GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 10

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

OPEN PROVINCIAL TITLE. QUALIFYING ROUNDS PLAYED. B. SMITH IN BRILLIANT FORM. Favoured by glorious weather some 80 players took part in the two qualifying rounds of the Auckland provincial golf championships at Titirangi on Saturday. The first 16 to qualify will play off in the championship, while the next 16 will play off for tho Auckland provincial handicap under match play conditions A prize was given for tho best gross score and also for the best net score. The championship was held at Midillomore last year, but it has been' arranged that Iho venue shall alternate between tho Auckland and Titirangi Clubs. The course was in perfect oriler and reflected great credit on the committee and staff, but it was by no means „casy. Tho heavy rain which fell earlier in tho week had almost entirely evaporated, leaving tho drying greens difficult, not to say tricky. Only thoso players who quickly sensed tho pace of tho varying greens retained their confidence throughout, while those unfortunates who suffered early disappointments struggled all day. Basil Smith, 11. Brinsden, -T. T'. Black and It. B. Busk all played high-class golf, but tho form of the others was only mediocre. Smith Creates Record. Basil Smith started off with two birdio threes, and, full of confidence, played liko a champion. Ho required 8 putts only on tho first six greens and reached tho turn in a beautifully-played 34. He missed a few chances on the home journey, taking 40, his card reading!— Out; o, 3, o, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5—34; In: 5, 4, 5, 5, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4—40; total, 74. After lunch Smith continued (ho good work, hilling his shots rigliL up to tho pin. After going out in 38 ho came homo in a dazzling 33. I lis card at 71 road: Out: 3. 5, 5, 3, 5, 4, 3, 5, 5-38; In: 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3—33; total, 71.

This is a record for t lie present course, i 1110 scratch score of which is 75, being ! 37 out and 38 home. 11. Brinsden, who partnered Smith, played great golf all dnv, being only two strokes behind at lunch. In the afternoon, playing shot for shot, he had gained one stroke on his partner going to tho 141 l i, only to see Smith take one putt at each of the-last four holes. Black the Favourite. ,7. L. Black, who lied with" Brinsden with a 74 and 76, holed a mashie chip for a three at the first hole and thereafter played his usual solid golf. He will be the favourite under the match play to follow. IT. ]». Lusk was the only other player to break 80 in each round, his afternoon score of 74 having possibilities of something startling. B. 11. Menzies, holder of the titlo, met with a slight accident and under tho circumstances did well to qualify. R. M. George started well and was going along smoothly until lie ran into a straight eight approaching the Island, and the shock was nearly his undoing. T. A. Goulding, the Titirangi champion, was never on good terms with his clubs and the same might bo said of A. I'lumley and E. L. Bartleet, who all failed to qualify. Tho results were as follows: — Provincial Championship. The following qualified for the championship : B. J. Smith, 74, 71—145. H. D. Brinsden, 76 , 74 —150. J. L. Black, 74, 76—150. 11. B. Lusk, 78, 74—152. I. MacEwen, 81, 79—160. If. F. Buckley, 78. 82—160. E. E. Beelian" 80, 82—162. W. B. Eustace, 80. 82—-162. B. H. Menzies, 81, 81—162. W. S. Ralph. 81, 82—163. E. G. Tallis, 82, 82—164. A. J. Good, 83. 82 —165. W. N. Abbott. 82, 83—165. T. E. Clark, 81. 85—166. C C. Johnson, 80. 86 —166. R. M. George, 83, 83 —166. The following qualified for ilie provincial handicap:—V. L. Humphreys, 87. 80—167: J. Murray, 85, 02 —167: B. O. Gardner, 82. 87—169; W. B. Colbeck, 86, 83_] fig ; R. It. McCrystal, 89. 81—170; T. A. Colliding, 84, 86 —170; M. Jacobsen, 84. 87—171; F. Hazelden. 88. 83— 171; C. G. Fisher, 84, 87—171; E. Maddison, 87, 85—172; A. B. Joplin, 87, 86 - 173: C. B. Thomas. 93, 80—173; W. Calderwood, 85, P8 —173; H. C. Stevens, 83. 90 —173: H. W. Cooke. 87. 87—174; F. Trice, 89, 85—174; W. F. Greenbmik, 20. 94—174; N. M. Louisson, 86, 88 —174. Four competitors tied for the last two places. Trice and Cooke were successful in the draw for the positions. The winner of the Easter scratch medal was B. ,T. Smith, whose score was 145. Following is fhe result of (he medal handicap over 36 holes:—G. 11. Birch, 91, 87 —178 (handicap. 40), net, 138; B. .T. Smith. 74. 71—145 fscr). 145; T. E. Clark, 81, 85-166 (18), 148; F. W. Lucas, 91, 87—178 (30), 148; G. M. White, 85, 94—179 (30), 149. Programme for To-day. Following is the draw for to-day s plav:— Championship.—Smith v. Clark, Ralph v. Abbott, - McEwen v. Good, Lusk v. Tallis, Beehan v. Eustace, Black v. George, Buckley v. Menzies, Brinsden v. Johnson. Provincial Handicap.—Colbeck v. Humphreys, Goulding v. Murray, .Toplin v. Hazelden, Thomas v. Price. Jacobsen v. Calderwood, Maddison v. McCrystal, Cooke v. Gardner, Fisher v. Stevens. The starting times are:—

