FINAL UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 4

FINAL UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Golf

f Special to /! Northern Advocate.” 1 ! NEW PLYMOUTH, - This Day. After two weeks of perfect golfing conditions, the weather changed with a vengeance this morning, and it was unfortunate that the final of the amateur championship over 36 holes, between J. P. Hornabrook (title holder, Manawatu), and L. Cathro (Castlecliff, Wanganui), should have to be played in a gale and driving rain. The wind changed the whole character of tlife course, which, under normal conditions, is generously allotted a scratch score of 74, and today’s conditions were not a true test of golfing

abiiity. , , ... Great interest has been evinced this year, and visitors were expected from all parts of Taranaki, but it was only ardent enthusiasts who comprised the gallery today. The finalists have met once before at the New Zealand championships at Belmont, W’anganui, in 1934, in the second round. Cathro then won 2 up. ' . In the early stages of the first nine holes, Hornabrook made the pace, to profit by his opponent’s errors, and established a lead of 4 up in five holes. Hornabrook’s errors cost him three holes: in succession, but he took the 9th, and was 2 up at the turn. Cathro made a bad start by hooking his mashie to the green, and a 10ft putt by, Hornabrook at the second to the cup for his second four, and he was 2 up. Cathro had,two opportunities' at the third, when Hornabrook hit his second wood on the head. However, Cathro was little better, and failed to get down in two from the edge of the green, a half in 6 resulting. Hornabrook won the next with a fine second to the green, his opponent being bunkered. The title holder s winning sequence continued at the

next, where Cathro took two in the bunker, after neither player had made the green in 2. At last Cathro had a turn, and changed the 4-down position to 1 up, by taking the 6th, 7th, and Bth, in 3,4, and 5. Hornabrook took four to get down from just outside, the green at the 7th, and failed to lift a wood on the eighth fairway. Cathro got down in one - put where there was a probability that Hornabrook would get his 5. Both players missed at the 9th, but Hornabrook got down in one putt, a six-footer, and was 2 up again. The figures out were:— Hornabrook; 4,4, 6,4, 5,4, 6,5, 3 Total 41.

Cathro; 5,5, 6,5, 6,3, 5,4, 4 Total 43.