COMMENTS ON PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 14

COMMENTS ON PLAY

GREAT STRUGGLE AHEAD EIGHT PLAYERS AT TOP FEATURES OF THE DAY BY J. L. BLACK WELLINGTON. Friday A squally northerly with bright skies at times made golf very difficult for the first and second rounds of the open golf championship at Heretaunga to-day. Though tho wind veered to the west in the afternoon it did not diminish in force. Tho drying winds have livened up tho fairways and greens and many tragedies were enacted on tho fiery greens. All tho one-shot holes vfere down wind and it was at these holes where most of tho scores were rained. As tho result of to-day's play a great struggle for mastery seems likely tomorrow between the fivo professionals, Shaw, Douglas, Moss, Rutter and Fuller, and tho amateurs, Arthur Duncan, Harold Black and Brian Silk. There is only five strokes difference between these eight players and on the run of the play to-day it is possible for any one of them to win. Silk was the first to start this morning and he gave a taste of his quality by reeling off an outstanding 71. The only mistake he made on the outward journey, which he completed in 36, was at tho long eighth hole where his drive was badly sliced into tho trees and a six was recorded. On tho home journey ho took fivo for tho 10th hole, but, playing his chip shots to the pin in great style, he was home in 35. Harold Black's Fine Round Harold Black produced tho -'-fireworks" of tlio morning. Starting by playing tho first two holes perfectly for par fours ho registered par figures for most of the outward journey and completed tho hardest nine holes of the round in 33. Continuing to play machifie-like golf, he reached tho 15th hole in three under fours. Ho struck trouble at the 16th where a six was recorded, but undismayed he boldly sank a 20ft. putt on the 17th green for a "birdie" three. A poor fivo at tho last gave him 71 for tho round. Moss was playing very sound golf but tho fast greens were troubling him. His 72 in tho morning round represented tho soundest golf of the day and if tho wind drops to-morrow ho will be most difficult to defeat. Missing 4ft. and 6ft. putts on the outward journey he carded 38. He did not play one bad shot during the round, and his homeward journey of 34 was the result of perfect play. 1 Again in tho afternoon he did not have a wild hole. He was not hitting his eightfoot .putts at tho hole, probably being afraid cf missing the returns, and this made the difference of about four strokes in his round. Shaw and Dr. Ross Shaw, playing against Dr. Ross, drew a large gallery and some splendid golf through' the fairways was seen, but the putting of both was faulty. Finding tho first green with his inashie second Shaw proceeded to give an example of his putting which was to follow. Missing a twofoot putt on tho first a five was marked up. This was followed by a five and a four. However, he reached the turn in 38. Par fours were recorded at the 11th and 12th. Shaw played two great shots to the 13th only to take three putts and record a five. A safe three was played at the treacherous 15th, followed by a grea<fc three at the 16th, but poor putting gave fives for the last two holes, the round being completed in 74. Starting with two fives in the afternoon Shaw again took 38 to reach the turn. Coming home his "putting improved and carding threes at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th, he returned in 34 to complete the round in 72 and take the leading position. Dr. Ross started in great style with 4, 4, 3, but then pulled two shots into the river. He reached the turn in 37. After taking a five at tho tenth he recorded three perfect fours, and seemed assured of a good round, but at the short 14th and 15th holes he required a five and a six. His score for the round was 78. Allowing for several bad holes lie played a fine long game. Veteran's Fine Performance Rutter was putting very badly in his morning round, but he came right on to his game in tho afternoon round, and his 72 places him in a good position for tomorrow's struggle. Arthur Duncan played very fine golf and, thoroughly understanding the baffling windj placed every shot with good judgment. Leaving himself very few delicate putts, he completed the course in 72 in the afternoon. Included in his outward journey of 35 were no fewer than four threes. T. H. Horton started disastrously with a five at the first and a six at the second, but then played good golf to reach the turn in 37. Missing short putts at the 10th and 11th holes for fours, he returned in 38. Putting poorly in the afternoon he took 78, and this put him practically out of the running. J. P. Hornabrook, the young KirkWindeyer Cup representative, produced a useful 75 in the morning, but played poorly in the afternoon for 80. He has been putting up great scores in practice at Masterton, but he has not entered for the amateur contest, which is a pity. Errors at 15th Hole Jack Black was going well until the 15th hole in the morning, where a six was carded. Finishing with a five and a six he was out of the running. Again in the afternoon he finished with two sixes, which spoilt a good card. Douglas, the Balmacewan professional, was playing good golf ail day, but the 15th hole proved his undoing both in the morning and afternoon, taking six and five A bogey three at this hole both times would have put him in the leading position. Mcintosh produced a solid round of 74 in tho morning, which included a two at tho difficult 15th, the only one 6f the day. The wind played havoc with his loosely-hit seconds in the afternoon, and lie was a bitterly disappointed man when he added up his score of 83, the worst score he has ever recorded in the open contest during his seven years' experience.