TOOGOOD RETAINS P.B. GOLF TITLE : ATKINS’ GOOD BID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 6

TOOGOOD RETAINS P.B. GOLF TITLE : ATKINS’ GOOD BID

The final of the P.B. Golf Club’s championship, played during the weekend over 36 holes on the Awapuni course, resulted in a win for E. S. Toogood, holder of the title, who defeated T. Atkins 4 and 2 after a keen tussle, considered to be one of the best in recent years between finalists in the tournament.

Great credit is due to Atkins, a youthful player, who took the champion to the 34th hole. He is the first young player to come forward since 1931 and break the circle of four leading players among whom the championship final has remained for 17 years. His form in this tournament indicates the rise of a new golfing star, and undoubtedly will encourage other young members who nurture aspirations to improve their game. Toogood played sound golf throughout the final, recording a 74 in the morning round and following with a 73 in the afternoon. He finished the first 18 holes four up on Atkins, who made an excellent start and was two up at the fifth, but lost the seventh and ninth, and later got into trouble at

the 11th. 12th, 13th and 16th, taking one over par for the first three of the latter group and going down at the 16th despite a par four. Atkins’ Brilliant Chip Shots

At the first hole in the afternoon round indifferent tee shots by both finalists were repaired bv good seconds, Atkins playing a brilliant shot at this hole, which was halved in fives. Both were handy to the pin at the second, which was halved in threes; and the next hole was again halved, Atkins having the advantage on the green and both finishing with fours. Fireworks began on the fourth. Atkins sinking a chip shot for a birdie three against Toogood's orthodox four, and the latter’s margin being reduced to three holes. Atkins continued to apply pressure at the fifth, recording a birdie four to Toogood's five; and at the sixth Toogood found the bunker short of the green with his tee shot, while Atkins put his on the edge of the green to finish in three against his opponents’ four. Toogood's lead was now reduced to one up. Long drives at the seventh enabled both to reach the green with their seconds. and Atkins laid himself a halfstymie, but successfuly negotiated the hurdle and finished with a half in fours. Neither got the green with his second at the eighth, but Atkins came to light with a sparkling chip shot, sinking it for a birdie three against a five for Toogood. At this point the match was all square. Bunker-to-Pin Recovery The ninth found Toogood on the green with his second, while Atkins found himself in the bunker. Once again he played a chip shot, landing his ball 18in. from the pin and halving the hole in fours. The 10th was halved in orthodox fours, but at the 11th. Toogood began to establish his superiority, holing a 25ft. putt for a birdie two against Atkins’ three, to take the lead once more. Steady play by both contestants put them on the green with their thirds at the long 12th, and here again Toogood’s putting was the deciding factor, the champion dropping a 20ft. putt for a birdie four. Atkins was feeling the pressure a bit and he put his tee shot out of bounds in a rare lapse at the 13th. Toogood played a bogey four, and Atkins took five, which put him three down going to the 14th, with five to play. . A strong wind shortened both their drives, and their seconds were off the green. Toogood chipped and landed close to the pin, while Atkins also made a good bid and dropped his ball five feet from the flag. The failure of Atkins’ putt at this stage gave the whole to Toogood, four to five, and the champion was dormie four, Toogood Finishes Strongly

The game was not finished, however, and with Toogood short of the green with his second at the 15th, Atkins played a beautiful iron shot to within 15ft. of the pin, taking the-hole with a four to Toogood’s five and reducing his deficit to dormie three. The end came at the 16th, however, when Toogood, after an indifferent drive played a magnificent second to within 12ft. of the pin, with Atkms on the left-hand edge. Atkins failed to get. down in two putts, and Toogood made no mistake, sinking his fourth and winning a great match 4 and 2. During the morning round Toogood took 74 against the standard 73, and Atkins 78. In the afternoon round, scoring was probably the best recorded .in a Poverty Bay club championship final, both players completing the course in the standard scratch score of 73. Their cards read:—• Morning Round—

Toogood. out, 5,3, 4. 5. 5. 3,4, 5,5; in, 4,2, 5,4, 4,4, 3,4, s—total, 74. Atkins: Out, 5,3, 4,4, 4,3, 5. 5,6: in, 4,3, 6,5, 4,4, 4,4, s—Ttotal, 78. Afternoon Round — Toogood: Out, 5,3, 4,4, 5,4, 4,5, 4; in, 4,2, 4,4, 4, 5. 4,4, 4 —total, 73. Atkins: Out, 5,3, 4,3, 4,3, 4,3, 4; in, 4,3, 5,5, 5,4, 5,5, 4—total, 73. Miscellaneous Results The week-end saw the clean-up of the Burke Tankard Medal competition, for the five best net cards filed between July 10 and August 28, the winner being A. A. Duncan with 73, 63, 70, 73, and .73, an aggregate of 352. Second and third places were taken by G. H. Fisher, 70, 73, 71, 72. and 69, aggregate 355; and G. M. Chrisp, 69, 70, 70, 71, and 71, aggregate 355. In the finals of the tournaments associated with the club championship the following results were recorded:— Ormond Cup.— J. O. Musgrave d. W. Mason, 4 and 3. Hutchinson Cup.— E. E. Jenkinson d A. J. Craighead, 4 and 3. Bree Cup.— S. Monteith d. W. McLean, 3 and 2. A Stableford bogey competition resulted in a win for A. A. Duncan (handicap 16) with 35 points, other leading scorers being: G. H. Stewart (4). 34 points: J. T. Dodgshun (5). 32 points; A K. Russell (14). J. K. Murray (20), 31 points; B. Kahlenberg (6), W. M. Jenkins (13), E. R. Brown (24), 30 points; and J. L. South (16), 28 points. A medal match with good entries was won by T. Atkins (handicap 5) with a net 71, other leading scorers being: S. Monteith (21), 73; A. F. Salmon (19). B. Kahlenberg.(6), 74; H. A. Askew (20), B. R. Adair (16), 75; R. R. Watchman (18), K. W. Bull (7), I. D. Bramwell (7). J. Coupe (13), 76; A. M. Scott (22), 77: G. Brebner (19), 78; and J, L- South (16), 80.