GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11778, 7 October 1901, Page 3

GOLF.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. CONCLUDING DAY.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON MATCH. The New Zealand Amateur Golf Championship Mooting concluded on Saturday at Cornwall Links, One-tree Hill. A rather high wind prevailed, and there were frequent showers during the day, and though low scoring was thus rendered rather difficult, there was an unusually large field for the handicap competition. Play in this competition proceeded forenoon and afternoon, the other features of the day's programme being a foursome between the Gillies Brothers, of Auckland, and the Duncan Brothers, of Wellington, to decide a tie in the bogey foursomes competition, and a four a-side match between Auckland and Wellington for the inter-club challenge bowl, presented by Mr. E. D. O'Rorke. BOGEY FOURSOME. The bogey foursome competition played on Thursday resulted in a tie between the Gillies Brothers, of Auckland, and the Duncan Brothers, of Wellington. The tie was played off on Saturday morning over an 18-holo course, and resulted in a win for the Auckland players by 2 up and 1 to play. The Duncans had a handicap of two strokes off their opponents. In order to clear the course for those playing in the handicap competition, the foursome went over the last five holes first, and this giving the Wellington players the advantage of their handicap at the first and seventh holes, they led by two up in the early part of the game, but it was all square before Jacob's Ladder was reached, which was halved in a perfect 3. At the next hole Charles Gillies played a very fine approach, and his brother sent down a 3yd putt, winning the hole in 3 to the Duncans' 4. This left the Gillies Brothers 1 up and 2 to go. At the next hole Arthur Duncan topped his drive, while Charles Gillies got away a beautiful ball, which lay on the edge of the green. A neat pitch by Harry Gillies settled the match in favour of the Aucklanders, who won by 2 up and 1 to play, thus gaining first prize in the bogey competition. AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. Great interest centred in the four a-side match between the Auckland and Wellington Clubs for the inter-cluß challenge bowl, presented by Mr. E. D. O'Rorke. Wellington was represented by Messrs. A. Duncan, K. Duncan, W. Higginson, and F. S. Hodson, and Auckland by Messrs. C. E. S. Gillies. 11. T. Gillies, W. B. Colbeek, and A. B. Laurence. The match brought Messrs. A. Duncan and C. E. S. Gillies together for the first time during the meeting, and there was naturally a large and interested following. The game was an exceedingly close one, which made it interesting right through to the home green, but the play on both sides was rather under expectations. Arthur Duncan was playing much under his Friday's form. Many of his long drives went badly off the line, and though ho in most instances recovered brilliantly and showed himself a great golfer in difficult country, he frequently lost himself on the greens, his putting exhibition being altogether poor. On several occasions he failed to hole comparatively easy putts, and on the sixth green he might have got down in four, but missed twice and took six. He also topped two or three of his tee shots, and getting into awkward lies, was unable to recover the distance. His card of 87 compared unfavourably with his 76 of the previous day. It was, however, only one stroke over bogey and turned out to be the best score of the day, nothing exceptionally good being handed in. Gillies also played an indifferent game. He led himself into fewer difficulties than his opponent, but his long game was not so strong as usual, and on tho greens he was almost, as bad as Duncan. Bight through the meeting Gillies has failed to do himself justice, on the greens or lie would have figured more prominently on the prize list. He finished with a score of 90, three over his opponent. Both drove lovely balls from the first tee, and Duncan had a splendid second, which gave him a