GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 16

GOLF TOPICS

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS HUTCHISON WINS AT GLENDOWIE INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS Golfing conditions over the week-end were wonderful, the ( bountiful rains having taken all the sting out of the greens. The grass should now come away, .but it is unfortunately so late that when the greens reach a state bordering on perfection many players will bo thinking of other games and pastimes. A popular win was registered bv E. Hutchison in the final of the Glendowie Club championship last Saturday- when he defeated W. A. Cole at the 38th hole. Hutchison had unsuccessfully contested the final on three previous occasions and was so anxious to win that he almost failed through trying too hard: Colo had eliminated that hard match player, F. Trice, in the semi-final, and his gallant effort in the' final was testimony to his fighting qualities and although beaten the experience gained will be invaluable to liim. The morning round was uneventful, neither player being able to take full advantage of the opportunities offering, and at lunch time the match was square. Cole won the 19th, but the game was square again at the 23rd, and Hutchison got a break by winning the 24th, 26th and 28th to become three up and eight to play. Bad putting cost Hutchison the 30th, and at the next hole he was half stymied and robbed of a win. Cole reduced the deficit to one at the 32nd but after a half at the 33rd lie duffeel his drive to the 34th and became dormy two down. Both reached the next green in two, but faulty putting by Hutchison cost him the hole, and in an endeavour to steer his ball on to the 36th green lie dropped another hole and the match was square. Going to the 37th Hutchison was on the bank above the green in two, while Cole was wide in the like. Hutchison played a masterly chip on to the falling ground to within a few inches of the hole, and Cole responded with a shot that rimmed the cup, a half resulting. The short 38th marked the end of a great match, where Hutchison's approach putt rested on the lip of the hole and completely gtymied Cole. Defeat ol Brinsden To those with a knowledge of the capabilities of R. R. McCrystal it came as no surprise to hear that he had beaten H. D. Brinsden in the Titirangi Club championship. However, the five i)p and four to play victory would indicate that Brinsden was not at his best. His long game suffored by comparison with that of McCrystal, and the lay-out of Titirangi calls for long, accurate driving more than anything else, and any weakness in this department spells disaster. McCrystal lost the first hole, but thereafter played nice golf and after missing holing putts on at least two greens squared the match at the Bth. He now gained the ascendancy, and with perfectly played fours at the 9th and 10th became two up. The 11th was halved, and following a glorious drive to the long 12th McCrystal reached the green with a full iron shot and won the hole in four to five. Brinsden sealed his fate by slicing out of bounds at the " Wrecker,' and failing to recover picked up. The end came at the short 14th, where McCrystal's tee shot was almost dead for a two. McCrystal now awaits the result of the match between Dacre and Tallis, while A. Gould- - ing and J. Murray meet on the other side of the draw. The Hamilton team visited Titirangi for the annual inter-club match, and after some very interesting games finished all square. The top match between J. L. Black and McCrystal resulted in a fairly comfortable win for the first-named. McCrystal had somewhat relaxed after his game with Brinsden in the morning and was soon four down, from which position he was unable to make much impression on the steady Black. D. Colbeck carried too many guns for Tallis and R. Edwards gave eviclenco that Hamilton has improved his game by decisively beiting Beehan. Close Match for Oroxaon L. J. Croxson had another narrow escape when he managed to beat the steady W. B. Eustace at the 19th in the Otahubu Club championship semi-final. Croxson showed a lot of promise a few years ago, but gave the game a spell last season and since resuming this year has played some brilliant golf. Croxson will now meet H. Levy in the final. A Maungakiekie team visited Akarana for the inter-club fixture, but found the home side too strong. Chief interest centred in the match between B. J. Smith and 11. M. George, and after a fine contest the last-named just managed to win. George's success can be attributed to his ability with the chip shot, which on numerous occasions he played to within easy holing distance. There was nothing in the game until George assumed the lead at the 14th and then ho lufkily stymied Smith at the 16th to become dormy 2 up. Smith won the 17th, and after both had reached the 18th in 2 Smith made a great effort to hole his putt for a win in 3, narrowly missing. The qualifying rounds of the senior and intermediate championships were held at Middlemore on Saturday. In the senior event notable failures w-cre L, W. Delph, R. D. Wright, C. N. Jacobsen and H. W. Tidmarsh, all of whom started badly, and in attempting recoveries made matters worse. The rain mado an extraordinary difference to the greens, and it was possible to hit the putt instead of merely dribbling it the hole. Under the strange conditions it was not altogether surprising that some players had difficulty in gauging correctly the strength of the greens Burns Memorial Prize G. MacEwan and B. H. Menzies led the field with 156 for the 36 holes and had to play off for the Burns Memorial Prize, Menzies winning by the odd stroke over 8 holes. MacEwan, with 77 in tho morning, led Menzies by 2 strokes, but at tho turn in the afternoon tho lastnamed had drawn level. Coming home MacEwan startod in 2, 3, 4, 3, exactly 4 strokes better than Menzies, and appeared to be in an unbeatable position Such is the uncertainty of the game, however, that he took a 5 at. the 14th, followed by an inglorious 7 at tho 15th. and lost all his advantage. Both got fours at the 16th, and Menzies led at the 17th with a 4 to 5, but after reaching the 18th in two required three putts from 20ft In the play-off MacEwan went into the lead at the sth where he played a fine spoon shot on to the green. Menzies drove badly to the 6th, but played a match-winning iron shot from a dillicult angle to within a few feet of the pin, MacEwan meanwhile being short with his approach and taking s—all square. The 7th was halved and following good drives to the Bth MacEwan played a weak second in the bunker, losing to a safe 4 by Men/.ies. The golf played all day by Menzies was remarkably smooth, his long game being so good that the figures came easily and only one six appeared on his cards. The veteran W. B. Colbeck played beautiful golf in the morning and only needed a 4 at the 18th to finish in 77. S. S. Wilson also shaped roally well and handled the condition# without any trouble. The championship will be full of interest, and, although it would he unsafe to prognosticate in view of the rosult of the automatic draw, Menzies should 'reach the final. Tho Hamilton team visited Middlemore, but was unable to cope with the strong local side. In the top match MacEwan was right off his game in the early stages, being 4 down to Black at the stli hole. However, he reduced the deficit to 2 down at the lith but finally lost on the 16th, 3 and 2. Although beaten the visitors thoroughly enjoyed the day and expressed admiration of the wonderful fairways.