B. M. SILK WINS N.Z. VICTORY GOLF MEDAL MATCH

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1947, Page 6

B. M. SILK WINS N.Z. VICTORY GOLF MEDAL MATCH

AUCKLAND, May 23. The professional golfers competing at the victory tournament at Titirangi this morning carried out their overnight threat to refuse to take part in the first round of match play unless T. W. Wight, 21-year-old professional of Dunedin, withdrew from the competition. As a result, Wight, who yesterday won £lOO for finishing second in the 72-hole medal event, agreed to withdraw from the tournament. He will retain iho £lOO prize money he won. Wiseman’s Limited, the promoters, have decided to award another £lOO to A. Guy, of Auckland, the professional who filled third place. Wight’s name was erased from the list of qualifiers on the board this morning and a fresh draw was made for the professionals. The attitude of the professionals caused controversy to-day. Players sympathising with Wight opened a subscription list which is being heavily subscribed to by players and members of the public. The latest development t6-dayk,vas an offer by the promoters of the tournament to match Wight against the best pro'i’essional eliminated to-day in an exhibition match for a £5O stake. i Because of a putt that rolled into a hole and out again, B. M. Silk, of Wanganui, twice New Zealand amateur champion, was first home in the 72-hole medal competition. His score for the four rounds was 294, two strokes better than the standard scratch score of the course.

The putt which went in, and then out, was played by A. Murray, of Auckland, professional, who partnered Slik. On the second to last hole Murray played a stroke from about 12 feet with just a shade too much pace. The putt robbed Murray of the distinction of heading the field, but in terms of cash it had no bearing. For playing 295 recognised golf strokes in two days, he will receive £250, the richest first prize over offered in New Zealand professional ■golf. Silk, as an amateur, is debarred from receiving cash rewards, but his price of a radio has perhaps a greater money value. Wight, of Dunedin, took £lOO for finishing second of the professionals. Scores:—

Professionals: Murray 295, Wight 300, A. Guy 303, I. Galloway 304, A. Shaw 307, J. Weir 311, J. Mclntosh 312, A. Dyke 317, W. Allbon 318, J. Lambie 318. Amateurs: B. M. Silk 294, D. L. Woon 303, R. H. Glading 307, F. J. Parkinson 308, J. H. Young 310, F. Butler 310, S. E. Chappell 311, A. N. Young 312, G. A.' Lawson 316, E. W. Young 316, R. Hay-Mackenzie 316, H. D. Brindsden 317, B. Bamfield 317, J. D. Shanley 318.

£2500 ENGLISH TOURNEY . LONDON, May 21. A series of low scores marked the first round proper of the Daily Mail’s £2500 professional golf tournament at Kilmarnock. W. J. Branch returned a score of 66, equalling the course record. His partner, Fred Daly, the Irish champion, holed a long putt at the eighteenth for 68. Branch went out in 33 and home in the same figure. He holed two chip shots and had only 26 putts. Daly also went out in 33. The leading scores include. D. J. Rees 68, N. Sutton 68, J. Adams 69, Odams 70, J. H. Rudd 70, H. Cotton 71, S. L. King 72, Norman von Nida 73, W. Shankland.