PROVINCIAL GOLF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 11

PROVINCIAL GOLF

OPEN CHAMPION TITLE FIRST TWO ROUNDS DECIDED DEFEAT OF H. D. BRINSDEN SEMI-FINALISTS MEET TO-DAY Tho playing conditions, although extremely fast, were almost perfect at Middlemore yesterday for the continuation of the provincial championship golf touruey. Two rounds were decided and the four semi-finalists, H. B. Lusk, R. D. Horton, B. M. Silk and B. H. Menzies will play off to-day. The titleholder, H. D. Brinsden, suffered defeat in the first round at the hands of B. J. Smith. The first round of the championship resulted as follows: —R. D. Wright beat R. Edmonds, 1 up; H. B. Lusk beat I. MacEwan, 2 up; R. D. Horton beat W. N. Abbott, 2 and 1; R. R. McCrystal beat W. S. Ralph, 2 and 1; H. F. Buckley beat W. B. Eustace, 5 and 4; B. M. Silk beat V. A. Haworth, 4 and 3; B. J. Smith beat H. D. Brinsden, 6 and 5; B. H. Menzies beat J. H. Young, 2 and 1. Edmonds was 2 up on Wright at the seventh, but was 1 down at the 14th. The next hole was halved, and with a birdie 3 the first-named got square again at the 16th, but Wright clinched matters at tho 18th. Lusk proved just too steady for MacEwan and a fine match ended with the last putt. .Abbott and Horton were square going to the 16th, but a visit to tho plantation here and at the next holo cost Abbott the match. MeCrystal's superior driving contributed to his victory over Ralph, whose tee shots were very erratic. Splendid Driving Buckley, tho Whangarei player, drove magnificently against Eustace, and was level with bogey when the match ended. Silk had his revenge on Haworth, who beat him on their h<sme course at Wanganui last season. Out in 37, Smith was 5 lip'on Brinsden, who seemed quite unable to produce the golf of which he is capable. The match ended on the 13th, where Smith's figures were level with fours. The meeting of Menzies and the' youthful Titirangi player, J. H. Young, drew a good gallery, which was rewarded by some really amazing golf by the 16-vears-old youth. For him to retain the offensive for most of the match against a player of Menzies' calibre wasa very fine effort indeed. Menzies completed the home half in 3, 4, 4, 2, 5, 4, 4, 3, 4—33. Two down going to the 11th, Menzies, by the aid of the stymie, got one back and at the 12th squared the match. Young approached dead at the 13th, but Menzies holed from the edge of the green f&r a two to assume the lead. Young halved the loth in four by the aid of a masterly chip from the back of the green, and had the advantage going to the 16th, where he played a great brassie to the middle of the green, but Menzies recovered splendidly to secure the half. The game ended on the 17th, where Menzies holod a long putt for 3. Fine Play in Second Round The second round resulted as foliowa? —Lusk beat Wright, 4 and 2;" Horton beat McCrystal, 2 and 1; Silk beat Buckley, 3 and 1; Menzies beat Smith, 3 and 2. Some very fine golf was played during the afternoon, the standard' being generally equal to that seen at a Dominion meeting. When the two old antagonists, Lusk and Wright, met, a dour struggle was expected, but 'although • the game was square at the turn, Wright's steadiness deserted him and he lost the next three holes to be beaten on the 16th. Out in 40, Horton and McCrystal were all square, but a weak second cost the last-named the 11th and 12th and Horton won the 14th to become dormy 3. McCrystal won the 16th, but failed to take advantage of a weak second by Horton at the 17th. and the game ended 2 and 1. The match between Menzies and Smith drew the gallery, and in winning Menzies played one of the best match rounds ever seen at Middlemore. Smith, usually one of the most powerful drivers, unaccountably failed at critical stages yesterday. The first two holes were halved in fours, and Menzies won tho third and fourth.' Faultless Play The fifth and sixth holes were fault-; lc-ssly played, but Smith foozled his tee shots at both the seventh and eighth, and the ninth being halved, he was now 4 down. Menzies was out in 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5 —36. Menzies played his first weak shot to lose the 11th, and was also short at -the 13th, where Smith played a great iron shot, to win in 3 to 4. Menzies won the 15th, where his second was almost dead for a three, to then go on and halve the 16th in four, winning 3 and 2. In taking Silk to the 17th, Buckley proved that he is a golfer of distinct merit, and had he putted consistently might even haVe reversed the result. The results of the provincial handicap match were as follows: — First Round. —E. Bartleet beat A. Good, 7 and 6; J. M. Hussev beat F. Hazelden, 2 and 1; G. Coltman beat E. G. Tallis, 3 and 1; H. Plumley beat W. B Colbeck, 2 and 1; T. E. Clark beat E. E. Beehan, 5 and 4; C. N. Jacobsen beat H. Tidmarsli, at the 19th; A. L. McLean beat N. Louisson, ; 3 and 2; J. K. Lusk beat T. Goudie,4 and 3 Second Round. —Hussey beat Bartleet, 2 and 1; Coltman beat Plumley, 6 and 4; Clark beat Jacobsen, 1 up;' Lusk beat McLean, 5 and 3. Tho morning bogey match resulted. —L. Knight (8), 1 up; J.-H. Earle and J. F. Brown, 1 down. The best cards in the medal match in the afternoon were: —T. Goudie* SI, 9—72; J. H. Young, 79, 5 —74; W. B. Lusk, 89, l;J —76; B. C. Jacobs, 90, 14—76; L. Knight, SC, 10 —76. - /

PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY The semi-finals and finals of thai championship and provincial handicap will be played to-day. A bogey handicap will be played m tho morning and a four-ball bogey - match in- the afternoon for those not competing in the match play. Following are the starting times: —S.liO a.m., A. H. Kirker and C. B. Herrold; 8.34, R. G. Sellar and E. B. Gunson; 8.38, R. J. King and R. J. Graham; 8.42, G. Tallin and *J. H Young; 8.46, W. N. Abbott and W. B. Colbeck; S.uO, E. L. Bartlcet and R. Rainger. 9 a.m. —H. B. .Lusk and R. D. Horton; 9.4, B. M. Silk and B. H. Menzies; 9.8, J. M. Hussey and G. Coitman; 9.12, T. E. Clark and J. K. Lusk; 9.16, E. B. Brown, L. B. Campbell and A. L. McLean; 9.20, P. C. -Savage, C. G. Johnson and A. Boddington; 9.24,' H. F. Buckle\y W. J. Glanvillo and R. Edmonds; 9.28, C. Jacobsen, R. D. Wright and V. B. Ma worth; 0.32, C. McManus, W. F. Greenbank and G. A. Ferguson; 9.36, A. Sandel, R. O. Gardner and E: E, Bcehan; 9.40, J. H. Earle, A. J. Good and C. M. Gordon; 9.44, W. Wilson, J. B. Lusk and A. H. Magson; 9.48, 1L B. Wilson, J. F. Brown and L. Knight; 9.52, 1). A. Burt,,T. Goudio and A. I. Johns; 9.56, F. W. Lucas, J. Gilmour and W. T. Surman. 10 a.m.—R. Martin, B. S. Finn and A. Haworth; 10.4, W. B. Lusk, J. L* Balgarme and H. Henderson; 10.8, E« A. Tuke, A. Shorter and J. M. Stokesj] 10.12, 11. R. Kirker and A. C. Taui« ft AUCKLAND PUBLIC L.IBIIAP 7 .