CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19738, 10 September 1927, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

AMATEUR FINAL TODAY. MORPETH TO PLAY. HORTON. THE PROFESSIONAL CONTEST. Mcintosh retains the title. [Br TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] HAMILTON, Friday. By winning the final of the professional golf championship of New Zealand at St. Andrews links, Hamilton, to-day, and so retaining the title, J. D. Mcintosh, of Masterton, broke the sequence of defeats of title-holders which had up to then resulted at the tournament. First A. J. Shaw, of Napier, last year's open champion, was beaten by E. J. Moss, of Auckland, and then A. D. S. Duncan, of Wellington, holder of the amateur title, struck his colours to A. G. Sime, of Westport. The semi-final of the amateur championship resulted: —• T. H. Horton, of Masterton, beat Norrie C. Bell, of Hamilton, 3 and 2. Sloan Morpeth, of Maungakiekie, beat A. G. Sime, of Westport, 2 and 1. Two great matches were provided by th* amateur semi-final, and they were as closely contested as the ultimate scores indicate. The final to be played to-mor-row should provide the finest exhibition of golf seen in the province for years. To-day tiie links presented an animated scene as hundreds of spectators were strung out over the course following the play and lined up in silent semi-circles to witness the strokes on the greens. Many more visitors are expected to-mor-row. Mcintosh in Great Form. The final of the professional championship was a contest worthy of the occasion, played on a splendid course and under conditions which were only slightly marred by a moderate breeze and occasional passing showers. Butters gamely waged a losing fight against the par-golf of the title-holder, who covered the morning round in 74, which is two under par and six better than bogey. Butters' answer was a 78, which is no mean golf, but he ended the first 18 holes 4 down to Mcintosh. In the afternoon Butters won the first hole, making him 3 down on the day, and although Mcintosh was 5 up on the fifth Butters had reduced his lead to 2 at the eighth. The consistency of Mcintosh in all departments, and especially in his seconds and approaches, gradually wore down Butters who, however, gave a splendid exhibition of putting in which he excels. However, his task was too great and the match ended 5 and 4 in favour of Mcintosh. Butters did the outward journey in the afternoon three under bogey, while Mcintosh was two under. For the remaining five holes of the match Mcintosh was two under fours and Butters even fours. Details of the Cards. Mcintosh's card for the moraine round read:— Out :34445464 4—38. In: 3 5 4 4 3 4 5 4 4—36. The card returned by Butters read:— Out :44444465 5—40. In: 3554 34 5 5 4—38. To the 14th hole in the afternoon Mcintosh's card was:— Out :4 4 4 4 4 6 5 3 4—38. In: 344 4 3 For the same round Butters' card was: Out: 3 4 4 5 5 3 5 4 4—37. In: 345 4 4 Morpeth's card in the morning read: — Out :35554455 4-40. In: 33434545 4—35. Sime's morning card read: — Out: 3 4 4 5 4 5 5 4 6—40. In: 35443545 5-38. Morpeth's afternoon card read:— Out :4 5 4 5 4 4 5 5 4—40. In: 44444454 Sime's afternoon card was:— Out :35554554 4—40. In : 4.4 4 5 3 4 5 5 Horton's morning card read: — Out: 3 4 5 5 4 5 64. In: 4 5 5 4 2 4 4 5 5—38. Bell's morning card read: — Out :34454464 5—39 In: 45453454 5-39. Horton's afternoon score was Out :34444564 5—39. In: 4444 25 5 Bell's afternoon score was:— Out: 3 5 4 5 5 4 6 5 5—42. > In: 354 34 5. To-day's foursome handicap resulted in a tie for first place between Kapi Tareha and F. C. Fryer, of Napier (plus one), 78; G. F. Colbeck and L. V. Bellingham, of Hamilton (handicap 1), 78; H. Wiggins. of Hamilton, and J. F. Aldred, of Auckland (5), 78. The next best were L. D. Hurst, of Wellington, and R. C. Guy, of Hamilton (4), 79, and J. Mangan, of Invercargill, and W. Lints, of Wanganui (5), 79. In a play-off during the afternoon Colbeck and Bellingham won with a score of 79.