KEEN CONTESTS AT START OF WOMEN’S GOLF FOURSOMES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22915, 6 April 1949, Page 9

KEEN CONTESTS AT START OF WOMEN’S GOLF FOURSOMES

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 6. The New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union’s annual autumn foursomes championship tournament opened on the Wellington Golf Club's course at Ilerotaunga with an entry of 59 pairs from all parts of the Dominion. Light showers fell during the morning when n blistering wind also made scoring difficult, but the weather turned beautifully fine in the afternoon.

The championship is being decided on a handicap of three-eighths of the difference between the combined handicaps of the pairs. The most brilliant form in the first round was shown by Mrs. J. Ball (Wanganui). New Zealand champion, who also took the title at Christchurch in 1946. and Airs. R. S. FullartonSmith (Marton), who, as Miss Bessie Gaisford. was national champion in 1931 and 1934. This experienced pair went out in 38 to stand 7 up on the Hutt pair, Mrs. Leighton and Mrs. K. Crichton.

Mesdames Ball and Fullnrton-Smith won the tenth and eleventh holes to take the game by 9 and 7. This redoubtable pair, however, had to strike their colours in the second round to two Wellington plavers, Mrs. Welton-Hogg and Mrs. Van Asch. Though the Wellington pair were 2 down at the turn, they squared the game at the fourteenth and won at the 19th.

One of the surprises of the first round was the defeat of the strong pair, Airs. D. A. F. Crombie (Wellington J, and Mrs. H. Murray. ATiramar, open and club champion, bv the Hutt players, Airs. Ellison and 'Airs. Fenwick.

Other pairs who did well were Zoe Hudson and Airs Toomey (Christchurch), and Airs. Hatrlck and Airs. Clachan (Aliramar). Miss Nutt and Miss Rutherford (Christchurch), had a hard tussle to win in the first round and met their Waterloo in the second round.