McLaren And North Whau Valley Finalists

Northern Advocate, 26 September 1949, Page 7

McLaren And North Whau Valley Finalists

THE defending champion, R. A. McLaren, will again contest the Whau Valley Golf Club’s senior championship final. His opponent will be D. P. North, who held the title in 1947. In the semi-finals on Saturday, McLaren beat S. Clark 2 and 1 in a very close match, and North beat M. Houlihan, a finalist last year, 6 and 4.

After starting rather scratchily, McLaren and Clark played good golf. McLaren had a round of 76, six | over bogey, and Clark took one more stroke. McLaren became 2 up at the 4th. Clark won the sth. the 7th and went to 1 up at the Bth with a birdie 3. They halved the ninth in bogeys, and Clarke turned for home 1 up. McLaren fought back to take the 10th and 11th to regain the lead. The next three holes were halved in bogey figures, but Clark squared the game at the 15th with another birdie. Tire 16th was the vital hole of the match. VITAL HOLE Clark pulled his tee shot and McLaren was nicely on the green. Clark chipped up about nine feet past the hole but McLaren nullified his advantage from the tee by putting too boldly and finishing 10 feet past the hole. The fortunes of the game changed however, when McLaren sank the return putt and Clark's putt stayed out after hitting the back of the cup. The 171 h was won by McLaren with a bogey four to five. Clark having put his tee shot into the rough. The North-Houlihrn match' did not attain great heights. North was quickly into his stride and was 3 tip at the sth hole. NORTH S BETTER FORM He went further ahead at the 7th, where he sank a long putt for a birdie threeHoulihan had excellent chances of reducing the deficit at the Bth and 9th. but. on each green, three-putted. North went to 5 iip at the 10th with another birdie and to 6 up at the 11th Houlihan won the 13th, but North clinched the game with a bogey ab the 14th In the intermediate semi-final between Baigent and Foote, the scoring was very good. Baigent, returned * gross 79 to Foote's SO. At the 19th, Baigent played a beautiful drive clown the middle, made no mistake with his approach and deserved his victory. The championship finals will be played on October 9.

One-Armed Player Reduces Main interest at Mt Denby at the week-end was centred on the semi-finals of the intermediate and junior championships, but the highlight was provided by the onearmed player, W. L. M, Mcrrett, in a medal round. Merrett was round in 82 off the stick. He won the event on a countback and reduced his handicap to 11. Included in Merrett’s excellent round was a birdie at. the 17th.