GOLF TOURNEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 100, 30 March 1937, Page 5

GOLF TOURNEY

EASTER CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY HORNABROOK. Four-up on his opponent at two stages of the game, on the homeward journey, J. P. Hornabrook (Manawatu), the New Zealand amateur champion, beat T. H. Horton (Masterton), a former holder of the Dominion title, two up and one to play, in the final of the Ma.nawatu Golf Club's Easter tournament on the Hokowhitu links yesterday 'afternoon. Hornabrook, having a margin of 4 up at the 11th, looked likely to finish the game at an early stage, but he subsequently fell into errors and lost three holes, recording sixes at the 13th and 16th. The standard of his play dropped away a little, but he reasserted himself to end the match on the 17th green. For a championship final, the putting, with one or two exceptions, was not up to standard. Both players appeared to find the greens rather slow and difficult, and could not quite ga.uge their strength. Horton missed some easy putts, while others were invariably short. However, he was a trine steadier on the fairways than Hornabrook. The latter strayed into several bunkers, but never once did lie fail to chip out exceptionally well, making some nice recoveries to land close to the pin. Horton’s weakness on the green cost him the first hole, which Hornabrook won, 4 —5, but they halved the next in birdie threes. The third and fourth holes were halved in fours, the latter after Hornabrook had been in the wing bunker. Horton landed in the bunker at Strang’s, and took six, Hornabrook winning the hole to lead 2 up. Hornabrook found the bunker by the green at Cliff View, but got out nicely and then ran down a 15-foot putt beautifully. Left with the prospect of sinking a five-footer for a half in four, Horton did so. He had a narrow escape from becoming 3 down at Riverside. Hornabrook played a good second over the trees when he had got off the line on the fairway, and Horton took two putts, but Hornabrook lipped the bole with a very short one, and they halved in five. , , , , Hornabrook lost the eighth hole when his drive kicked over the back of the green into the bunker. He got out nicely, but missed an easy putt, Horton sank his to win the hole, 3 4. However, at Eden, the situation was reversed. Horton missed a comparativelv small putt for a half, and Hornabrook led 2 up at the turn for home, after having gone out in 36, compared with his opponent’s 38. Sinking another 15 foot putt at the 10th. Hornabrook increased his lead to 3 up. and then became 4 up by winning Land's End, where Horton got into the bunker. They halved Lagoon Hill in orthodox threes. Hornabrook lost the 13th, 6 —5, through making a weak approach and failing on the green, hut he won Kraal. 4 —5, to become dormy ' four. Horton, however, won the 15th with a good four. At the 16th Hornabrook was in the rough and. in trying to play a short shot across the bunker dropped into it. He came out too strongly and Horton, who had made a perfect approach, won the hole, 5 —6, after short putts bv each player had lipped the hole. The 17th was halved in fours and Hornabrook won, two up and one to play. Their cards to the 17th green read as follow : Hornabrook.—Out: 4344 5 4 5 43 —36. In: 3 4 3 6 4 5 64. Horton.—Out: 53 446453 4—38. In: 4 5 3 5 4 5 4. Concluding results of play are ns follow : CHAMPIONSHIP. Filial. J. P. Hornabrook (Manawatu) beat T. H. Horton (Masterton), 2 and 1. HOKOWHITU HANDICAP. Semi-finals. —J . F. Field (Manawatu) beat J. S. Monro (Manawatu). Final.—J. F. Field heat E. Fletcher (Remuera), 1 up. NO. 2 GROUP. Final.—A. Graham (Auckland) heat H. Gillies (Hamilton). NO. 6 GROUP. Final.—K. Oiliver (Manawatu) heat P. Whiteman (Feilding). NO. 7 GROUP. Final.—R. Stevenson (Manawatu) beat J. M. O’Reilly (New Plymouth). BOGEY HANDICAPS. The four-ball Stableford bogey was won by J. J. Stevenson and I. Stevenson with 40 points. Next were M. Baird and M. Nash, and Maule and Nicholls, each with 3li points. The four-ball bogey handicap in the afternoon was won by W. Moffatt (Manawatu), and G. A. Adamson (Hokitika), with a score of 7 up. Subsequently, the winners were congratulated by the club president (Mr W. L. Fitzherbert), and Mrs Fitzherbert presented the trophies. HAWKE’S BAY TOURNEY.

The Hawke’s Bay Easter golf tournament was concluded at the Waohihi course yesterday in fine weather after a very successful fixture. The Easter championship was won by J. It. Hohbs. with L. A. Reid runner-up. A UCKLAXD CHAMPIONSH]PS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 29. The provincial golf championships were continued to-day in wet weather, frequent showers falling throughout the day. Two rounds were decided, surprises being the defeat of P. G. [<’. Smith by 13. G. Thomson, and the victory of K. M. Wilson over ,J. H. Young. The four to contest the semifinals to-morrow are H. L). Brinsden, R. M. George, R. E. Bell and A. E. Browne. CANTER BURY TOURXEY. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. J. Galloway, Rangiora, won the Canterbury provincial amateur golf championship. A young low-marker from Avondale, .1. W. Jackson, created a sensation when he returned to the clubhouse with a third round of 69. onlv one over the official course record held by J. \Y. Millard. OTAGO TITLE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. March 29. Interesting golf was witnessed in the concluding rounds of the Otago amateur championship, which were played on the Balmacewan links to-day. B. V. Wright, Queenstown, beat J. A. Seouler, Otago, in the final. THIRD SUCCESSIVE WIN. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, March 29. For the third year in succession J. G. Nicoll (Queen’s Park Club, Invercargill) to-day won the Southland amateur golf championship. In the final, over 18 holes, lie beat G. E. Glennie (Queen's Park") 7 and 6.