No. 1 Tec. —8.36 a.m., B. P. Deiphton and O. 0. .Tones; 0.40, .T. IT. Francis and A. 11. Mapson ; 8.44, G. M. White arid W. J. Rodper; 8.48, A. C. Lamb arid W. .1. A. Thomson; 8.52. J. Gilmoiir and R. A. McLean; 8..%. S. Hunter and J. RouMon; 9 a.m.. A. J. Good and I. Mac'Fwon; 9.4, B. .T. Smith and T. F. Clark : 9.8, J. L. Black and "R, IST. Georco; 9.12, TT. Brinsden and 0. 0. Johnson; 9.16, TT. F. Buckley and B. IT. Men/ies; 9.20, I''. F. Beehan and W. B. Eustace; 9.24'. W. Caldenvood and C. M. Jacobsen: 9.28. R. O. Gardner and TT. W. Cooke: 9.32, V. L. Humphreys and W. I?. Col bock; 9.36. C. G. Fisher arid IT. C. Rt evens; 9.40. ']'. A. Gotildintr and .T. Murray; 9.44, W. S. Ralph and W. N. Abbott,: 9.48. TT. B. Lnsk and F. G. Till lis: 9.52. F. Tlazelden and A. I». Jonlin; 9.36, F. Maddison and 11. R. McCrystal. 10 a.m. G. B. Thomas and F. Trice; 10.4. "VV. L. Butch and A. Fairhnrn; 10.8, F. L. Bartleet and R. 11. Wallace; 10,12. W. R. Yercoo and Tt. G. Scllar; 10.16, .T. K. Lnsk and N. A. Naismilh; 10.20, G. II Birch and -T. S. White; 10.24, A. F. Saunders and A. H. O'Learv; 10.28, F. W. Lucas and N. Chapman; 10.32. M. J. Bailey and .T. W. ,Tone,s; 10.36, L. Knicd't and R. .1. Hamilton. No, 8 Tee.--8.36 a.m.. F. S. Ballin and E. .1. Richardson; 8.40, A. L. TSfoLean and W. F. Greenhank; 8.44, B, J. Love and R. F. Fdmonds; 8.48, .T. B. Lnsk and H. A. Bandrnp; 8.52. IT. M. Rogerson and IT. Brondhnnt; 8.56, A. E. Hansel and .T. M. Graham: 9 a.m., A. V. I'eaco arid A. G. Stedman.