chance of getting down in 4-, but he played a rash third, and Gillies, whose second lay to the left of the green, got a half in 5. Gillies topped his drive from the next tee, and his second, landing in a cart rut, ho had to play three for a lie and took six to get down. Duncan drove dangerously noar the fence, but just got room for his approach shot, and he holed in a splendid 4. Both seconds found tho next green. Duncan played a weak third, and his ball rolling into the cup near the hole, it looked as if he must take five to get down, but he holed a splendid putt, and won in 4, Gillies playing his third strong and taking 5. For the Ringrox both thirds found the green, and the hole was halved in a bogey 6. The next hole was indifferently played. Duncan drove a long ball to the left and had to approach over the rocks. A good third gave him a chance to hole in 4, but he failed. Gillies topped his drive, and being short with his second the hole was halved in 5. Duncan was on the sixth green in two, and might have holed in 4, but missed a likely chance, and failing to hole out an easy fifth he lost the hole, Gillies getting down in 5. Playing for the next hole Gillies got a lovely third over the wall and lay on the green. Duncan played his third from a twisted lie, and, re-

bounding: off the wall, ho took four to get over, and failing again on the green the hole cost him 7, Gillies winning in 5. The eighth looked like a half till Duncan,, redeeming his mistake on the last green, unexpectedly sent down a lovely putt, and won in 4 to Gillies' 5. The last hole on the outward course was played during a sharp shower. Both balls were on the green in two, but both players failed to hole easy putts, and a half in 5 resulted, the scores at the turn being: Duncan, 46; Gillies, 47. Duncan had a perfect 3 at Jacob's Ladder, but Gillies again missed an easy chance on the green and took 4. From the next tee Duncan drove far off the line, and got behind the hill to the left of the green. He got well up with his second, however, and playing perfect golf on the green, got down in 4, while Gillies, who sent his second over the green had to be content with a 5. Duncan topped his next tee shot and took five, while Gillies, though missing the green with his second, recovered splendidly on his third, and won the hole in 4. The driving at the Amphitheatre was indifferent, Gillies went to the right while Duncan drove over the bank on the left side of the crater. Both recovered wonderfully, especially Duncan, who was in exceedingly rough country, and a, half in four resulted. At the fourteenth Duncan again went off the line, and playing his second out of long grass, found the sand bunker, and had to play the third for a lie. He got down in 6, while Gillies, who just missed a 3, won in a good 4. Both were on the next green in 3, and Duncan, with a. great putt, won in 4 to Gillies' 5. On the sixteenth green Duncan again missed a fairly easy putt, and Gillies, who had not been so strong through the green, got a half in 6. Both should have got. the seventeenth in 4, hut this time Gillies made, the mistake on the green and took 5 to Duncan's 4, and again on the home green the Aueklandcr gave a stroke to his opponent and finished in 6 to Duncan's 5. The scores for the homeward half of the course were: Duncan 41, Gillies 43, making Duncan 87 for the round and Gillies 90. It was generally expected that Harry Gil' lies would have the best of X. Duncan, but the Wellington man came in two strokes to the good, finishing in 92. Collvcck had three strokes for the- Auckland side off Higginsou, and the match was wavering in the balance till it was known that Hodson had run up a long score and was hopelessly behind in bis game with Laurence, who eventually finished in 90, having 15 strokes advantage of his opponent. The Auckland team thus won the challenge bowl on the aggregate by 13 strokes. , Following are the scores: — Wellington. Auckland. , A. Duncan ... 87 C. E. 8. Gillies 90 K. Duncan ... 92 H. T. Gillies ... 94 W. Higginson... 94 W. B. Colbeck 91 F. S. Hodson ... 