GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 18

GOLF TOPICS

FINALS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS TITIRANGI TITLE TO COLTMAN VETERAN WINS AT GLENDOWIE The farm displayed by J. M. Coltman in winning the Titirangi Club title on Saturday was in every rcepeet worthy of the. occasion. Although success in championship events had hitherto eluded him, his undoubted capabilities have loiig been recognised. Since joining lip at Titirangi a couple of seasons ago his game lias gradually become more solid, the lay-out. of the course being such as to put a premium on correct play. Coltman's morning round was 77, against Murrayis 79, and at this stage he was three up. Jn the afternoon Co! tin an went right away from his opponent, who wilted under the attack and . failed, quite naturally, to produce his ordinary game. Out in 36, Coltinan increased his lead at the 21st, and then chipped out for a 2 at the short 22nd, when Murray looked certain for his 3. At the tf.'ird Murray played the better golf to the green, but lost his advantage by taking three putts, and Coltman approached dead for the win in 5. Now 6 up, Coltman ran on a series of fours for the next five holes, three of which he won, and the match was over. The winner's figures on the outward half in the afternoon were 4, 5, 4, 2, 5, <J, 4, 4, 4 —36, bogey being 37. The greens were in perfect condition, and of the 28 holes played Coltman on no occasion required more than two putts. Murray duffed several fairway shots in the morning round, mistakes that contributed to his final position. Veteran's! Success The victory of the veteran F. Trice in the Gleadowie championship was perhaps unique ir the annals of metropolitan eluh golf in the Dominion. Over 67 years of age, Trice only took up the game when on a visit to Scotland some 20 odd years ago, and in 1923 he won the championship of the old Kohimarama Club. In this final he met and defeated C. C. Clements, who is now a leading professional in the South. Trice held the club title for the following two years, the links meanwhile being moved to their present situation at Glendowie. Although many times in the last four, he has not again been successful, until beating Laxon on Saturday. His present ranking of six is said to be the lowest in the Dominion for a player of his ago. Out-driven consistently by his young opponent, Trice, repeatedly retrieved the position by approaching dead to the flag with his niblick, a club with which he excels. Laxon played soundly and putted excellently, holing several fine putts, »but could not quite cope with his experienced opponent. The golf was good, both being round in about 80 in the morning, but the winner's score was several strokes better than these figures when the match finished in the second round. Square at lunch, the position was still unchanged at the 24th, but Trice now forged ahead and settled the issue on the 34th. Defeat of Savage With the holder of the title, Plumley, not competing in the Auckland Club event, Ralph an absentee, and the fact that neither MacEwan nor Donald qualified, it appeared as though Savage, Menzies, Thomson or Bartleet would provide the winner. It was surprising, therefore to see Savage defeated in the first round, a fact entirely due to duffed drives at the 16th and 18th holes when in a winning position. He was '2 up on S. S. Wilson at the turn and the position was unaltered going to the 16th, but here Savage got right under his tee shot and although ultimately getting his five had to bow to a four. Both reached the 17th in two shots, but the heavy green puzzled Savage and he took three putts, making the game all square. Another skied drive left Savage in an unenviable position at the 18th, but Wilson failed to push home his initial advantage and a grand putt by Savage earned the hard half. Both were wide at the 19th and Wilson's four-footer to win lipped the hole, but he made amends at the next hole by narrowly missing his three and half styming his opponent to rob him of the half. Aldred's somewhat comfortable win over Rainger was surprising, but he has been playing some very sound golf this season, as shown by his round of approximately 75. Lusk gave a glimpse of liis true ' form against Wells and Barleet, after a shaky start, completed the round in 75 to defeat It. B. Wilson. Bartleet is playing very well just now. A Fine Match Coverdale was 2 up and 3 on Wright and when his second to the 17th finished within 15 feet of the pin, with Wright away on the front of the green, the gamo appeared over. Always a great approach putter, Wright got dead and then Coverdale proceeded to take three putts. All square, the match ended at the 18th when Coverdale got bunker trouble. Another fine match was that between McLean and Abbott and the latter again demonstrated that he is a better player under pressure than in practice. One down going to the 15th Abbott fortuitously exploded into the hole to win in 3 to 4. At the 16th his second was away off the line but he again pUived the right shot and got dead for his four to gain the half. He outputted McLean on the 17th—it was very noticeable how many three-putted on this groon —to become one up and took the match with a well-judged approach at the 18th. Thomson played powerful golf against Bees and when the game finished on the 13th ho was one stroke worse than fours. Co!beck did well to carry Menzies to the 16th, at which hole ho required three putts from nearer the hole than his opponent. With Bartleet and Menzies in the lower half and Thomson in the top, one of this trio should annex the event. George Eliminated The defeat of R. M. George in the Maujigakiekio championship was not altogether surprising as he has not been enjoying good health for some time. Hawley however, who brought about his dismissal, is liable to beat anyono on his day. Out in 37, George was one up at this stage, but tired badly over the homewnrd journey, his card of 79 being two strokes more than that of Hawley. Macfarlano played soundly to beat J. It. Earle and thereby entered the final. His opponent will probably be Hawley. Maofarlane is showing his old form and will be hard to beat. Heywood had another good win in the intermediate event and now meets Greensmith in the final, which should bo an excellent match. Although both Stevens and Brownie played good golf in the North Shore championship it can be said that the latter lost the match on the greens. He took three putts on no fewer than four greens. Two down at the turn, Brownie squared the game at the 11th, only to lapse into errors and become dormy 3 down. He won the 16th and flic game ended on the 17th, 3 and 1.