GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11975, 26 May 1902, Page 3

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

WON BY MR. C. E. S. GILLIES. The final for the championship of the Auckland Golf Club was played en Saturday, and .resulted in Mr. C. E. S. Gillies again proving his title to the championship of the club. The finalists were the same as last year, Messrs. C. E. S. and Harry Gillies, but the match was by no means so interesting as last year's final. Mr. C. E. S. Gillies practically running away from his opponent, and winning nine holes from home on a 36-hole match. The game was practically won in the first round, in which Mr. O. E. S. Gillies held the honour all round the course, his opponent's only win being at the 18th hole. Both started badly, and the first hole fell to Mr. C. E. S. Gillies in six, to his opponent's eight, but from this up to the 17th hole, Mr. C. E. S. Gillies played good steady golf, and never gave his younger brother an opening. The second hole was won by the champion in 4—5, and then followed two halves, 5—5 and 6—6 respectively. At the fifth hole Mr. O. E. S. Gillies niayed a very warm three, and Mr. Harry Gillies, who holed in four, had hard lines in losing the hole. The next hole also fell to Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies in 4—5, and after a-half in six at the seventh hole the champion won the last two of the outward course in 5—6 and —5, respectively, having finished the nine holes in 43, and stood at this stage six holes up. Going home Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies kept well on his game, and though Mr. Harry Gillies showed fair form, and finished only two over fives he had only one hole to his credit. The tenth hole fell to Mr. C. E. S. Gillies in 4— the eleventh was halved in five, and then Mr. C. E. S. Gillies claimed three holes in succession, the scoring being 4—5, 5—6, 4—5. Fourteen holes had been played, and Mr. C. E. S. Gillies stood 10 up, so that even ait this_ early stage the result of the match was practically a ccrtainity. The fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth holes were each halved in five, but loose play by Mr. O. E. S. Gillies going for the last green, cost him seven to pet down, and Mr. Harry Gillies won the hole in six. The first round thus finished with Mr. C. E. S. Gillies standing nine up. Starting the second round Mr. Harry Gillies lost three shots approaching the first green, and gave up the hole, which Mr. C. E. S. Gillies won in a perfect three. At the next hole Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies played good golf, and won in 45, and as he now stood 11 up it seemed as if the decision of the championship was not far off. A gleam of hope came to Mr. Horry Gillies at the next hole, his opponent failing to carry the terrace with his second but a. stimio cost Mr. Harry Gillies a stroke, and the hole was halved in five. The Ringrox was halved in an indifferent seven, and a half in five resulted at the fifth hole. At the sixth hole Mr, Harry Gillies got one to his credit going down in four to his brother's five, ■ but the next hole fell to Mr. C. E. S. Gillies in five, and the game stood 11 up with 11 to play. The next hole might have finished the match, but Mr. Harry Gillies got a four to his opponent's five, and temporarily staved off defeat. A half in four at the last hole of the home course put Mr. C. E. S. Gillies 10 up with nine to play, the championship of the club for 1902 having thus been played and won.

On Prince of Wales' Birthday (the 3rd prox.) the, Fry challenge trophy will be played, the entries closing on Saturday next, at five- p.m. The match will be played in 18 holes, bogey play, handicap. The conditions are that the trophy be played for three times a year, the triple winner to become the owner.

On the 14th" and 21st of next month Mr. E. D. O'Rorke's prize will be played for. Each round will consist of 18 holes, bogey, handicap. Players with handicap of 12 and under to enter with players having handicap of over 12. Entries close with the lion, secretary on June 11. Next Saturday a nursery handicap will be played, partners to be drawn. Entries close on Wednesday next.