealand against the Australians last year, qualified first eight strokes ahead of the runner-up M. R. Blank (Canterbury), who tied with J. L. R. Mackay (Timaru).

In match play yesterday over 18 holes Woon, G. A. Ussher (Timaru), J. M. Lemon (Otago) and P. Durning (Timaru), came through to the semifinals on a scratch score of 70. Woon returned 70 in the morning and 68 in the afternoon in the qualifying rounds. Tilleholder Beaten

In the first round of the championship he had an easy passage against J. B. Forrest (Timaru). winning by seven and six. In the afternoon he trailed E. G. Kerr (Timaru) two down, but won one up after a sterling duel. The titleholdcr A. H. Boyd (Otago), was beaten four and three by Durning in the second round.

Boyd lost touch with his putter and Durning, who was chipping accurately, notched an occasional ‘'birdie" to pave the way for his win.

A hard frost yesterday morning made the course a little too sporty for championship play, and although the greens around the holes had been covered, the surface played tricks at times and upset calculations.

Ussher and A. Gibbs (Otago) were neck and neck throughout their first round match, the game being all square at the turn. Gibbs was one up at the sixteenth but lost the next two holes, three-putting on the last green. Wright’s Play Erratic

The former New Zealand amateur champion B. V. Wright (Otago) went down to his clubmate, J. N. Lemon. The play of both was erratic, Lemon winning on the last green. Scores:—

Qualifying Round. —L. Woon (Canterbury), 70-68. 138; M. R. Bland (Canterbury), 74-72, 146; J. L. R. Mackay f Timaru), 72-74. 146; E. G. Kerr (Timaru)', 76-71, 147; J. A. McCausland (.Otago), 73-74, 147; B. V. Wright (Otago), 76-71, 147; A. Gibbs (Otago)-77-71, 148; J. N. Lemon (Otago), 72-77, 149; A. H. Boyd (Otago), 77-74, 151; J. B. Forrest (Timaru), 78-73, 151; N. C. Martin (Timaru), 78-73. 151; S. H. McKechnie (Canterbury), 75-77, 152; I. Wilby (Timaru), 78-75, 153; G. A. Ussher (Timaru), 77-76, 153; P. Durning (Timaru), 76-77, 153; H. J. Gosset (Canterbury), 81-73, 154. Championship. —First Round: Woon beat Forrest, 5 and 4, Kerr beat Wilby, 6 and 5; Ussher beat Gibbs, 1 up; Martin beat Blank, 3 and 2; Lemon beat Bossett, 1 up; Wright beat McKechnie, 1 up; Durning beat McCausland, 2 and 1; Boyd beat Mackay, 1 up. Second Round: Woon beat Kerr, 1 up; Ussher beat Martin, 7 and 6; Lemon beat Wright, 1 up; Durning beat Boyd, 4 and 3.