GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 13

GOLF TOPICS.

IVO WHITTON'S SUCCESS.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS.

BY FAIRWAY.

KAPI TAREHA'S FINE ROUND.

More interest than ever will be aroused in September by the open and amateur golf championships of Australia, to be held at Rose Bay under the auspices of the Australian Golf Union. W. S. Nankwell, last year's amateur champion, and Len Nettlefold, who defeated Ivo Whitton in the final in 1926, will bo keen candidates for the amateur title, from which event Nettlefold was absent last year. But they will both have to reckon with Ivo Whitton, who has been showing very fine form this year, since his visit to New Zealand in February la-st.

Whitton's most recent achievement is the capture of the open championship of Queensland on July 11. Harry Sinclair, the well-known Sydney professional, was tho outstanding favourite at the commencement of the, event. By one stroke in the 72 holes, played, Whitton beat Sinclair. There was a touch of drama, however, on the final day. Whitton started the day five strokes ahead of Sinclair. Ho then took a 78 for the third round, while Sinclair took a 73. That meant that they went out upon the last round level, at 223 strokes each. 4n that testing round with the championship depending on it, they both played fine golf, the amateur winning with a 73 to the professional's 74. So, for the first time, Ivo Whitton won tho open championship of Queensland. His aggregate was 296; that of Sinclair 297. Queensland Amateur Champion. A few days later Whitton was unexpectedly beaten in the semi-final of the Queensland amateur championship by a young golfer from New South Wales, S. 11. Keane. This young man left school only last year, and has been playing golf only for 18 months. Ho is champion of his home club, the Cammeray. Whitton, however, was not at his best. The amateur title was won again by the holder, J. N. Radcliffe, who beat young Keane in the final by 3 arid 2. Radcliffe, according to Whitton, is as fine an amateur player as any in Australia. He finished fifth in tho open championship with 305, although, on the first day's play, he was 76, 71 —147, second only to Whitton himself, who was 74, 71 —145. No doubt Radcliffe, as well as Whitton, will be a competitor in the Australian national championships next month at Rose Bay. It may bo worth while mentioning other leading amateur golfers who will probably figure at Rose Bay: Alex. Russell, C. H. Fawcett, E. L. Apperly, Legh Winser, as well as our friends of the Kirk Windeyer Cup team of January last, R. K. Lee C. Nigel Smith, ■W. R. Smith and W. R. Dobson. Hew Zealand Championships.

In New Zealand golf has reached the period of club championships, of which several are now going on. It will bo time enough to remark upon these as they approach their final stages. By that time we shall all be thinking a good deal more about the New Zealand championships at Balmacewan, in October. Several changes will be made this year in tho championship programme. The four rounds of the open championship, which are also the qualifying test for the amateur match play stages, will be played on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13. The foursomes championships, both amateur and professional, will be played on the Monday; match-play in the amateur and professional championships commences on the Tuesday. Two matches of 18 holes each will be played_, that day in the amateur event, and on Wednesday the third round of the match-play wiii lengthen out to 56 holes. Thursday will bo, as usual, an off day, and the semifinals and final will be on the Friday and Saturday. October 19 and 20. By following this procedure the programme of the championships is shortened by two days, as compared with that of last year. Some players will welcome the innovation of pairing with each professional competing one of the lowest handicap amateurs, and starting all these off first. Kapi Tareha.

Kapi Tareha went round the Napier course in 69, the other day, when ho played against A. E. Ekstedt, of Manaivatu, in tho first match of the Napier versus Manawatu encounter. This is said to be the lowest amateur scoro ever achieved on the course; and it is quite fitting that it should be Kapi's fortune to show others the way to do it. There is no finer swing in the Dominion than Kapi Tareha's swing with a wooden club, and his fine driving is proverbial. One still remembers the glee with which Kapi clouted a golf ball far and high across tho wide Waikato from the ninth green at Hamilton last September, because some friends on the distant bank called to him to attempt tho shot. J am sure it was s longer shot than his 257 yds. drive down the 18th fairway at Hamilton in the long-driving contest. But, unfortunately, Kapi has not yet achieved tho same smoothness and rhythm in the short game and in putting that ho docs command when wielding tho moro powerful clubs.

American Open Contest. In the American open championship in Juno last Bobby Jones found a good deal of trouble on the outward half in his fourth round. He took 40 to reach the turn. So. did Walter Hagen. Jones finished in 77, but Johnny Farrell turned in a 72 following a morning round of 71— tho best day's golf of tho week. That enabled him to overtake the great amateur. and to be with him at 294. The tie was played over 36 holes, and the result was:—Farrell, 70, 73—.143; Jones, 75, 71—144. The leading scores in the open championship were:—J. C. Farrell, 77, 74, 71, 72—294; R, 7. Jones, 73, 71, 73, 77—294; R. Hancock, 76, 75, 72, 72—295; W. C. Hagen, 75, 72, 73, 76—296; G. von Elm. 74, 72, 74, 76—296. Compston's score was 304 and Boomer's 310.