NEW GOLF CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19140, 5 October 1925, Page 10

NEW GOLF CHAMPION.

VICTORY FOR T. H. HORTON.

DUNCAN SGUWDLY BEATEN. NINE UP AND EIGHT TO GO. MOST DISAPPOINTING MATCH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday, The New Zealand golf championship meeting was concluded at Shirley t6-day when A. D. S. Duncan, of Wellington, and T. H. Horton, of Masterton, fought out the final of the amateur championship. No more .disappointing match has been played at Shirley than this proved to be. Horton accounted for his strong opponent without difficulty, the game not going past the 28th hole. Before the match commenced the general opinion among golfers was that the winner of nine New Zealand championships would add that of 1925 to his list after a hard fight wijtb Horton, but the latter went to the fore at the first hole, was 5 up at the turn, and finished the morning round 10 holes to the good. Duncan wjis then in a hopeless position, but like the gallant fighter he is he never lost heart, even although he started the afternoon round with the loss of the 19th hole. He then pulled himself together and was able to win three holes to Horton's one and halve 5. However his effort came too late and Horton gained a well-deserved victory, 9 up and 8 to play. He was carried shoulder high to the pavilion, outside of which he was "shot" by a battery of cameras. The day was ideal for golf, being bright and sunny, with a light north-westerly wind blowing in the morning. There was a large attendance to witness" the last round of the big match, but many latecomers were disappointed as play stopped at 2.45 p.m., about an hour earlier than was expected. Duncan's Lost Chances, Horton started well in the morning and won the first hole, 3—4. The next two halved. At the Narrows Horton pulled his tee shot and struck a tree on the left. After five minutes had been spent in looking for the ball the referee declared it out of bounds. Duncan got a bad drive, just crawling through the sand and getting an indifferent lie which prevented him from getting far with his second. He missed a chance of gaining the advantage by approaching badly. Horton's second shot was a good drive and he was on the edge of the green with his third, the hole being halved in 5. This was a lucky hole for Horton.

Duncan dribbled badly off the tee at the sth and his second was no better. His fourth was close to the pin. Hortoii, who was on the green in 3, played a 12ft. putt which lay dead, and Duncan, missing a short putt, lost the hole, 5-—6. Horton was now 2 up. At the 6th both drives found the rough on the left. Duncan was on the green in 2, close to the pin, while Horton's second was in the rough to the right, his 3rd hit the pin and bounced back to lie dead. Duncan missed his putt and the hole was halved in 4. Taking the next three holes Horton was 3 up at the turn. At this stage he was playing confidently and well while Duncan was all at sea and played like a handicap man. Horton Increases Eis Lead.

•Both men got away well from the 10th tee. Duncan s second was well up on the green but he missed hk putt and Horton, who had played his second to tha side of the green halved the hole in 4. Driving from 11th tee Horton's ball found the rough where the ground was under repair and the referee allowed him the privilege of dropping another which went nicely to the green. Duncan failed to halve the hole with his 4th and Horton went down to win 4-—5. Duncan outdrove Horton at 12th but after making a nice approach putt he missed an easy shot and Horton won 4—5. He was then 7 up. He won the 13th after Duncan had again missed an easy putt. The 14th was halved but Horton took the next. At the 16th Duncan won his first hole. They were both on the green in two. Duncan "then got near the pin to be sure of a half. Horton played wide to avoid the possibility of a stymie, but overran the hole and took 5 to Duncan's 4. This was Horton's first mistake and ho made amends by laving his next tee shot dead for two at Old Nick,. The 18th hole saw Horton 10 up. Horton went round ,in 73 and was as steadv as a rock while Duncan was obviously off his game—so much so as to suggest that he 'was not well. Belated Recovery by Duncan.

In the afternoon Horton continued his forceful game and immediately added another hole to his a dread y big advantage. Playing an uphill game Duncan began to show some of his old form, but it was too late. From the 20th tee Duncan reached the edge of the creek and from there played the best shot ho had made, getting well down. However, Horton continued playing steady golf and halved the hole in 5. The ne;:t was also halved and Duncan won the 22nd, 4—5. At the 23rd Horton drove a beautifully straight ball, and holing a 20£t. putt won the hole. Although from the 24th tee Duncan drove in something like his old form, Horton was equally good and halved in 4. The 25th was halved in 3. Horton was now dormie. , At Land's End both got away with excellent drives. Duncan played a brassie on to the green. Horton had a downhill grassy lie for his second, but unfortunately reached a bunker on the left and overran the green in three, while Duncan lay dead in four. Horton picked up and gave Duncan the hole. At the 27th Horton found the bunkers, his fourth reaching the green. Duncan played a bad second, but was on in 3 and won the hole in 5. The 28th was halved in 4, leaving Horton 9 up and 8New Champion's Record.

The new champion was born at Blenheim 30 years ago and started to play golf at an early age. The only coaching he has ever had has been by G. W. Martin, who was professional to the Blenheim Club, and who recently joined the Masterton Club, giving Horton the opportunity of having his earlier lessons repeated. The first championship ever won by Horton was the club championship at Blenheim before the war. He did not play again until after the war, and was runner-up in the Wellington provincial championship in 1921. The same year he was runner-up in the .New Zealand amateur championship and was fourth in the- open championship. In 1924 he won the Wellington provincial championship from A. D. S. Duncan, whom he beat handsomely, doing the round in 71.

year Horton gained a further saccess by winning the South Auckland championship, but failed badly at Middlemore,. being knocked out, in the second round, At the present meeting he finished fourth in the open championship. At the conclusion of the tournament Mr. R. E. McDougall, president of the Christchurch Golf Club, eon unit,dated the winners on their success. The prizes were presented by Mrs. A. D, 8. Duncan, in the absence of Mrs. McDougall