N.Z. Golf Championships

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 231, 12 September 1922, Page 5

N.Z. Golf Championships

THE PALMERSTON TOURNAMENT NOTES FROM THE LINKS. (Special to “Tribune.”) Palmerston N.. September 12. After steady rain overnight the weather cleared yesterday morning for the first round of the golf championship tournament. The course was in good order for the morning’s play, but before the late starters had finished rain began to fall. Shortlv before three it came down in torrents, accompanied by thunder, and at the close of the day some of the greens were inches under water. Seventy-five players took part in yesterday’s nlay, and the same players are playing today, sixty-four being amateurs and eleven professionals. All told, 140 entries were received, and in order to sift the numbers down to 64 only the entries of four players with 4 handicap were accepted, a few 5 men being ballotted for to make up the 64.

Yesterday’s and to-day’s play are for the Open Championship of New Zealand, and simultaneouslv the amateur players are qualifying for the 16 places in the Amateur Championship, the knock-out rounds of which begin on Wednesday. The Professional Championship will be decided on today’s and to-morrow’s play. Opinion is unanimous that the Hokowhitu links are in good condition for the contest. One or two grumbles were heard concerning some of the greens, which are on slight slopes, but tho same disability applies to all. It may be regarded as merely a coincidence that the putting throughout today was poor. This morning the greens and fairways are sodden, heavy rain having poured down all night, yet never before was such a standard of play set in New Zealand. The figure which is likely to qualify may How be played very little above 81. and had the course remained dry it would have required to be lower still. In bright, warm weather Sime and Moss opened the play at 9 o’clock, being followed by Duncan and Butters, and then came Morpeth and Aloss played steadily for his 81, and is regarded as having a good chance with a 77 in the second round to keep him. Sime was only once off tho fairway. At the first few holes in the first round he appeared puzzled, and was not hitting hard, enough, his putting being weak. Under good conditions Sime made 81 aud 79, and is undoubtedly coming on.

A. D. Duncan was right off his putting, and used his iron for all short putts. Some of his were bad ones. The games between Duncan and Butters were interesting. At the second hole Butters’ drive struck a tree. His play was very consistent. whil(\ Duncan’s was marked by flashes of brilliance in the long stuff and disappointing failures in his putting, especially the short ones. Morpeth and Clements are regarded as Ikely winners, their game showing steady golf by Clements and extraord nary incidents on Morpeth’ side, one of his shots in landing on the green striking a knot of earth and kicking in. His next hit a tree and came back into fairway, wh.le a third incident occurred when his ball was saved from going into a bunker by striking an onlooker’s umbrella. At the next hole the ball would have run up the pin, but it hit a spectator’s boot. Morpeth’s tee shots were wide and too loose. He himself said he played badly, his scores being 79 and 80. On the previous day he did the round in 73. In the morning round Clements played excellent golf for 79, but in the afternoon his score was 76, though his play was not so good. Ham fell away, it seemed, when the rain came. Lusk, his partner, being very steady.

_At the moment, Black, playing/brilnantly, i.s well in the lead with 7'4 and 76, only requiring two 77’s to lie in a strong position. The fear is expressed that he may crash. Brooks, with two good rounds of 77, is favourite. Col beck made a marvellous 30-foot putt pn the 18th green, holing in three, amid cheers. Horton’s long stuff was remarkable, but he took three putts to every green. Wright played steady golf. To-morrow is regarded as the real test, and all eyes are on tho weather, which is clearing at 10 a.m., and gives holies of staying clear. 1.48 p.m.

The promise of fair weather was broken at noon to-day, when cold southerly weather, with rain, came up. A. Duncan did the third round for 75, his score outward being 40 and 35 home ward. Duncan got an excellent 2 at the 12th hole, and finished with three 3’s. The bogies for these last three holes being 3—4—5. In the second half his putting was better, though still using his iron for short putts. The end of the third round places Black first with 229, Brooks second with 230, and Duncan third with 234. The Teams’ Alatch for the ,o’Rorke A'asc is being played to-day in conjunction with the fourth round.