PROVINCIAL GOLF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 13

PROVINCIAL GOLF

OPEN CHAMPION TITLE p B. M. SILK SUCCESSFUL R. D. HORTON RUNNER-UP KEENLY-CONTESTED MATCHES The conditions were ideal for the conclusion of the Auckland provincial championship golf tourney at Middlemore yesterday. The winner was B. M. Silk, of Wanganui, who defeated B. D. Horton, of the Auckland Club, 2 and 1. In the semi-finals It. D. Horton beat H. B. Lusk, 1 up, and B. M. Silk defeated B. H. Menzies at the 19tb. Rarely have such closely and keenly contested games been seen at a championship meeting and the record gallery was visibly appreciative. On the play Menzies was unlucky to lose against Silk, but his putting, which 13 such a strong point, failed him when ho had the game in his keeping. If anything, over-confidence cost him the win at the 15th, but to have his really wonderful effort at the 18th frustrated by a stymie must have been very galling to him, when he was under five feet from the hole with a putt for the match. Superior play won Silk the first hole, but he lost the second to a correct 4, and the next four were halved. Silk overputted at the seventh, but Menzies refused to take the opening and also had 3 putts. The eighth was nicely played and Menzies' second was better positioned at the ninth, but Silk recovered well only to iniss a three-footer for the half. Menzies was 1 up. Menzies Stymied After halves at the 10th and 11th Silk badly overclubbed with his approach to the 12th, losing to a 4. Both were very short at the 13th and the hole went begging, a half in 5 resulting. Silk had a great chance at the 14th, Menzies was bunkered, but he could only get the half in 5. Silk drove into the plantation at the 15th, taking 3 to reach the green and, with Menzies nicely on in 2, the game looked as good as over. However, Menzies took 3 putts and then badly pulled his approach to the 16th to lose to a wellplayed 4. Menzies was 1 up. Both found the 17th green in two, but Menzies unaccountably failed with a threo-fodt putt—all square. ' Silk drove a very long ball to the 18th, but Menzies' drive hopped across the carry bunker, from where he a glorious mashie shot to within five feet of the pin. Silk showed that his nerve Vas all right and responded with one almost as good, which finished about 20 feet short. Silk's putt for the three was a fine one, narrowly missing the hole and it completely stymied Menzies, a half resulting. The. mSTch finished at the 19th, which both reached with nice seconds, Menzies failing with a four-foot, putt. Silk played flawless golf over the last four holes, showing an excellent match temperament. Good Standard of Play The Lusk-Horton game was productive of some very fine golf on the homei ward journey. Square at the turn, Horton took the lead at the 12th and nar- | rowly missed his two at the 13th, where Lusk recovered well to gain the half. Horton over-ran the 14th,-and the game was again square, but he took the with a perfect 4 only to lose his advantage at the 16th, where his approach was off the line. Both played the 17th perfectly, but Horton left himself a longish putt, which he holed for the half, and the match ended when Lusk failed to get dead at the 18th for his four. The golf played by Horton in this match was of such standard that it was recognised that, given a smooth start, he would fully extend Silk, the more experienced golfer, in the final test. Silk began well in the final and, with a perfectly placed second, he took the first hole in 4, and although Horton played the better approach to the second, Silk, however, holed a good putt for the half in 4. Horton outplayed Silk to the third, but faded to hole a short putt for the win in 4, and he became 2 down at the fourth when he again missed a 4-footer for the half. Deficit Reduced Silk's drive to the fifth was badly pushed out, but he got a lucky kick back on to the fairway from where he played a great iron to the back of the green. Horton uuderclubbed his second, but recovered well, only to see his opponent hole a longish putt for a win in 4. Silk was 3 up. Horton missed a great chance at the sixth when Silk played his second into the bunker, but he 'duffed his approach and only got the half. The slippery seventh green cost Silk three putts, a half resulting, but he played a magnificent second to the eighth and holed the putt for a 3 to become 4 up. , , Horton won his first hole at the ninth where he stymied Silk and got another one back at the 10th by correct play. The 11th and 12th were halved in fours. Silk was again short at the 13th and Horton, with a 3, reduced the deficit to 1, but he duffed his approach to the 14th to lose to 4. Both, took three putts at the 15th after reaching the green in two _ Horton won the 16th, where Silk a second was bunkered. Silk was 1 U PWith the pressure right on, both drove finely to the 17th, but oyerbold seconds reached the guarding bunkers and, in essaying to chip dead, Horton failed to get out at the first attempt, and the match went to Silk, 2 and 1. Horton's Splendid Fight Silk thoroughly deserved his victory, gained on links he is not familiar. Great praise is due to Horton for his splendid fight. He displaved match temperament to a marked 6 fhe final of the Provincial Handicap was won by T. E. Clark, who Jvat J. M. Hussey, of Wanganui, in the final on the 19 th green. In describing Clark's win it can be said that sheer determination carried him through. Following are the results: ' Championship.—Semi-finals: R. I>. Horton beat H. B. Lusk, at the loth; B M. Silk beat B. H. Menzies, at the 19th. Final: B. M. Silk beat- E. D. Horton, 2 and 1. Provincial Handicap.—T. E. Clark beat J. K. Lusk, 1 up; J. M- Hussey beat G. Coltman, 1 up. Final: 1. E. Clark beat J. M. Hussey, at the 19th. Morning Bogey. —J. H. Young and E. G. Tallis were each 2 up and the plav-off was won by Young. Afternoon Fourball. —It. G. Eamgcr and A. J. Friedlander, 6 up, A. Shorter and F. C. Taine were both 6 up, and the play-off was won by Shorter and Taine. . „ , Jl At the conclusion of play the prizes were presented by the president of tlio Auckland Club, Dr. E. B. Milsom, who welcomed the visitors. Mr. J. M. Hussey, on behalf of the visitors, congratulated the Auckland Club on the plaving conditions and thanked tho secretary, Mr. A. E. M. Ithind, for hi# courtesy, and the very able manner in which he had conducted the tournament..