GOLF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 6

GOLF.

PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. RETAINED BY McINTOSH. (BY TELEGB ArH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMILTON, Sept. 9. For the continuation of the New Zealand golf championships the conditions could not have been improved to-day. The course had dried and was playing well. There was a westerly breeze, but this did not affect the play in any way. The final of the professional championship and the semi-finals of the amateur championship, as well as a foursome, were played. Mclntosh retained the professional championship, and T. H. Horton and Sloan Morpeth are left to fight out the amateur. Hie foursome' handicap was won by the local pair, G. F. Colbeck and V. Bellingham, after playing off. The final of the professional championship was won by J. Mclntosh, who beat R. C. Butters, 5 up and 4.

In the semi-final of the amateur championship. T. H. Horton heat N. Bell. 3 and 2; and S. Morpeth heat A. Sime, 2 and 1.

THE AMATEURS. Great interest centred in the Mor-peth-Sime match, especially in the afternoon, when there was a large gallery. The followers were rewarded, by a very fine game, played by two of the best of sports. There was nothing between them on the first 18 holes, and the golf wa L s of a high order., Going to the 18tli, Sime had a ohanqp of squaring, but was wide in his putt, and so the game went in the afternoon, Morpeth keeping the upper hand. At the 27th, there was spectacular play. Sime approached dead with a very sound shot, leaving Morpeth a very difficult down hill putt, in which his judgment required to he most accurate, which it was, and he sank it, much to the relief of his admirers, who were obviously becoming anxious. Morpeth made it 2 up at the 31st. At this point the tension was high. Morpeth had the longer putt. The referee, Mr. H. B. Lusk, requested a photographer to cease while Morpeth putted. His supporters were also requested by the referee not to applaud until the hole was played, hut their enthusiasm was too much and they did applaud. Usually nothing upsets Sime, hut this incident did, which was very unfortunate at such a critical stage, and he missed it. Morpeth was now 2 up, hut Sime reduced at the next hole. The pace was now hot, 1 up and 2 to go, and both equal chances at the 27th. This was where Sime let up with a. fairly easy putt, leaving Morpeth the winner by 2 up and 1 to play.

THE PROFESSIONAL MATCH. A closer game between Mclntosh and Butters was anticipated, especially as the latter- has been playing 'Consistently good golf. The difference of four in the first 18 holes does not truly represent tlie difference in play, as any good fortune seemed to favour Mclntosh, while Butters had most exasperating luck and lost four of his puitts. In the afternoon round, Butters induced the lead at the 19th and at the 26th was only two down. Mclntosh was not to be denied and kept the pace going to the 32nd hole, the short one, where Butters topped liis tee and shot into the bunker, and this dispersed any hope he may have had of overtaking the Mastorton man. Mclntosh is to be congratulated on retaining the honour of champion professional. Butters, throughout the tournament, has produced sterling igc’f, as he one of the older professionals, Had a win come his way it would certainly have been popular. The Bell-Horton game also drew a gallery as Bell is the local champion. In the early stages, Bell maintained his consistent golf and he established a lead on Horton. There was give and take play, and the game was a little in Horton’s favour. At lunch time, Bell was one up. This called on Holton for one of liis very best efforts and he was equal to the occasion. Bell was robbed of squaring the match at the 25th by Horton laying him an unnegotiablfi stymie, but at the last lap of 9 holes to go Horton was 2 up and, both playing well, there was even play to the 30th. At the 31st, Bell went out of bounds, making Horton 3 up, taking the short in 2 made him dormy 4. Bell fought hard and succeeded in knocking off two holes, hut the end came at 34tli, Horton winning 3 up and 2 to play. To-morrow will see the finish of a very fine tournament. There should be a good match between Morpeth and Horton To-day was Morpeth’s hardest game in the tourney, and it will be interesting to see how lie survives it and if he is equal to the occasion.