GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20254, 14 May 1929, Page 12

GOLF TOPICS.

THE KIRK-WINDEYER CUP.

DOMINION TEAM'S PERSONNEL.

MORPETH THE LEADING PLAYER.

BY FAIRWAY. The New Zealand team for the KirkWindcyer Cup match was announced a few days ago. It is at present a team of four players, Sloan Morpeth, the open champion, T. H. Horton, amateur champion, Dr. Kenneth Ross and Arthur Duncan. Tho dates may not be absolutely accurate, but present information indicates that the players will leave New Zealand about tho middio of July, take part in the Victoria State championship during tho last week of July and then give their attention early in August to tho Kirk-Windeyer Cup match. A little later in August comes the open championship of Australia at Adelaide, and it is expected the New Zealand representatives will bo able to wait long enough to play iri that national championship. These three fixtures provide an adequato programme of national events. There will be many minor games and engagements to keep tho players well employed throughout the whole of their sojourn. A Brilliant Player.

In the past two years Sloan Morpeth has established himself as the leading golfer in tho Dominion. His record of steady achievements would give him that position and his more brilliant performances, in addition, indicate that he is capable of holding his own in any amateur golfing company. Australian golfers have heard about him, especially from Ivo Whitton, and have long been looking forward to a visit from New Zealand's most powerful and brilliant player.

This fact, of course, increases our own interest as New Zealanders in the doings of our Kirk-Windeyer team members, as they lake part in prominent Australian golfing events. If tncy produce their own good golf and on occasions their best their visit in 1929 will be as memorablo as was that of 1927.

Three days are set apart for the KirkWindeyer Cup match itself. That fact means more than meets the eye. It means that while two representative teams contest tho final on August 9, an entry of more than four teams is expected, and as many as eight could b& disposed of in the three days' play, even allowing for singles and foursomes matches of 18 holes each. As a matter of fact the cup is competed for by New Zealand and by the States of Australia. New Zealand is not called upon to meet a national team representing the Commonwealth. Last Year's Defeat.

Last year it was the New South Wales team which defeated the Dominion team at Wellington by a small margin of holes, although the number- of matches won by each team was the same. The New South Wales players were Dr. Lee Brown, Dr. Nigel Smith, W. 11. Smith and W Dobson. In 1927 the New Zealand team encountered Victoria in the final at Sydney and defeated Ivo Whitton, Alec. Russell Headlam and E. G. Schlapp—a very notable performance indeed. It should be noted also that two years ago New Zealand was allowed, in accordance with the arrangements previously made, to wait until the Australian State teams had all been eliminated save . one. The Aew Zealand team then met that surviving team. This arrangement is a commendable one in view of the fact that the visiting team travels so far. We are also conscious of the magnanimity of the Australian leaders who made these arrangements. If this procedure is followed this year, and ono has seen no intimation to the contrary, then the New Zealand team can hold itself in readiness during August 7 and 8 in order to meet the single surviving Australian State team on August 9. Advantage to New Zealand.

That arrangement is an advantage for our side, and the sporting spirit of the more powerful golfing community on the other side of the Tasman will bo appreciated. Two years ago Queensiar.il, Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria had teams in the field, as well as New Zealand. Victoria beat New South Wales Sn the semi-final. It is almost certain that all of these States, with the possible exception of Queensland, will again put teams into the field this year, and South Australia is also expected to come in. These facts, together with the fact that in the past two years tho honours have been divided between the Dominion and the Commonwealth, cause us to look for a very keenly-contested series of matches for the cup this year.

As for the chances of tho New Zealand team they are as' good as those of New South Wales or of Victoria, the strongest Australian States, so far as golf is concerned. Leo Quin played very gallantly in the team of 1927, and won his match when everything depended upon that point. But the presence of Sloan Morpeth, instead of Quin, it cannot be denied, increases tho strength of the New Zealand team. It is, I think, the best Now Zealand team lhat could be put into the field, and each of the four players is a master of the game in a special way. for they all differ from each other in stylo and in their varying strong points. But I think I should keep until later my diagnosis of tho four as golfers. Five Players Suggested.

My only comment—and here I write, in ignorance of what the New Zealand Golf Council has done in achieving tins most satisfactory team of four —is that, there should bo five, instead of four, so that there bo one player in reserve. Five players went from tho Dominion to play for the cup two years ago. J. L. Black's record in tho past year is a very good one, but one supposes that ho finds it impossible to join the team. Ho was runner-up in the. amateur championship to T. 11. Horfon, being beaten by one hole after a very fine match. Earlier in the event lie was able to overcome C. Wight, at the 37th hole, after Wight, with a first round of 67, had been 9up on Black at the 18th. At Easter time J- L. Black was runner-up to Sloan Morpeth in the Auckland provincial championship. beaten by two holes in a match which did credit to them both. '