GOLF NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 227, 23 August 1940, Page 10

GOLF NOTES

PALMERSTON NORTH CLUB. CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW. (By “Bunker.”) Prom the draw in the championship of the Palmerston North Club it is likely that there will be more than casual interest taken in the competition this year. A number of the doublefigure handicap players feature in this year’s contest. Cl R. Ward, who won the gross aggregate prize for the three qualifying rounds, has been drawn against his youngest brother, A. B. Ward, who scored a surprise victory on the 17th green over J. L. Tucker in the final of last year’s championship. The two brothers have been m excellent form lately and an interesting match should eventuate.

Another hard tussle should be that between J. L. Tucker and D. J. Tottman. The former, according to his recent form, is expected to prevail over Tottman by a narrow margin. L. De Cleene, who is opposed to C. Cusdin, the runner-up in last year’s B grade championship, should have little difficulty in disposing of his opponent, as should also D. A. Harkne&s, who is drawn against L. M. Seymour. Harkness will bo out to redeem his position as he was disqualified in the semi-final of last year’s event through carrying 15 clubs. P. W. Ward, who is now the lowest handicapped player in the club, is expected to have no difficulty in defeating S. C. Toon, Ward has been playing well lately and should finish well up in the competition. The E. J. Astin-W. Aitken match should be an even one, but, from the recent performances of both players, youth should prevail. A6tin won the B grade championship last season. J. M. Ramsay, a former club chainpion, has won his match from A. W. Chapman, who has had to default through entering camp. For the 16th place, three players, R. Mace, G. Rankin and N. Hume have tied, and at a glance it seems as though Mace should prevail over the winner of the Hume-Rankiii contest. The most fancied players on form seem to be Harkness and Ramsay. 'ln the B grade championship H. Smith seems the most fancied player, and W. Woodley in the C grade. B. and A. Cup.

The following are further results of the B. and A. Cup played for by the members of the Alanawatu Club: —P. N. Andrews beat A. V. Sutton; C. Cr. Moore beat W. T. Duckworth; R. Duncalf heat E. J. Wills; H. S. Hill heat R. H. BLllenS; A. R. McKegg heat M. H. Oram; J. H. Carson beat R. L. Harding; D. AV. Spring beat I. Jolly; N. H. Bailev beat J. H. Alillar. R. A. Whitcombe v. Cotton.

R. A. Whitcombe (Parkst the open champion of 1938, beat T. H. Cotton (Ashrldge), who held the open championship in 1934 and 1937, in a 36-holes Red Cross match over the course of the Bath Golf Club, Sham Castle, recently, by four and three. Whitcombe, who accomplished the morning round in 73, was two up on Cotton, whose score was 75. The feature of Whiteombe’s play was his excellent putting, whereas Cotton s form on and about the greens was below his usual standard and by the turn in the afternoon Whitcombe had increased his advantage to five up. Completing the round, AVhitcombe hadja score of 66 against his opponent’s 71. The scratch score is 73.

STRANGE INCIDENT. ball lodgeiTin pocket. There was a most unusual happening in a golf match played recently on th< links of the Waimairi Club, Christ ;h 11 fell. A player was holding the pn while waiting for two others, member: 3 f his foursome, to play their ap proach shots. Watching the player n the rough and expecting him to shod first he was not aware that the ottiei nan, one of his opponents, had playec i high shot out of the bunker unti lie felt the ball hit- his forearm anc Irop into the pocket of Ins ivooller pullover. The incident led to a greal ileal of controversy in golfing circles ir Canterbury. . , The following rules govern the ponn at issue, whether the offending playci played in or out of his turn : - Rule 7 states that the ball furthest from the hole shall be played first. lithe event of a breach the. opponent mav at once recall the stroke and the ball shall be dropped without penalty as near as possible to the place from which the previous stroke was played. Rule 18 states that if a player’s ball itrike or be moved bv an opponent oi lis caddie or his clubs, the opponent's side shall lose the hole. Rule IS lets out that if a player’s ball strike limself or his partner or either pi heir caddies, or their clubs, his side .hall lose the hole.