KIRK-WINDEYER CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20339, 21 August 1929, Page 14

KIRK-WINDEYER CUP.

T. H. HORTON'S COMMENTS.

VICTORIAN COURSES PRAISED. FORM OF NEW ZEALANDERS. [lt V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Interesting comments on Victorian courses and tho form of members of tho New Zealand golf team in tho KirkWindeyer Cup contest at Melbourne were made today by Mr. T. If. llorton, of Masterton, and Mr. J. L. Black, members of the team, who have returned to Wellington. Tlio cup contest, was won last week by Now South Wales. "Tho hospitality of Victorians is unexcelled, and everything possible was done to make our stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible," said Mr. Norton. "Tho Victorian courses aro tho best I have ever seen, and tho bunkering is most thorough. There is no chance of getting away with rough golf, as all the greens arc very tight and all shots must be played. One great feature is tho way in which tho bunkers aro placed, forcing a player to place his tee shot correctly in order to get the right line to tlio pin. 1 am certain if nioro of (his was carried out on New Zealand courses our golf would improve tremendously. Harcl Championship Games.

"As regards tho play of tho members of (ho team, we all appeared to strike fairly good form soon after arrival, but for some reason seemed to go off again. I am certain that this was duo to playing in tho Victorian State championship. All hands made great efforts to qualify, as wo realised that to do so in so strong a field was no mean task. I think wo wpre lucky to get three of our team in the first 16, as tho day on which wo played was one of tho worst 1 have ever experienced. Tlio wind was so strong on occasions that it was really hard work to stand against it. "Tho hard battle wo had during thoso two rounds took a great deal out of us and I am certain that as each of us was eliminated wo 'let up.' Although wo practised every morning on the cup course (Metropolitan), our minds were more on tlio doings of Sloan Morpeth in his battles than on our game. It was a great effort to get down to 'tin lacks' again after the championship was over. My own game gave me a lot of worry, as I could not strike form at all, and was delighted when I played a good game in tlio cup games. Tribute to Sloan Morpeth.

"I am sure tho other members of the team arc pleased, 100, with the games they played, as there is no doubt that tlip New South Wales men put on some really fine golf. Sloan Morpeth was fairly up against it with E. Apporley, and would have had to produce his absolulo best to have held his own. Apperley's morning round was 72, which is excellent golf on the Metropolitan course. Dr. Ken Boss played like a hero against Hector Morrison, and wo were all very pleased with his great effort in squaring his match, after being three down with only about five holes to play. "J. L. Black, who unfortunately could not strike his form previously, rose to tho occasion, and won his match against Keene in great style. Keene is looked upon as one of the great hopes of the young golfers of Now South Wales, and I think that Black's win against him is one of his best efforts. In my own match with Fawcett I was probably lucky in getting an advantage over him over the first few holes. This had tho effect of lotting mo go all out and everything I went for seemed to come off. Unfortunately, I spoiled a good round by taking a seven at the 18th, holo in tho morning, and finished in 75. Apart from my win I was pleased to even up with Fawcett for the licking ho gave me in the State championship. "Beaten by a Better Team."

''On looking back over the battle for tire Kirk-Windeyer Cup, I am satisfied that the whole "team did very well indeed, and we were beaten bv very solid golf and a better team. There is no doubt the New South Wales golfers can turn on fireworks, and they certainly did on this occasion. Naturally, we wore all very pleased with Sloan Morpeth's win in tho State championship, and it was no doubt a splendid performance to win through from such a strong field. Ho had some hard battles, and had to produce good golf to come through." In tho course of a short talk, Mr. J. L. Black also stressed the stiffness of the courses. Tho bunkers were true sand bunkers, and deep, and tho greens were guarded in a way unknown here with narrow entrances' in some preens. Tho pins wore placed within a few feet, of the guarding bunkers, and as some of these were two full woods In the green the placing of tho second shots required a nicety of play hardly imaginable here. "Morpeth played wonderful Rolf," said Mr. Black, "and any impression that he got into a lot of trouble and only won his games by wonderful recoveries from wild play at "times is all wrong. He placed nearly all his shots well, but tho greens are guarded in a way that makes it necessary to place them within a matter of feet. Morpeth knew how to get out of the few bunkers he did get into better than any of us, and there is no doubt that helped him. The greens were perfect". but some of them were very tricky. "In the foursomes' wo were 3 up.and 9 to go, but they nut a 33 over us. Wo camo back in 38. but were beaten 1 up. The best team won (he cup. I was surprised at the number of fine golfers in Australia, and more especially the number of good young ones- coming on."