GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

MATCHES AT MIDDLEMORE.

CHAMPIONSHIPS DECIDED.

ALLCOTT'S RECORD ROUND. 1 The defeat of 11. D. Wright and the absence of H. B. Lusk thi3 year put a different complexion on the club championship how being played at Middlemore. It might almost appear that these two players havo had a mortgage on the championship as' they have held it between them for so long. Lusk first, won the title in 1920, which he held until Wright came on the scene in 1924, and since then the pair have taken it turn about. So the old order of things is to be changed. At least six playets, all with likely chances,, promise to make thai championship very interesting indeed. W. A- Donald, who. was responsible! for the defeat of Wright on Saturday, caught the title-holder making the game hard for himself by faulty driving. Wright called on all his resources to save the situation and even resorted to holing hia approaches at two holes. But Donald was alive to the occasion and retaliated by holing a shot from outside the green at the 11th and sinking a 20ft. puti on the 13th green in reply to Wright's chip shot out of the bunker which ringed the hole. Faulty shots on both sides characterised some of the other holes playt d, but the sensational touches, as can be judged, went to provide a great match, which finished •on the 20th green. Donald's fine finishing effort was deserving of the match. Dr. Macky proved too powerful for D. MacCormick on the day, his long driving giving him a big advantage. Although H. Plumley ran away at the finish to win 4 and 2 from G. F. Foote . he was hard pressed to make any impression over the first nine holes, which Foote played well, and went on to finish with a round of 79. E. L. Bartleet. did not have much to spare in his match with C. W; Jacobsen, who was playing some great golf up to the greens. Bartleet's ability on the greens, however, saved him time and again, the match going to tho 18th green, where Bartleet ended 2 up. A Comfortable Win. Dr. Abbott won his match comfortably. Coverdale's terrific driving presented great possibilities, but there his game ended on Saturday, Dr. Abbott winning by superior green work. The other three matches were not played owing to Gardner, Aldred and Western being away at the Dominion championships. One cannot miss the opportunity to congratulate N. Louisson on his fine performance at Wanganui, and for being the only other Aucklander besides Morpeth to qualify for the -.New Zealand amateur championship. : Now tlie great- news of his victory over Kapi Tareha has just come to hand. The qualifying for the junior champion at Middlemore was completed on Saturday, the scores in the second round showing a marked improvement on those of the previous Saturday. With a splendid round of 84 N. C. Whitcombe scooped the pool by recording the best gross score, arid with his handicap of 18 easily the best net, which als.o won him the Nursery handicap. Y. Masters was nextk to "qualify with rounds of 90, 86 to his credit. *J. A. Peacock did well to be placed after the bad startlie made in the first round. ' Semi-finals at One Tree Hill. > The semi-finals in, the! Cm; Tree Hill section of the Maungakiekie junior and C grade championships have now been played. The winners, J. S. .Rankin and A. McKeown. will meet the Titirangi semi-finalists in their respective classes in a 36-hole match, one round to.be played at each course. _ _ Rankin and McKeown have both proved fully consistent in winning through, for each was at the head of tho qualifying list in his grade. It does not always happen thus. Rankin topped tho list last year at One Tree Hill, but did not survive long in tho match play. In his semi-final against L. Knight, he produced again the excellent form ho showed in several earlier matches, overwhelming Knight to the extent of 7 up and 6 to play. As indicating the calibre of Rankin's golf, his card for the 12 holes played was 52, four over fours, a sterling performance in a junior event. He turned 6 up, having won the ninth by holing an approach for a three after his opponent v had made a four a certainty and a .half more' than probable. Rankin's successful run to this stage of tho championship promises we?,! for, even better things in, the future. He has tho style and the strokes:. The proof he has given of growing steadiness and match play temperament should enable him to do well in stronger company than that of the junior grade. Pupuk* Championship. Tho senior championship was decided on Saturday when M. 15. Thompson defeated L. J. Minogue, 4 and 3. The winner's golf was steady throughout, without any brilliancy, and his win was well merited. Minoguo, who is usually a good, starter, failed at the first few holes and Thompson finished the morning round 5 up. Tho afternoon round saw Minogue start to reduce the lead and at the 23id ho was 3 down, but he again slipped to 5 down and was 7 down at the 27th. By winning the 23th and 29th he reduced the margin, but a short putt at the 31st was missed and ho was dormv 5. Ho collected the 32nd, but missed the 33rd, and this gave Thompson tho championship honour for Pupuko for 1929. Miuoffue,di<l not display his usual consistency, but cer(airily had very brilliant patches and toward the finish was fighting very hard. Thompson's lead, however, enabled him to . play with great, confidence and this was emphasised in his putting. The junior championship was won by Entwistlo at tho 19th. after being dormy 2 down. Ilis opponent, Ansell, was indeed very unlucky to finish .in the role of runner-up, as ho really bad the better part of tho match and at the 17th looked a certain winner. Tho captain's prize was won by C. IT. Kingsford, who defeated I. G. McKe'.izie. 4 and 3. The'latter found the margin of strokes too great and, playing good coif. Kingsford gave him no chances. Tho winner has shown considerably improved form of late and his victory was a popular one. Allcott's Great Round. C. F. Allcott's wonderful, performance in the final of the Glendowie championship on Saturday when ho broke tho courso record'with a round of 70 makes a fitting finish to his already brilliaht career this season. Allcott is a left- S hander who plays with a very nics easy style. His long tee shots on Saturday left him little to do to get on to tho greens where his putting was ol' a deadly order. He repeatedly sank putts of 20ft. and over. It would be interesting to see how this player would shape against the champions of other clubs. It .is hoped the suggestion made early in tho season that the champions of their respective clubs should meet to decide the chaitfpion of champions will be carried out. The nature of Allcott's great round, 36 out, 34 home, denotes steady, consistent golf not likely, to be beaten or even equalled for many a long day. ' %4 " »' The best description of good style in ... any game is that it is tho great ns .pos . _ „ibio eain with the least possible effoi'.. ''Science against brute golf as well * boxing.—Florence L. Harvey.