GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 18

GOLF TOPICS

MATCHES FOR HANNA MUG TAYLOR BOWL COMPETITION FINE ROUND AT AKARANA Underfoot conditions were extremelj heavy i'or golf during the week-end, thereby lengthening the holes. Sixteen Titirangi players visited Middlemoic for the first of the two annual matches for the Hanna Mug, hut found the local team too strong. Auckland won 12 singles and Titirangi three, while one game finished square, and in the four- . ball matches the home side won 4 to .5 with one square. The teams were at full strength with the exception of T. A. Gouldhig, Titirangi, and E. L. Bartleet. Auckland.

While ho fault could be found with tlie greens, the visitors experienced difficulty in playing the ball off those fairways which had been recently harrowed. in th' 1 top match Krinsden failed to gain form against Ralph, whose method of alway.'i taking the ball before the turf was generally successful. Superior green work was the deciding factor in Menzies' defeat of McCrystal, who played the better golf up to the pin. Never a convincing putter, should overhaul this department of his game* and cultivate a smooth follow through. When 2 up on Young at the turn, Horton appeared to have the measure of his opponent, but a very weak shot to the J Oth. cost him a hole, rfiid then Young squared at the 12th, where be recovered from the bunker to get his four. Horton crashed at the 15th, but squared with a brilliant 3 at tho 16th, only to stymie himself at the 17th, which cost him the match, as the 18th was hdved. Lusk took the first two holes /ram Tallis and thereafter a grim struggle ensued with victory to the veteran on the 3.7 th, a feature of the ga'.ne being the putting of Tallis.

Close Four-ball Contest The Auckland low markers generally held their opponents, but Abbott struck an obstacle in Good, who revelled in the heavy going and finished in 7fj. Rainger needed all bis guile t<> edge out Lucas, "who outplayed him through the green, and there was magic on the greens for Goudie, who beat Wilson to gain Titirangi's third win. Coltman gave Clark a taste of his own medicine by taking the last three holes when in a dormy down position to square the game. In the four balls the visitors played better golf as a result of the earlier round, and lost only the odd game. To obviate congestion a junior Auckland team journeyed to Titirangi to enjoy friendly matches with the local players, and here again the visitors suffered defeat. The visit was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Perhaps the best match in the many knock-out competitions current in the different clubs was that between Lucas and Young in the Taylor Bowl at Titirangi. Many thought the boy would win, but on the day the conditions were definitely too heavy for one of his stature and, although he put up a great fight, Lucas thoroughly deserved success. Lucas was out of bounds at the Ist and 13th, which entailed loss of hole with penalty of stroke and distance. Two up at the turn, gained by the aid of his strokes, Lucas took 3 putts at the 11th, was stymied at the 12th, out of bounds at the 13th and lost the l lth to be 1 down. Young failed with the long carry at the 15th, but recovered well and missed a chance to win the hole. Superior length off the tee enabled Lucas to get fours at the next two holes, whereas Young was short in each case, and the 18th being halved in correct golf, Lucas won. Possessing Great Range

Harrison was round the course in B.'} to beat Fisher 011 the last green after a game brimful of interest. Harrison, who possesses great range, is always likely to get par figures, but is not yet steady enough to make full use of his strokes. Fisher played really well, and with a little luck might have won. His putting was splendid until ho missed a short one to save the match on the 18th. Hogerson proved too good for Joplin, and Williamson excelled himself against Knight. The foursome medal resulted in a fine win for the Rodgers brothers, a pair of keen and promising juniors. Basil Smith played a great round of 72 to win the senior medal at Akarana, and Cairns, with 87, 17 —70, won the junior event. In the Coltman Cup Stewart won comfortably from Ormsbv, but Baker took Tyler to the last hole before admitting defeat. Tyler won 5 of the first 6 holes, but after the turn Baker, played par golf and suffered nothing in defeat. It was pleasing to see the short handicap players to the fore at Glendowie, when Hutchison and Johns won the president's bogey foursomes, but only after a tie with Lintott and Stedman. The Maungakiekie course was again hard to score on in the bogey match, when the best card of over 100 players was that of H. McGregor, all square. This player, in common' with a number of promising Auckland juniors, would be wise at this stage to deliberate less in the execution of simple shots. Bush, with a6l net, has provided the Pupuke handicapper with a problem.

Middlemore Tourney The captain's prize field at Middlemore has. been reduced to 16 by Saturday's play, those remaining in being Ralph (scr), Brown (10), S. Wilson (7), Aklrcd (8), Borrie (9), Finn (1">). Archer (9), Burt (12), Andrewes (18), Wright (.'s), J. Lusk (8), Horroeks (17), Brett (10), Mitchell (12),.Whitcombo (12), Thomson (7). Clark and Finn both played below handicap to finish square, and victory only went to the last-named 011 the 20th with the aid of his stroke. Gordon was 2 up 011 Borrio at the turn, but lost three in a row, and went out at the 17th. Masters started well against Horroeks, and was up at the 4th, but weak putting cost him the match. Weak driving put Abbott at a great disadvantage in his match with Wright, who played soundly throughout. Wilson only beat Howden after a fine match and Ralph, although round in 7:1, only won by the aid of stymies at the 3rd, Bth and 10th holes, Bell, his opponent, being unlucky to lose. Aldred, Burt, Archer and Whitcombo continued to play good golf and thoroughly earned their wins. There were few surprises at" North Shore in the captain's prize. Couldrev showed good match temperament by defeating that fine player H. Stevens on the 19th. Horroeks secured a wellmerited win from Bennett, and Freakes made full use of his handicap to beat Jackson. Hobbs won the medal with a net 65, closely followed by Chalmers and Penman with 74, 8 —66. These players will 110 doubt gain the handicapper's attention. The course is rapidly Hoarding completion, and contracts have now been let to bring in a further 20 acres of fairway and three new greens, which will provide a lay-out of over 6000 yards.