GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19427, 8 September 1926, Page 18

GOLF NOTES.

AN INTER-CLUB MATCH. AUCKLAND AND HAMILTON. MAUNGAKIEKIE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Beautiful weather prevailed for the visit of members of the Auckland Golf Club to Hamilton last week-end. The majority of the players went by motorcar last Friday evening, and the party had a most pleasant golfing excursion.

Members of the Hamilton Club were admirable hosts and nothing was found wanting 1 . The trip was made all the more enjoyable from the point, of view of local players on account of their victory over a team of players of no mean calibre. Auckland won eight matches, Hamilton won two and two were halved. The four-ball best-ball matches also resulted in a win for Auckland.

Members of both clubs were all of the one opinion, that inter-club matches should lie more frequent. The advantages for players are many. They learn to adapt themselves to strange courses, which is excellent training for tournaments, and they meet other golfers with different points of view and different styles. In addition, a greater feeling of camaraderie is developed.

The St. Andrew's links were in excellent condition. The greens were a little fast, but Auckland players soon accustomed themselves to this. A feature of the week-end play was the. performance of J. L. Clark, who did three ronnds in 77, 76 and 74. This was in many ways a remarkable performance, when it is considered the bogey for the course is 80, and that Clark was a stranger there. Return of Morpeth.

The game between R. D. Wright and Hunter was even throughout. Hunter, who was No. 1 man for Hamilton, is an cx-Dunedin piayer, and his style resembles that of Dr. Ross, the erstwhile Balmacewan player. Wright's driving was a feature of his game, but he had to fight every hole- oy account of Hunter's brilliant green work. Had it not been that Hunter missed a short putt on the 17th, the game would have been carried to the 18th green. All the players were delighted to see Sloan Morpeth wielding a club again. The ex-New Zealand champion was matched against H. B. Lusk, and was defeated, 3 and 2. It was obvious that M.orpeth has not yet got into his stride. Some of his shots were erratic. Lusk played his usual steady and heady game. Those who saw Morpeth in action say a few months' * practice will reveal the Morpeth of four years ago.

The match between G. F. Colbeck and Macßeth was keenly fought, Macßeth winning, 1 up. It will be remembered that Macßeth performed prominently in tho recent Auckland provincial championships. Macßeth had the slight advantage of knowing the course. Tho golf was of a high order, Macßeth completing the round in 76, with Colbeck one stroke behind.

Gillies was unfortunate in meeting J. L. Clark at the top of his form, and is to be. complimfented in holding him as ho did. Clark won, 3 and 2. Return Game Hoped For.

W. S. Ralph played fine golf to beat Wynne, 2 and 1. Had it not been for occasional, indifferent green work he would have registered a splendid score. Commander C. F. Bowen was hailed by Hamilton players as "the little man with the big spade." This refers to his great skill in wielding .a mashie niblick and his congenial manner on the golf course. He beat Guy one up. * Rees had an overwhelming victory over Horton, due mostly to fine putting. W. B. Colbeck, who, perhaps, has represented the Auckland Club in more interclub matches than any other member at present playing, won his game with Bellingham on the 18th green. Such a fixture would not bo complete without Colbeck's presence. In his game he displayed wonderful generalship. The Auckland Club's captain, S. J. Hanna, left nothing to chance, and had his team well provided for. His match proved a close one, Tate producing bis best ronnd this season. The game finished all square. The outstanding feature of the four-ball matches was the defeat of Hunter and Morpeth by Wright and Clark, 6 and 4. It is sufficient to say that the Auckland pair completed the round in 70, 10 under bogey. Both players were almost fault- j less.

It is to be hoped the Hamilton players will return the visit when the Auckland Club will have the opportunity of returning the generous hospitality. Maungakiekie Club. The championships of the Maungakiekie Club are now well forward. There were several surprises in the first round, notably the defeat of R. 0. Gardner by his brother C. F. Gardner, and the defeat of J. Hunter by 0. L. Martelli. R. M. George had a close call with V. Pearce, winning on the 18th green. The semifinals will now rest between George and T. A. Goulding, and W. L. Robinson will play the winner of the match between R. McCrystall and A. M. Goulding. The final of the Gardner Cup was decided at Titirangi last Saturday, when J. Hunter defeated H. Randrup on the 19th green after a very stern struggle. The links at Titirangi were playing beautifully last week-end.

OLYMPIC PREPARATIONS. FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIPS. The last French track and field championships, which were held at the Olympic Stadium at Colombes, displayed that the French athletes are coming to the fore on track and field very rapidly. Maurice Degrelle, of the Racing Club de France, won the 100-metres sprint in the good time of 10 4-55., a time that has only been bettered once in an Olympic final heat, and that was when H. M. Abrahams, of England, at the Paris Olympic games, did 10 3-ss. Francis Galtier won the 400-metres event quite handily in 49 2-55., and George Baraton, who won the English mile championship in 4m. 17 2-55., without being pushed the week previous, won the 800-rnetres in lm. 55 2-ss. without being pushed at any part of the race, and he finished full of running. Baraton is a youth who will have to be reckoned with in the 800 and 1500 metres at the next Olympic games. In the field events many good performances were made. The meeting, from an all-round point of view, was the best of any title competitions ever held under the auspices of the French Athletic Federation.

OVERSEAS ATHLETES. VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. Negotiations are said to be under way for a visit to New Zealand by prominent athletes during the coming summer. A final decision has not yet been made, but the following are stated to be under consideration:—Willie Ritola (Finland), distance runner; Phil. Barber (United States), sprinter; Roland Locke (United States), sprinter: Alan B. Heffrieh (United States), middle distances; Harold M. Osborne (United States), jumps and field games; Lord Burghley (Cambridge j University), hurdles, i Another report is to the effect that there is a prospect of an Australian team, including two cyclists, being brought to ' New Zealand. Definite news on the subject is expected shortly.