105 A. B. Laurence 90 Total ... . ... 378 Total 365 MEDAL PLAY HANDICAP. About 40 competitors started in the medal play handicap of 18 holes. Those engaged in the interclub match handed in the same cards for the handicap competition. The winner turned up in, A. B. Laurence, who, with a gross score of 90 less 10, had a net score of 80. He looked like furnishing a rather better card, but got into difficulties at the last hole and took 8 to get down. K. Duncan was second with 92 less —81. The best gross scores were:—A. Duncan 87, A. B. Laurence and 0. E. S. Gillies 90, W. B. Colbeck 91, K. Duncan and Kurupo Tareha 92, H. T. Gillies and W. Higginson 94, E. Wilder and Pare Keiha 95. The following cards were handed in: — Gross H'di- Net . „ T Sc. cap. So. A. B. Laurence, Auckland ... 90 10 80 K. Duncan, Wellington ... 92 11 31 W. Higginson, Wellington ... 94 11 83 E. Dargaville, Auckland ... 101 17 S4 A. Duncan, Wellington ... 87 scr. 87 "W. B. Colbeck, Auckland ... 91 4 87 G. M. Burness, Auckland ... 97 10 87 T. P. Upflll, Auckland 106 19 87 Kurupo Tareha, Ilawke's Bay 92 4 83 A. McCosh, Clark, Auckland... 105 17 88 E. Wilder, Christ-church ... 93 6 89 Pare Keiha, Poverty Bay ... 95 6 89 A. H. D. Pee!, Auckland ... 99 10 89 R. A. Carr, Auckland 100 11 89 Dr. T. Hope Lewis, Auckland 106 17 89 C. E. S. Gillies, Auckland ... 90 scr. 90 M. A. Clark. Auckland ... 117 27 90 O. P. Bull, Poverty Bay ... 97 6 91 H. D. Stronach. Otago 102 11 91 A. A. Scott, Otago 102 11 91 Dr. Coates, Auckland 107 16 91 H. T. Gillies, Auckland ... 94 2 92 I). R. Caldwell, Auckland ... 105 13 92 P. L. E. Bloorafield. Auckland 103 10 93 V. S. Hodson. Wellington ... 105 11 94 J. B. Kyd, Auckland 107 12 95 Dr. S. B. tteid, Auckland ... 109 13 95 J. S. Lennox, Auckland ... 123 27 96 H. Gilflllan, Auckland 119 22 97 A. B. Koberton, Auckland .. 116 17 99 J. Hall, Auckland 120 19 101 J. Kirker, Auckland 153 26 112 PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. At the close of the day's play the prizes won during the meeting were presented by Mr. .Tas. Kirker, one of the vice-presidents of the Auckland Golf Club. Mr. Kirker said it had afforded .the members of the Auckland Golf Club infinite pleasure to welcome so many visitors, and he hoped the new clubhouse and links would have proved so attractive that there would be an even larger attendance next time the championship was played in Auckland. Ho congratulated Mr. Arthur Duncan on winning the championship, stating, amid applause, that on the merits of the play the best man hail won. Mr. Kirker also congratulated Mr. Colbeck on securing the prize as runner up, and on making such a good fight for the championship. Arthur Duncan got the challenge cup and medal, and a marble clock presented to the champion by Messrs. Stewart Dawson and Co., W. B. Colbeck getting the second prize as runner-up. The prizes in the handicap match went to A. B. Laurence, first, and K. Duncan, second; bogey match, first A. Duncan, second Pare Keiha, Poverty Bay; bogey foursome, Messrs. C. E. S. and H. T. Gillies; approaching and putting competition, first prize gold matchbox presented by Mr, Jas. Kirker, went to «T. L. K. Blooinfield, and second prize to C. E. S. Gillies; driving competition, first prize, sovereign purse, presented by Mr. Kirker, won by C. E. S. Gillies, second prize, K. Duncan; interclub challenge bowl, Auckland Golf Club.

At the close of the presentation of prizes three hearty cheers were given for the visitors, and Mr. E. Wilder, Christchurch, returned thanks, stating that the visitors had thoroughly enjoyed the meeting. He had but one grievance, that tho magnificent view from Cornwall Links took his eye off the ball and he failed to get in the prize list.

Mr. Kirker called for three cheers for Mr. C. E. S. Gillies, hon. secretary of the Auckland Club, for his great labours in connection with the removal of the club to One-tree Hill and preparing for the championship meeting. Mr. Gillies responded, and three hearty cheers having been given for the champion of New Zealand, the amateur golf championship meeting of 1901 terminated.