CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF.

PROVINCIAL TOURNEY. FIRST TWO ROUNDS DECIDED. THE FOUR SEMI-FINALISTS. LUSK DEFEATS PLUMLEY. Perfect golfing weather marked the continuation of the Auckland provincial golf ' championship and handicap tournament at Middlemore yesterday, the day being almost windless and a dull sky providing a good light. The course was considerably faster yesterday than on Saturday, and the scores reflected the easier condition:?. Of the 16 players who qualified for tho provincial championship on Saturday, tho four who have survived to contest tho semi-finals this morning are:— J. L. Black, Hamilton. R. M. George, Titirangi.: B. H. Menzies, Otahuhu. H. B. Lusk, Auckland. The final will bo played this afternoon.The results of yesterday's play are aa follows: —■ First Round. —J. L. Black beat ,V. W.: Wilson, 5 and 4; W. S. Ralph beat H. Horton, 5 and 4; R. M. George beat N. Louisson, 3 and 2; B. J. Smith beat. L. W. Delph, 1 up at the 19th hole: W. B. Colbeck beat J. Hockin, 5 and 4; B. H. Menzies beat W. A. Donald, . 4 and 3; If. Plumley beat S. C. Colbeck, 4 and 3; 11. B. Lusk beat H. Bi'insden, 1 up. Second Round.—Black beat Ralph, and 4; George beat Smith, 3 and. 2; Menzies beat Colbeck, 2 and 1; Lusk beat Plumley, 1 up. Tho results of the morning round contain few surprises. The veteran W. B.i Colbeck, by beating Hockin, 5 and 4, showed that his golfing days are veryfar from being over. Smith and Delph had a very even match, the result going in favour of tho former only at the 19th hole, where Delph stymied himself with his approach putt and lost tho hole with a 5 to Smith's 4. Lusk and Brinsden were all square going to tho last hole. _ Both played good drives, Brinsden having the benefit of position to the left of tha, fairway, but he mishit his second, which finished short of the bunker to the right of the green, and Lusk won the hole in par figures. Black Beats Ralph. In tho afternoon round Black proved too good for Ralph, winning by more than a comfortable margin. Ralph, who was playing almost perfect golf before this tournament, failed to produce his true form father yesterday or on Saturday. George scored a Svell-dcserved win over Smith at the sixteenth hole. Men?;ies and Colbeck had a great battle, Colbeck producing superb golf by going out with a score of 35. Menzies, however, held to his opponent and found his chance in the last few holes where Colbeck missed short putts - for his par figures. . Colbeck's card was as follows: Out. —5, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4—35. In.—3, 5, 5, sjrS4, 5, 5, 5, 5, —42. Lusk had another hard fight to bisat Plumley one up in the afternoon and"again showed that he is at his best in a close finish. Plumley was three up after four holes, but allowed his lead to slip away. His failure to hole a, medium length putt at the seventeenth allowed Lusk to become one up. Both players get good drives at the last hole i and Plumley placed his second high on the. left cf the green. Lusk was ;jusii through vrith his second, but laid hill approach :four feet from the hole. Plums ley made a valiant effort for his three* but the putt curled to the left and Lusk holed out in four to win the match ono 6 up.

Provincial Handicap. Play in the Auckland provincial handicap resulted as follows: — First Bound. —H. Tidmarsh beat W„N. Abbott, 1 up ; H. F. Buckley beaii C. B. Thomas, 1 up; J. F. Brown-beat T. Goulding, 4 and 3; R. McCrysta.ll beafc C G. Johnson, 3 and 2; V.. E. Weill beat C. B. Wake, 1 up; R. Edmonds beat C. N. Jacobsen, 4 and 3; J. P. Aldred beat D. MacCormick, 4 and 3; T. Simpson beat R. 0. Gardner, 1 up. Second Round—Buckley beat Tidmarsh, 3 and 2; McCrystall beat Brown, 2 and 1; Edmonds beat Wells, 1 up; Simpsion beat Aldred, 1 up. In the bogey handicap played in tha morning the best cards returned were:— B. H. Menzies (4), 4 up; W. Wilson (12), 3 up. Tho following two players tied lor tha medal handicap played in the afternoon. —W. B. Colbeck, 77, 6—71; J, L. Larnachan, 80, 9—71.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR TO-DAY. DRAW AND STARTING TIMES. This morning the semi-finals_ of tha provincial championship and handicap anil a bogey handicap will be played. Xh'3 fixtures for this afternoon are the finals of the championship' and handicap and a four-ball best-ball bogey handicap. Following aro the draw and starting tuneii:—Provincial Championship. 9 a.m., J. Lv Black v. R. M. George; 9.4, B. H. Menzics v. H. 13. Liiisk. Provincial Handicap.—9.B a.m., H. Buckley v. R. McCrystall; 9.12, E. Edmonds'v. T. Simpson. Bo T ey Handicap.—B a.m., 11. U buscombo v. B. 0. Heather; 8.12, E. Lb Roche v. J. Carnaehan; 8.16, R. Martin v. G. Ivissling; 8.20, G. Smith, v.,, J* Govder- 3.24, R. H. Browne v. J.E.: Lusk; 8.28, L. 0. Knight v. S. Hunter? 8.32 S. S. Wilson v.' R. McCiystall; 8 36* R. B. Wilson v. E. L. Bartleet; 8.40! H. Horton v. R. D. Wright; 8.44, W. Wilson v., C. B. ITerrold; 8.48, T.E. Clark v. W. B. Colbeck; 8.52, H. E. Kisslinc v. C. A. Sead (jowring; 9.20, C. M. Gordon v. J. P. Aldred; 9.24, W. N. Abbott v. J. Hockin; 9.28, R. I* Worley v. R. G. Sellar; 9.32, F. Trice vC. V. Mark; 9.36, C. B. Wado v* D. Poison; *9.40, H. Tidmarsh v. R. M. Dacre; 9.44, R. G. Rainger v. W. S Ealph; 9.48, W. G. Borrie v. J, F.Brown • 9.52, R. J. Hamilton v. B. J.. Smith;'9.s6, W, S. Colbeck v. V. W. Wilson; 10 a.m., H. T. Gillies, v. H. F. Blackie; 10.4, J. W. Manson v. Hutchinson; 10.8, C. E. Howden v. A. ; M Howden; 10.12, N. Pountney v. P.Howden; 10.16, V. E. Wells v. R. J., King; 10.20, E. B. Brown v. W. R. Teape; 10.24, J. McK. Wilson v. D.Robertson; 10.28, R. O. Gardner v. W. F Greenbank; 10:32, N. R. Chapman v. J. W. Clark; 10.36, C. J. Johnson v. B. C. Jacobs; 10.40, W. Pavitt v. H. A. Joyce; 10.44, J. Sead Gowrmg v. F.P. Worley.