GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21144, 30 March 1932, Page 10

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

OPEN PROVINCIAL TITLE. SUCCESS OF H. D. BRINSDEN. H. B. LUSK THE RUNNER-UP. BRILLIANT DISPLAY BY WINNER. Ideal weather conditions prevailed for the conclusion of the Auckland provincial golf championship at Tiliianpci yesterday. Tho winner was IT. T). Brinsden, of the Titirangi Club, 11. P. Lusk, Auckland Club, being runner-up. The course was in first-class order, but tho drying greens seemed to puzzle Lusk, Ralph and Black at times, but not so Brinsden, who putted with deadly accuracy all day. Brinsden started off in the semi-final against Black with machine-liko golf and was 3 up at the 6th.- his figures being better than par. Not to bo outdone, Black took the eighth and ninth in fours and turned for home 1 down. Brinsden played the 10th perfectly, winning in 4 after Black had narrowly missed holing. Five holes wero then halved, but Brinsden clinched matters at the 16th, winning in 4 and taking the match, 3 and 2. Brinsden's figures for the complete round wero as follows : Out: 3 4 4 3 5 4 3 5 .5—36. In: 43553545 3—37. Total, 73. Stymies for Ealph. Tho other semi-final between Ralph and Lusk developed, into a dour struggle and it was remarkable for tho number of stymies suffered by Ralph. The first hoJo was halved in fours and the second in fives, Ralph missing a putt for a win. Lusk went out of bounds at tho third and, failing to recover, ho conceded tho hole. Lusk found the bunkers at the fourth and Ralph took tho hole in a nicely-played 3, being 2 up. Both got well away to tho fifth, but Lusk approached dead to win in 4 to 5. 'J'lio sixth, seventh and eighth were halved in well-played bogies, Ralph still being 1 up. Neither got quite on at the ninth, Ralph ultimately being robbed of a certain half by a stymie. Long drives went away to tho 10th, Lusk finding the gvecn with his second. Ralph being on tho bank to tho left. Lusk won in 4 after blocking Ralph's putt for 1 lie possible half. Tho Redan was played badly, Lusk being short and Ralph through. Ralph's approach putt canto to rest 3ft. from the liolo and again Lusk's putt hung on tho lip, once more stymieing his opponent. Lusk was now 2 up. Bad Putting. Apparently rattled, Ralph putted very badly at tho 12th, taking 3 from 15ft., and Lusk was 3 up. Both reached tho Wrecker in 3, but Lusk's putt was too strong. His return, however, again blocked Ralph from what seemed to bo a win. Tho uoxt hole was halved, but Lusk threw away tho 15th by hooking his' second shot into the rough. Ralph outplayed Lusk at the 16th and seemed to have a certain win in hand, but by taking three putts he only halved. Lusk pulled his second badly going to the 17th and, failing to recover, Ralph won in 5 to 6.

Both got away good drives to the 18th, Lusk's second being on tho lower terrace, while Ralph was pin high. Lusk was weak with his first putt and again with his second and Ralph, making no mistake, squared the match. Away they went to tho 19th, and both playing good seconds a half was indicated, but Ralph misjudged his approach putt and overran tho hole. He missed the return and lost tho match. Brinsden's Fine Play. A large crowd gathered to see the final and, although tho match was very one-sided, the spectators were rewarded with a perfect exhibition of golf by Brinsden. His golf at present is quito up to Kirk-Windeyer standard, his last six rounds varying from 73 to 76. Lusk, on tho other hand, was obviously feeling tho effects of his struggles with MacEwen and Ralph, and was far below form. Tho first two holes were halved in correct fours, but Brinsden holed a 20footer at the third for an eagle 3. Lusk again played tho fourth badly and Brinsden was 2 up. Long drives and seconds went away to tho fifth, but, Lusk, approaching weakly, lost to a well-played 5. Brinsden found tho sixth green with his second, but did not require to putt for his 4. Both were wide at the seventh, Brinsden ultimately winning in 4. Lusk was again, weak at the eighth and lost to a well-played 4. Brinsden was now 6 lip. Raking drives went away to tho ninth and Lusk here gave a glimpse of his real ability, winning tho hole in a perfectly-played 4. Brinsden was now sup and his card read: — 4, 4, 3, 3, 5, 4, 4, 4, s—-36. Lusk's Last Effort. The tenth was played correctly to tho green, but again Lusk failed to get the figures. Brinsden played a glorious iron shot on to Rcdy'J, Lusk being short and failing to halve. Brinsden 7 up. Lusk's last effort was a win at tho 12th, but Brinsden settled all arguments by sinking a crooked ono for a 4 at tho sloping 13th, thus winning tho championship, 7 and 5. After tho prizes had been presented Mr. W. B. Colbeck, on behalf of the visiting golfers, congratulated tho Titirangi Club on the excellenco of fho playing conditions, and thanked the secretary, Mr. M. Ward, for his courtesy and flio ablo manner in which ho had run tho tournament. Following are the results of the championship : SEMI-FINALS. 11. D. Brinsden beat J. L. Black, 3 and 2. IT. B. Lusk beat, W. S. Ralph nt the nineteenth. FINAL. IT. D. Brinsden beat H. B. Lusk, 7 and 5. Provincial Handicap.—Semi-finals: \. L. Humphreys beat A. B. Joplin, 2 and 1; H. V. Stevens beat E. Maddison, 4 and 2. Final: 11. L. Stevens beat V, L. Humphreys, 1 up. Bogey Competition.—J. If. I'rancis (8), 1 up; IT. M. Rogerson (10), all square; L. Knight (11), F. W. Lucas (11), 1 down; R, G. Sellars (11), W. ,7. Roger (14), 2 down. Four-ball Bogey.—-McLean and Graham, Black and Edwards, Buckley and Lamb, all 5 up. A play-off will take place.