Centenary Open Golf Tournament Decided

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 271, 19 November 1934, Page 7

Centenary Open Golf Tournament Decided

Thompson Wins With Six Strokes to Spare

U.S. Professionals in Leading Places

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright

Received Monday, 1215 a.m,

MELBOURNE, Nov. IS.

With a brilliant third round of 69 and a final round of 72, Thompson, the U.S.A. professional, with an aggregate of 283, won in dashing manner the Centenary open golf championship, receiving the first pi’izc of £IOOO. When he holed his last putt of ten feet, he turned a somersault on the green to show his delight.

A gallery of 6000 followed the play. As was expected, all the U.S.A. payers took the leading places, though E. Naismith, the Victorian professional, played excellent golf to finish fourth. Steadiness characterised his play, his only lapses being three putts at both the 17th and 18th greens.

With 36 holes to play, 68 out of the original 130 entrants set out. All eyes were on Thompson, Cooper, Sarazen, Diegel and Ezar. Cooper, who was level with Thompson at the end of Friday’s play, lost his position through poor putting at several holes, including the painful miss of a three-footer. His long game was excellent throughout. Inferior putting also caused Sarazen’s downfall. Ezar kept, pace with the leaders until he began missing putts and was caught by bunkers. Missing seven simple putts in the first round, Lafi'oon wrecked his chances when his iron tee shot went into a bunker at the ,13th, and he hurled his club to the ground, breaking it. Diegel had bad luck throughout the dav, especially on the greens, when many ten-footers were just missed.

The leading scores in the final of the open championship were:— Thompson (U.S.A.) .. 142—141 —285 Diegel (U.S.A.) .. .. 144—145—289 Sarazen (U.S.A.) .. .. .143 —147 —290 Naismith (Victoria) .. 146—144—290 Cooper (U.S.A.) .. .142—149—291 LafToon (U.S.A.) .... .144—148—292 McLean (Britain) .. .. 146—148—294 Craig Wood (U.S.A.) .. 146—150—296 Ezar (U.S.A.) .143 —153—296 Kirkwood (Australia) . 149—149—29 S F. W. McMahon (South Australia) .. .... .150 —149—299 Richardson (N.S.W.) 146—153—29!) Itymill (South Aust.) .. 1.49 —151 —300 Kelly (N.S.W.) 145—152—300 Shiite (U.S.A.) 151—151—302 The only New Zealanders who qualified for the final were Shaw and Watt. Both kept long figures. Their scores were:— Shaw .. .. 152—159—311 Watt 155—172—327 New Zealanders who did not qualify trn Friday were:— Douglas .. 53—76—159 Lambie 82—79—161 Shelley 93—85—178