Can Ivo Whitton Make It Six?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

Can Ivo Whitton Make It Six?

Favourite for Australian Golf Championship

INTERESTING REVIEW OF HIS PREVIOUS CONTESTS.

Discussing the chances of prominent players, even before some of those players had made up theiir minds about competing in the forthcoming Australian open, amateur and professional golf championships, a writer in the Melbourne “Globe” says that as far as he can discover the general feeling in discriminating circles there is that Ivo Whitton is favourite, and it is generally thought that amateurs will figure more proinmently in the event than in any former national meeting in Adelaids.

’ The big question seems to be, “Can Ivo Whitton, who has already won the blue ribbon event of Australian golf five times, make it six, next month at Seaton!” Personally, I am of the opinion that Whitton is quite capable of the great performance, and his present form justifies setting him up as favourite for the classic. Back in 1923, at Seaton, Tommy Howard, with 301, finished a stroke ahead of Whitton, when the last named made a record final round riln for the title. Whitton went on to beat Harry Sinclair in the final of the National amateur.

formance among those who may be considered serious contenders with a chance of annexing the open title, there seems to be only one player among those certain to make the trip who may be singled out as possibly possessing greater talent than any of those in opposition to Whitton on those

He is 17-years-old Harry Williams, the present Australian amateur champion. That lad may win the title. He and Jim Ferrier (the last named, unfortunately, will not be present this year), finished 2 and 1 strokes respectively behind Whitton when he won at Kensington last year, and proved that they have “the goods.” Their golf last year may have been easier to them, by reason of their lack of knowledge of the heaviness of the task of fighting for the national crown, but since then they have, despite their years, become veteran campaigners. Williams has, since he has begun his business career, not been playing at his top. But more than two weeks ago he began systematic practice in preparation for Seaton. He is a hard headed, calculating, and shrewd golfer, with far more knowledge of the game than many of our most experienced players, and his practice is of the sort that should fit him admirably for the big

The second time since the war that the big meeting was at Seaton, in 1926, Whitton won the open with 297, and made a great effort to accomplish the “double.” In the amateur he went down by 2 holes in the final to Len Nettlefold, after beating A. H. Toogood (now a prominent professional), 11 and 10. Frank Murdoch 7 and 5, and the late B. C. Bettington 4 and 2. Thus for the second successive Adelaide meeting he ■was in the final of the amateur. Against Whitton’s 73-75-73-76 —297 “Bufe” Stewart was second with 76-77-74-73 —300, and young “Teddy” Smith was a stroke further away third.

Memorable Contest. On the last occasion of the Seaton national, Whitton won the title with 75-78-77-79—309. The weather was decidedly “rough” for a couple of the rounds. Stewart was level with Frank Eyre at 314 in second place. Then Whitton went on and again made a wonderful effort to accomplish the “double.” This time he figured in the most sensational match in the history of golf in Australia.

Those of us who saw that battle will never forget it. May we see one like it next month. It happened in the semi final of the amateur, and Sloan Morpeth, after a memorable “pull up,” was square at the 36th. Then followed no less than six breath-taking extra holes, until Whitton at the then 381-yards sixth, got into a pot, recovered well, and missed a putt of about ten feet. Thus, after his third successive Adelaide amazing attack on the “double,” Ivo Whitton had to be content with one national title from the meeting.

Whitton, at the age of 38, is as good a golfer now as he was when he waged those 1923, 1926 and 1929 campaigns of great memory in Adelaide, to say nothing of his 1912 and 1913 victories. Prior to each of those championships he was not hitting his shots with the safe grooved swing that has marked his play this season. To my mind he is more formidable this year than he was when in those three championships at Seaton he made golfing history. Hence I consider that, very justifiably at the moment, Whitton is named favourite for the 1932 open championship of Australia. The Opposition. Will Whitton meet more formidable opposition in 1932 than he met in the Other three years? On form and per-

task ahead. He has each week got nearer to top form. On Saturday at Albert Park he was hitting the ball better than he was against Ivo Whitton on the preceding Saturday. His course of training is bearing the fruits he calculated it would, and his object is to be right at his top a month hence, when he makes the first shot in the big battle from the opening tee at Seaton. And the lad has ideal chances of carrying through his training practice.

larly done well up to last year, unfortunately is an unlikely starter this year. Neither the full quality of his golf, nor his intentions, are known in the case of Charlie Brown, who did so well in Queensland recently. Harry Sinclair and Joe Cohen, also from the north, have the talent to win, but their intentions as to playing are not yet known. Fowler’s Chance.

In Sydney there are several brilliant golfers among the professionals. But it will be a fortnight or so before the relative chances, of these have been retheir form in practice. If he competes young “Sam” Richardson, who impressed discerning critics last year, may be a “ dark horse. ’ Of the Victorians who are going the only one generally considered to be a possibility is “Bill” Fowler. However, many things are likely to happen between now and the Wednesday four weeks hence, when the field starts off in the great classic, wherein it is anticipatcd the winner will have to break 300 (in reasonable weather), to have a chance of finishing on top after the gruelling trek over 72 holes.

Nominations' tor the Australian championships, which will be conducted by the Royal Adelaide Golf Club at .Seaton, South Australia, closed last Monday. Consequent upon the depression it was anticipated that the interstate entries would be fewer than in 1929, as a number of prominent amateurs would be missing, and this year club members could not afford to offer much assistance to their professionals as in former years.

It is, of course, most likely that some of our leading professionals will characteristically tune themselves up, and be at their top for the big event. However, there have not been signs from the professionals of either South Australia or Victoria that they possess any real star contender at the moment. Rufe Stewart, who has been an early favourite in the event, and has regu-

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It is said that there is a golf course in India 8500 feet above sea-level. That’s a tall one I

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