GOLF CONTEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 7 April 1934, Page 12

GOLF CONTEST

TEAMS ALL SQUARE. DISAPPOINTING KIRK-WINDEYER PLAY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 6. With one success to each of the New Zealand and New South AVales teams, honours were even at the end of the first day’s play in the contest for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup. T. H. Horton and B. V. Wright (New Zealand) beat W. R. Dobson and P. F. Hughes (New South Wales), 1 up, while G. C. Ruwald and H. M. Cutler (New South AVales) beat B. M. Silk and J. P. Hornabrcok (New Zealand), 2 up. Tbe weather was beautifully fine and warm. There was a large attendance of the public, more particularly in the afternoon. The majority of the spectators followed No. 1 match in the morning, but tlie gallery was more evenly divided after lunch. The course was a little faster than it had been when the players practised upon it earlier in the week, and all eight failed at times to gauge the changed conditions. Almost without exception the standard of play was disappointing. This is revealed by the figures, as the average of the round was about 80, or seven strokes worse than the scratch score for the course—a true indication of the golf played. The chief weakness of tbe New Zealand teams was their putting and lack of confidence which the pairs appeared to have in each other. Both Horton and AA r right putted lamentably at times, for which little excuse could be found seeing that the greens were in such perfect condition. Silk and Hornabrook were not a happy combination, playing throughout with little cohesion. Both made far too many, mistakes at critical times for participants in a test match. This was particularly the ease at the fifteenth hole in the afternoon, when Silk displayed very bad judgment, and it can truly be said that the result of the match' hinged on the playing of this hole.

AVright drove well throughout, but he was indecisive on the greens. Horton was not up to his usual standard, developing a dangerous hook with his tee shots which at times gave his partner a difficult line to tlie hole. Dobson quite unaccountably failed in his greatest strength, high shots to the green, cutting them into waiting bunkers on four or five occasions.

Hughes was very shaky at the start, and it was only toward the end of the first round and later in the afternoon that he really settled down to give a glimpse of his capabilities. Silk’s long game was most unreliable, many of his drives and second shots being badly hit, but he madjjj; amends several times by sinking useful putts, one at the thirteenth of fully 30ft. being a brilliant effort. Hornabrook drove fairly well, and made some good recoveries from bad shots by his partner, but lie was weak on the greens. The quality of the golf played by both Ruwald and Cutler scarcely deserved the result obtained. Too many drives were pulled and hazards were encountered much too frequently, but fortunately for the pair their opponents were unable to take advantage of these mistakes. 4 However, the finishing effort of the Australians cannot be overlooked, as they won two of the last three holes and halved the final one. The fact that each side had won one match, with the visitors leading by a narrow margin of one hole in the event of a final tie, lends greater interest to the singles matches, which will be decided to-morrow.

Judging by the attendance to-day there is every likelihood of a record crowd for an Auckland golf match being present to-morrow. The GovernorGeneral will be among the spectators, and he -will present the Kirk-Windeyer Cup to the winning team at the conclusion of the play. Changes have been made in both golf teams for the singles matches. Apperly (New South Wales), captain, replaces Cutler and will play in third position in opposition to Hornabrook. Menzies comes into the New Zealand team in fourth place and he will meet Ruwald. The inclusion of tire Auckland club member will be popular with local followers of the game. Menzies and Ruwald will leave the first tee at 9.45 a.m. and the order of play of the other pairs will be: —Hornabrook v. Apperly, Wright v. Hughes, Horton v. Dobson.