CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20080, 18 October 1928, Page 17

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

WIGHT IN GREAT FORM. new record for course. UPHILL FIGHT BY J. BLACK. ROSS EASILY DEFEATS SIME. [UV TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.j DUNEDI'N, Wednesday. The semi-final of the professional golf championship of New Zealand and (ho third round of the amateur championship were played at. -Bahnaeowan to-day. Conditions were almost ideal for golf. There was no wind and the light rain which fell occasionally was not sufficient to interfero with play and had littlo effect on tho condition of tho course. The greens and fairways' wero in oxcellont order, although not nearly as keen as they wero at the commencement of tho championships. Tho sensational round of tho day was that played between tho amateurs, C. B. Wight (St. Clair) and J. L. Black (Otorohanga). In tho first 18 holes Wight played wonderful golf and did the round in 67, taking 31 out and 36 in. This left him 9 up on opponent. After the luncheon adjournment., however, Black commenced a thrilling uphill fight and finally squared tho 'match at tho 34th hole. The next'two holes were halved and the match went on to the 37th, which Black won in 4 to 5, taking tho match. Results of the third round of tho amateur championship were: — J. L. Black (Otorohanga) beat C. B. Wigbt (St. Clair), at the, 37th. ' J. G. Duncan (Wellington) beat S. C. Col beck (Otago), 6 and 5. T. H. Horton (Masterton) beat H. A. Black (Wellington), 4 and 3. K. Boss (Otago) beat A. G. Sime (Westport), 12 and 11. The exceptional scoro of 67 registered bv Wight is tho unofficial record for the course. Tho afternoon round provided one of tho most exciting contests ever seen on Bahnacewan. With a lead of 9 in tho morning round Wight's position seemed safe, but Black, playing magnificent golf, steadily reduced Wight's lead until tho match was all squaro at the 36th hole. At tho 37th, to tho accompaniment of an enthusiastic demonstration by tho large gallery, Black took tho hole and tho match. The semi-final of the professional championship resulted : A. J. Shaw (Napier) beat E. S. Douglas (Auckland), 6 and 5. J. D. Mcintosh (Gisborne) beat J. A. Clements (Hagley), 5 and 4. BRILLIANT CONTESTS. WIGHT'S RECORD ROUND OF 67 GREAT FEAT BY J. BLACK. ".'HMORABLE VICTORY GAINED. (By Telegraph—From Fairway). DUNKDIN. Wednosdrvy. Two professional matches and four amateur matches, all of 36 holes, formed the. principal part of tho clay's programme at tho golf championship meeting and tho fine day evoked golf in keeping with the perfect conditions. The professionals played good golf, but they wero eclipsed to-day by the amateurs, both for the keenness of the play and tho quality of tho golf. K. Ross went away with a rush in the morning against his old rival, Alick Sime, and was 7up at the seventh. Ross played faultless golf, both out and home, foi a round of 71. His figures were:— Out: 4 4 4 3 3 4 5 4 3—34. In: 35 4 5 4 4 5 3 4—37. This was the best round so far achieved in the whole championship. In half an hour, however, this near par scoro seemed likely to take second place, for C. Wight was "burning up" the course and was practically sure to break 70. One may try to imagine tho feelings of Jack Black when ho reached tho turn in 38 and was 6 down. Wight had dono these nine holes in an almost incredible 31. Black, however, played hi:s own steady gamo, a most difficult thing to do in tho circumstances. / Wight continued npon this standard and finished in 67, two below tho absolute par of the course. lie finished the 18 holes 9 up on Black, who played a good round in 76. Wight holed several putts of from 6 to Bft., but no long putts, llis figures were: — Out :44323434 4—31. In: 36443443 5 —36. The crowd cheered and went in to lunch to discuss tho marvellous score, the lowest ever achieved on tho course. By tea-timo they were to forget that gieat score, because a greater achievement had been recorded —a victory ior Black. Iho crowd sauntered out to sec Wight finish off his match with Black in tho after- : noon. Thoso who knew Black knew ho would play steady golf to tho end and would go down fighting, a few even flaring to think he had a chance. Black went to the turn in 38 and had Wight's tremendous lead reduced to 6, a more manageablo margin. He put his lee shot at the 10th 4ft. from tho cup and holed a 2. By this time the lei surely crowd had become excited. Black won tho next tlueo holes and was 2 down with 4to play. All this time Wight fought hard and did not play any really bad shots. He was just missing and Black was giving absolutely nothing away. At tho 15th Wight missed his second and his fifth, a short putt, rimmed the hole. Black took that hole in 5 and was now only 1 down. At the 16th Black holed a birdio 3 and squared the match, amid intense excitement. 'lho 17th and 18th were halved in 4 and by this time the crowd was neaVly speechless. On the players went to tho 19th, 420 yards. Both had good drives and good seconds, Black being closer to tho pin by inches, but both of them were 20 yards off. Wight had to play fust and lie played a good shot. It rolled smoothly up to the hole, looked in, and went sft. past. Black responded with a perfect approach putt, and his ball rested a foot from tho nolo. the crowd waited in silence, white Wight addressed his put*' to save iho match after being 9 up. Ibo boll went up slowly and missed tho hole to tho right. Black had won. Wight played up wondorfully through the heartbreaking experience of seeing and feeling h;S lead vanish ■ hole by holo Black went round in 72. His figures Ave.ro:— Out: 5 4 5 3 5 4 3 4 5 —38. In: 2545 22 534 4 —34. Against Boss, Sime did not recover his equanimity. In the afternoon Rosa went to the seventh in level fours, and won

there by 12 up and 11 to play. Simo has been worried during tho past threo days by tho fact that a firo in his promises at Westport on Sunday caused much damage and probably a certain amount of loss. 'Ross meets Norton on Friday in tho semi-final. To-day Horton accounted for Harold Black (Wellington). Ho was 4 up at tho 18th, played good golf in tho afternoon, and won by 4 and 3. John Duncan beat Stewart Colbeck by 5 and 4, playing pood and powerful golf. Ho was ono over fours when the match ended. Duncan meets Jack Black in the semi-final on Friday. In tho professional competition Shaw and Douglas had a great contest in tho morning. Douglas was 1 up at the turn, which ho reached in 37. Shaw did the second half in that figure, and picked up 3 holes on Douglas, who thus went in to lunch 2 down. Both players are stylish and interesting to watch from tho point of view of stroke execution. Shaw forged ahead, in tho afternoon. Ho went to tho turn in 36 and was 5 up. Ho finally won by 6 and 5. Clements held on well to Mcintosh when tho latter was playing fine, accurate golf, in spit'o of two stymies, which cost him a stroke each. Mcintosh was round in 75, and Clements went in to lunch 2 down. In tho afternoon Clements went to the turn in 35, and reduced his opponent's lead to 1. .Mcintosh then did five holes in fours and won tho match by 5 and 4. Mcintosh and Shaw meet on Friday in tho 36 holes final for the professional championship. Tho professionals had a stroke competition to-day and R. Butters had two good rounds to annex the first prize. His figures in the morning wero:— Out: 4433 6 454 4—37. In:3 6 3 5 3 5 4 3 4—36. In tho afternoon his card read:— Out: 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 4 5—35. In: 3 6 4 4 3 4 4 3 5—36. This was tho best day's golf by ono player in the whole tournament.