GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

EVEN INTER-CLUB MATCH. AUCKLAND AND TITIRANGI. HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY.

The first of the season's inter-club contests between tho Auckland and Titirangi Golf Clubs was played over the Titirangi links on Saturday, both clubs fielding their strongest players. Conditions 011 the day were anything but good, heavy rain squalls sweeping the links at frequent intervals and making tho going heavy and tho teeing grounds very slippery. Nevertheless, some excellent golf was recorded, especially in the leading matches.

011 handicaps the Auckland side was tho stronger, but, taking everything into consideration, it was a very fair and fitting finish that tho honours were oven, 10 wins each and four matches all square being tho final result. Thus the Auckland Club retains the cup which it won by defeating Titirangi in tho last contest. Defeat of H. B. Lusk. In tho leading match H. D. Brinsden proved too good for H. B. Lusk on his owii course. Tho local player was right at tho top of his form, his putting particularly being very sound and soveral twenty footers proved very helpful.

Although K. M. George is now playing most of his gulf over tho Ono Tree Hill course ho is still conversant with tho lay of tho land at Titirangi and is always bard to beat 011 this course. George had two bad holes, tho 9th and lltli, which enabled W. S. llalph to gain a slight advantage, but otherwise llalph was 011 tho defensive most of the time. George's miraculous putting left Ralph no option but to play safe. Still holding a 1 up lead going to the 17th, Ralph was on tho edgo of the green with two full wooden shots which resulted in a four and he won tho match, 2 and 1.

Usually It. 1). Wright and George meet on theso occasions, but Wright has not been playing up to form this season. However, liis defeat of E. Ci. Tallis might almost bo regarded as .1 good indication of a return to someihing approaching his liest form. Considering that If. Plumley has had only 0110 gatno in tho last six weeks tho result of his match with It. McCrystall was left very much in doubt as tho local club champion lias been showing excellent form lately. Plumlev, however, excelled himself beyond all expectations, completing tho course in 74 <0 beat McOrystall, who was round in 76. McCrystall's opening effort of 3, 3, 4, 3 was enough to demoralise any opponent. Plumley held on, however, and his turn came in a series of one putts on 10 greens, which, with a couple of stymies as well, was too much for McC'rystall. It. is hard to imagine better golf than this pair played under tho none, too favourable conditions. Provincial Champion Beatan. T. A. Goulding, who was pitted against tho provincial champion, IS. H. Menzies, staged a wonderful return to form for tho occasion. While it is pleasing to record Colliding on his game again lie was hardly expected to win by such a wido margin. As it happened tho next pair, W. L. Robinson and W. N, Abbott, were tho last to finish. Tho score board at this stage stood 9 games to 10 in Titirangi's favour and Dr. Abbott's victory proved an important one for the Auckland Club.

E. L. Bartleet was somewhat lucky to escapo with an all squaro decision in bis match with A. M. Goulding, who took three putts from 8 feet on tho last, green. C. N. Jacobscn bad a close match with F. Trice for ho was called upon to bole a 6-foot stymie on tho last green to win 1 up. It was a great shot that bounced twice before it went to the bottom of tho hole. Few players would have attempted the shot at that stage of tho game and on such a slippery green. Two valuablo wins recorded for tho home sido wero thoso of J. Murray and V. L. Humphreys, who defeated two young and experienced players in N. Louisson and S. C. Colbeck. All square with his opponent going to the last bole, Colbeck played a bad shot to lose the hole and the match.

Dr. Coverdale was at his best off the tees, but the superior green work of his opponent, C. G. Fisher, more than equalised matters. An all square result to this match was a fair decision. The defeat of W. B. Colbcck by J. H. Goyder was somewhat surprising in its severity, although conditions were much against the veteran player producing his truo form. A. V. Joplin staged a great recovery against G. H. Abel when he was 5 down at the sixth hole to win eventually 2 up. The majority of the other matches were evenly contested with the honours, if anything, favouring the Titirangi players. The return match to bo played over the Middlemore links on October 17 will be looked forward to with much interest. Club Competitions.

Titirangi players showed up well in tho four-ball best-ball medal provided at Middlemore on Saturday, the winners, W. P. Baker and J. C. Jones, returning an exceptionally good score of 64 net. Another Titirangi pair even bettered this score, but having sheltered during the game, could not record their card. The four-ball best-ball match play event at Middlemore is creating a good deal of interest. A very excellent match played during the week-end resulted in A. W. Donald and T. R. Brett defeating H. B. Busk and V. Wells at the 19th hole. Donald and Lusk wero outstanding.

It is pleasing to note that the newly-formed Manurewa Golf Club is making good progress and that its' membership is increasing. Last year's champion, 0. V. Adlam, does not seem to be producing his best form at. present. However, there is time yet for him to find his gamo before the championship comes round. T. 0. Galloway lias taken a prominent part in competitions lately. He won tho monthly medal flag match and is at present second for the president's trophy. The winner of tho Taylor Bowl competition at Titirangi proved to bo .T. H. Goyder and the runner-up B. W. Beaumont. In the final, which was played during the week-end, Goyder was conspicuous throughout, as a round of 81 off a 12 handicap represents. Beaumont has performed well for a comparatively new player, and has shown great determination in all his matches. Goyder has carried out the good impressions formed of him earlier, and lie is to be regarded as ono of the most improved players in the club this year.

The North Shore Club featured a medal competition in which C. H. Kingston, juii., headed the list with a 65 net, being closely followed by M. E. Thompson, 67. Thompson's round from the 7 mark is worthy of note, as owing to tho greens being as yet unformed putting is a matter of difficulty. S. S. Wilson tested the course for the first time during the week-end, and produced an excellent 73 gross. His terrific driving enabled him to record several threes. N. Bell, who predicts a great future for the links, and who has commenced duties as club professional, turned in a neat 69. The present holes are, of course, short, but on viewing tho plans for the completed 18 holes one realises that scores in the 70's will be rare.