GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19727, 29 August 1927, Page 13

GOLF TOPICS.

THE COMING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

CHANCES OF THE AMATEURS.

WHITCOMBE'S WINS AT HOME. BY FAIRWAY. In discussing the Dominion championships- and the Hamilton golf course jn my last article, I did not refer to the amateur event, and the challengers for the amateur title. There seems to he little doubt that a large entry of competitors will characterise this year's championship. And there will probably be even more representative players from the Auckland Province than took part in the 1924 event at Middlemore. The, South Island, on the other hand, will not have a strong contingent forward. It seems unlikely that any club from the South Island will bo able to put a team into the field for the O'Rfrke Vase. This trophy is won by the club -whose four Dieviouslv selected representatives return the lowest total in the last round of the open championship proper. At present the vaso is held by Miramar. Hamilton will be making a strong bid to win it this time, and no doubt Aucklaud clubs will have something to say in the matter.

Dr. Ross, who came so near to a tie for the open title last year—his aggregate was 308, against 307 by Moss and Shaw—will not be able to compete at Hamilton. In June he was-absent for more than a month as a representative of the Dominion in search of the Kirk-Win- | deyer Cup, and he did his share toward ! winning it. But he cannot leave his pracj tice again for a couple of weeks. The chief representative golfers from the I South Island who are definitely going to Hamilton are:—B. V. Wright, Timaru; Aleck Sime, West port; and Donald Grant, Shirley. Sime did splendidly last yea* on the opening day of the championship, when his 76 and 75 gave him an aggregate of 151, putting him in second place along with W. R. Dobson, of Sydney. Australians Will be Missed. The Australians, of course, will be missed at Hamiiton, as they were a centre of interest at Miramar, and did much to draw out the keener quality of play which characterised the Miramar championship.. But some of the KirkWindeyer Cup team members will be at Hamilton, and they may be expected to provide something of tha "ginger" which resulted last year from the challenge of the Australians. The present champion, Arthur Duncan, enhanced his reputation by his achievements in Australia last June, and he will be a formidable proposition at Hamilton, even although the course may favour younger and more vigorous golfers. T. H. Horton greatly impressed the golfing public across the Tasman Sea. He is a very well-equipped golier indeed, ancl is sure to go far in the championship if he can retain the amount of faith in himself which some other people have. His experience in Australia must have helped Leo. Quin in the practice of match-play and in self-confidence. Once again he showed what a good finisher he is. That is a great quality to possess. He let us see it also at Miramar, especially when he was 3 down at the start of the second 18 holes to Morgan Duncan. Three j below fours for 16 holes represents the powerful finish that he then put in, in order to win the match. I look forward most to seeing Kapi Tareha play at Hamilton. It is a satisfying experience to mu to see Kapi brace his right side, as he swings* back his driver, and- then releases the forward swing so rhythmically through, the air. Length will" be an asset on the St. Andrews course. That should help Kapi in his attack upon the title. Norrie Bell is at home on the Hamilton course, and that fact, coupled with his power as a golfer, suffices to rank him with those who should have a good chance of winning. That he can fight, too, was shown in his great duel with Came Bidwill at Miramar, when he had to achieve a 75 in his second round in order to finish only 1 up on Bidwill. Other golfers who have been playing well this season, and who have the qualifications which go to make up "a champion, are J. L. Black, Hutfc, J. Goss, W 7 anganui, and H. B. Lusk, Middlemore. Younger players who have to be reckoned with are Rana Wagg, who did well last year, Wright, who beat Hector Morrison, the New South Wales champion, and H. Black, who has improved since last October. A Bun of Successes. Charles Whitcombe, the other day, won the Northern Professional Golf Championship with an aggregate of 280 at Blackpool. This is the third consecutive open tournament since the British open championship which has been captured by C. A. Whitcombe. Abe Mitchell was the dominant golfing personality in BritaiD up to the middle of May, when he was laid low by his illness. Robson and Boomer came prominently into the picture at the open chamoionship, when they attempted to chase Bobby Jones, ana succeeded in achieving the veiy fine aggregate 0f5291 at St. Andrew's. Since that event, however, Charles Whitcombe has definitely outclassed all the other British professionals, having won, evidently by a considerable margin, at Blackpool, at Headingley (Leeds), and at Glcneagles. The aggregate of 280 suggests that Whitcombe has taken a leaf out of the book of the leading American golfers, who make par the standard which they aim at beating. It will be interesting* to read the comment upon these performances of Charles Whitcombe from the pens of those who were witnesses of the events. I hope to share any such' comments with my readers as soon as they reach me. The Late Mr. R. C. Kirk. The late chairman of the New Zealand Golf Council, Mr. R. C. Kirk, was in touch with everything that concerned the adequate carrying out of all the championship arrangements at Miramar last year. Golfers who gather at Hamilton for this year's championships, together with all other golfers throughout the Dominion, will realise with sorrow that he is not among them on this occasion. Last year he presided at the prize-giving and made a speech in which he referred to his hope that the Kirk-Windeyer Cup match would soon be arranged as a regular annual fixture between Australia and New Zealand. He lived to see that hope realised, and, best of all, to see New Zealand's representative team win that cup from the premier Australian State. One by one his other and earlier dreams for New Zealand golf had come true, and they came true chiefly because Mr. Kirk worked so indefatigably for them. Surely no other single individual has done so much for the royal and ancient game in New Zealand. We acknowledge his unselfish service, his devotion to great causes, and are thankful, for all that he was able to achieve on behalf of the game that he loved - The professional golfers of the Dominion always had a friend in Mr. Kirk and they knew this and counted upon him. His regard for tho professionals was in keeping with his enthusiasm for the well-being of" the game; but it was actuated also bv his human interest in men. He knew them as individuals, while he also worked with them as professionals. They, certainly associate themselves with other golfers in the Dominion in acknowledging deep-felt gratitude to Richard Clemer.t Kirk, and in expressing sorrow and a sense ol loss at his death.