Sloan Morpeth

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7294, 2 August 1930, Page 4

Sloan Morpeth

PLAYING GREAT GOLF VICTORY OVER IVOR WHITTON Australian press reports indicate that Sloan Morpeth, ex open and amateur champion, of Very Zealand, and now manager of the Commonwealth Golf Club, Melbourne, is playing good golf at the present time. A recent issue of the Australasian had the following concerning a V.G.A. pennant match in which Morpeth, led the Commonwealth Club team: —“The inevitable happened last Saturday at Yarra Yarra, when the Commonwealth Club's splendid young team came into its own at last by defeating Royal Melbourne ir. the final match for the loth V.G.A. pennant. It had been runner-up for four years in succession. The side was captained by Sloan Morpeth, who gave it an encouraging lead with a three-hole win over Ivor Whitton. the Australian open champion. Morpeth's golf, though far from perfect, had this quality that when lie arrived within range of the flag he nearly always threatened to _ hit it. j'or instance, at the fifth hole his drive finished on the sixth fairway, although at a point which opened up the green better than any on the correct route. His iron was short but straight, then from 25 yards he ran right over the hole, and liis putt for his four and the hole Tan back in its tracks light into the tin. On the other hand, Whitton, after a better drive, sent his ball into tne left hand bunker, and that cost him the hole. It ivas a similar shot that cost him the 'first hole. Morpeth was so steady on Iris down-in-two from of) yards or so stunt, that without any fireworks in the long game, such as we know him capable of, ho turned 3 up. He faltered at the next two holes, and Whitton with a 4 and 3 took tlrem both bv faultless play, to be only ono down. Morpeth then west away, and although Whitton won the 10th with a brilliant birdie 4 this success went for nothing, because under the ace system of scoring a surplus of tlnvo is as good as a surplus ot four holes. Allcx Russell had little trouble on the day with Fred Bultc, who, although driving well, as he nearly always does, failed to follow up his tee vhots with adequate iron pla>. tnc consequence was that Russell turned 3 up. 1 It was curious that this match followed lines similar to those of the Morpetih-Whitton game. Morpeth was three up at the turn and then lost two holes. It was the same in Russell s case, and then, after having had their load reduced to a single hole, they both got right away into an unassailable position."