GOLF CHAMPIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 3 September 1927, Page 6

GOLF CHAMPIONS

GATHERING AT HAMILTON. A. J. SHAW LEADING BY TWO STROKES. HAMILTON, Sept. 2. At the New Zealand golf championships there was a perfect golfing day for the first two rounds of the open championship of 72 holes. Notwithstanding the recent heavy rains the course was in good playing order, but naturally just trifle on the heavy 3ide and the green required skili ana caro. In the morning there was a light southerly breeze and this freshened as the afternoon wore on. The result of the day’s play leaves the present holder, A. J. Shaw, with a’ lead of two strokes.

The best card for the day was that of A. J. Shaw: out 3,5, 4,5; 5,3, 5, 4, 4—38; in: 4,4, 4,3, 4,5, 4,4, 4—35. Total, 73. Other good cards were: Moses 74, Mclntosh 75, Butters 75. With the first few rounds played the professionals dominate the position as was to be expected after their performance in the championship foursomes and in to-day’s play their position is justified. Shaw was brilliant and with a little luck his morning round would have been reduced. Moss played his usual masterly steady game but for taking three puts on three greens and going out of bounds at the 13th in the afternoon round he might have equalled the leader.

The local champion, N. Bell, produced two excellent rounds of 76. This player is in excellent form. Last Saturday he won the club championship for the seventh successive year and his chances are greatly favoured locally. Twenty-three players equalled or bettered bogey which indicates there was some good play. Palmerston North was without two of its leading representatives to-day. L. Seifert and A. Ekstedt both scratched, while L. Seirfert, junr., is laid aside with a cold.

The long piay to-day was of a high order, but the greens bothered many of the players and the putting was poor in comparison with the long game. H. R. Blair with a 76 for his morning round went his first nine holes in the afternoon in 37 and had the making of a good round, but mistakes at 11th and 17th cost him a 79. B. V. Wright was paired with N. Bell. Both returned 76 in the morning but in the aftrenoon the former slipped three strokes. Mclntosh, Butters, Colbeck and Tareha showed an improvement in their afternoon round.

J. Goss’s driving was not by any means up to his usual. Kapi Tareha is playing well, especially his long game.

The wind in the afternoon affected the 9tli and 10th holes, both long twoshot holes. Only the top notch drivers could reach these greens in two. T. H. Horton is playing well but without any luck.

The prospects are favourable for a fine day to-morrow with a dry course, and with the competitors getting acclimatised there should be some very fine golf. There will be keen competition to qualify especially among the amateurs and the opinion is that at the outside 85’s will be necessary. .Details of to-day's scores are as follow :

*A. J. Shaw (Napier) ... 76 73 149 *E. J. Moss (Auckland) 74 77 151 N. Bell (Hamilton) *J. D. McIntosh (Master76 76 152 ton) 78 75 153 Rana Wagg (Wellington) 76 78 154 J. L. Black (Wellington) *R. C. Butters (Welling76 78 154 79 75 154 *H. R. Blair (Christchurch) 76 79 155 B. W. Wright (Timaru) G. F. Colebeck (Hamil76 79 155 80 76 156 T. H. Horton (Masterton) 77 79 156 H. B. Lusk (Auckland) *C. C. Clements (Auck76 80 156 land) 77 79 156 Kapi Tareha (Napier) ... 79 77 156 W. Dobson (Sydney) SO 77 157 W. S. Ralph (Auckland) Sloan Morpeth (Auck77 82 83 159 76 159 W. Macbeth (Hamilton) R. M. George (Auckland) 79 79 81 81 160 160 *A. .J. Clements (Christchurch) 80 80 160 *J. R. Galloway (Palmer- . ston North) 82 78 160 *F. Branch (Hamilton) 76 84 160 R..D. Wright (Auckland) M. H. Duncan (Welling78 82 160 ton) 80 81 161 Leo Quin Eltham) K. D. Duncan (Welling80 81 161 ton) 78 85 163 Digby Giles (Adelaide) ... 78 85 163 J. Goss (Wanganui) 82 81 163 A. G. Sime (Westport) 82 81 163 H. P. Dale (Eltham) ... L. V. Bellingham (Hamil80 79 83 85 163 164 ton) A. D. S. Duncan (Weilington) 81 83 164 J. M. Hussey (Wanga86 80 nui) 165 *H. Green (Wellington) 86 84 165

W. A. Keeling (Palmerston North) 86 80 166 *J. W. Ross (Wanganui) 79 85 164 *Lindsay Ross (Wellington) 81 83 164 H. W. Tidmarsh (Auckland) 81 83 164 * James Watt (Auckland) 84 85 167 T. H. Goulding (Auckland) * 84 83 167 F. Quin (Eltlram) 84 83 167 Donald Grant (Christchurch) 84 83 167 F. C. Fryer (Hastings) 86 83 169 P. Grey (New Plymouth) 86 84 169 W. C. Wvnee (Hamilton) 83 86 169 L. D. Hurst (Wellington) 85 84 169 *G. W. Ritchie (New Plymouth) 87 83 170 11. 0. Gardner (Auckland) 85 85 170 • Ian MacEwan (Wellington) 87 84 171 *G. B. Forrest (Timaru) 88 83 171 C. A. Bowen (Auckland) 86 85 171 t Galloway (Auckland) ... 88 84 172 S A. R. Blank (Christchurch) 86 86 172 W. B. Anderson (Christchurch) 85 88 173 H. A. Slack (Wellington) 91 82 173 : I. McDougall (Invercargill) 88 85 173 H. L. Rees (Auckland) 86 87 173 W. Lints (Wanganui) ... 85 89 174 H. T. Gillies (Hamilton) 87 88 175 *B. J. Smith (Auckland) 84 91 175 L. L. Dclph (Auckland) 87 88 175 H. Wiggins (Hamilton) 82 93 175 F. C. Hutchison (Wanganui) 89 87' 176 H. Tidmarsh (Auckland) 86 91 177 R. G. Guy (Hamilton) 88 89 177 W. O’Callaghan (Hawera) 86 91 177 *Jas. Forrest (Dunedin) 89 88 177 J. S. Harrison (Wanganui) ' 83 94 177 I. M. Horton (Hamilton) 93 85 178 A. E. Robinson (Auckland) 89 89 178 E. W. Perry (Masterton) 86 93 179 I. Harold (Wanganui) ... 80 89 179 A. J. Wilson (Wellington) 90 94 184 A. A. Stitchbury (Weilington) 93 91 184 •Professional.