GOLF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3295, 14 August 1911, Page 6

GOLF.

THE POVERTY BAY CHAMPIONSHIP. SOME SURPRISES IN THE FIRST ROUND. The weather conditions were ideal on Saturday afternoon, when the championship tournament opened. The fact that the draw had pitted most of the strongest players against competitors who had just managed to qualify made many of the matches foregone conclusions. Nevertheless, some most interesting games were witnessed, and not a few surprises were effected. The following were the results: W. Gibson beat P. G. Andrew, 6 up and 5 to play. N. Bull beat P. Keiha, 2 up and 1. G. W. Willoek beat J. Busby, 10 up and 8. W. H. Irvine beat J. H. Bull, 2 up. J. Howie beat J. Barns-Graham, 1 up at the 10th. F. H. W. Traill beat E, W. Johnson, 6 iip and 4. G. M. Dodgshun beat W. B. Willoclc, 9 up and 8. The only game in the first round 1 that was not played on Saturday was that between A. H. Henderson and L. T. Brown, and this will be got off this, week. The most interesting game was undoubtedly that between the veteran J. Howie and J. Barns-Graham. This was most stubbornly fought out from) start to finish. Tie players were all square at the turn. The 10th was halved, but Barns-Graham, with a couple of steady 4’s, was 2 up on the 12th. Howie, with a good 6 at the “Long,” and a perfect 4 at the “Knob” (400yds), made matters all square again at the 14th. ITowie got 1 up with 5 to 7 at the 15th, but Barns-Graham drew level again at the 16th, which he annexed in 4 to 5. With a steady 4 at the “All-but,” Barns-Graham made himself dormy one, but Howie, with a really good 5 at the 18th, to his opponent’s 6, placed the game all square after completing the full course. Going to the 19th Barns-Graham had the ill-luck to 'bo unable to locate his ball from his tee shot. Tiough diligent search was made, the ball could not be found, and Howie thus Avon a keenlyfought contest by 1 up at the 19th. The meeting of the veteran, P. Keiha, and the colt, Noel Bull, also produced an excellent game. The younger player won a hard-fought con-

test by 2 up and 1. This is tlie first time for many years that Keiha has been put out before, reaching the fina\ and the colt’s win is, therefore, all cue more creditable. W. Hamilton Irvine, the eretwime St. Clair (Dunedin) player, effected a surprise by defeating J. H. Bull by 2 up. Irvine played very steady and accurate golf, and won his victory by excellent all-round play. The remaining games were too onesided to be interesting, the losers failing to play up to their usual form. The play in the second round, which takes place on Saturday afternoon next, will be more exciting, as the claimants for the honor are now narrowed down to eight, and it will be interesting to see which four will survive the second round. THE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP. Added interest attaches to the championship this season by reason of the fact that Mr A. H. Wallis, the captain of the Poverty Bay Golf Club, has generously donated a handsome challenge cup to bo held by the winner * f the title until the next season. The conditions attaching to the cup provide that it m!ay be won outright by any player who succeeds in winning the championship three times in succession, or four times at intervals. In addition to the Cup, the Club is donating a trophy to the winner of the championship.