GOOD CARDS RETURNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22090, 22 April 1935, Page 11

GOOD CARDS RETURNED

LEADER ROUND IN 71 CONSISTENT PERFORMANCES WHANGAREI PLAYERS DO WELL BY THE ROVER With such perfect golfing conditions, low scoring was anticipated and, when S. H. Abel, handicap 13, who was ono of the first players to finish, handed in a splendid card of 77, perhaps too much was expected of the low-markers. The morning rounds, with a few exceptions, were a little disappointing, but a number of players made amends in the second round, and tho result was that much better scores were required to qualify than in previous years. Abel, who has been playing for about four years, is one of the most promising of tho young school and is quite a nico stylist. In the first round he was out in 42 and played brilliantly to come home in 35. Although he struck trouble in the afternoon, and finished nine strokes worse than his previous effort, ho succeeded in winning the trophy for the best net medal over 36 holes. . H. Plumley, who won the 36-holes scratch medal, had the best round of the day, when in the morning he played great golf for 71. After being out in 34, he started home brilliantly and, when he stood on the 15th tee, visions of a course record loomed up, as he required four fours for a 68. A 6 and a 5 at the next two holes spoiled his chances and, although he holed a 3 at the 17th, he finally missed a putt of under 2ft. for a 4 at the last hole. Plumley's return to form is very pleasing and his success a popular one. His card read: —

Out: 4 5 3 4 3 4 3 3 5 —34 In: 334 4 4653 5—37 Thomson's Consistency

B. J. Thomson played splendid rounds of 74 and 75 to fill second place, the only really weak hole he played all day being the 14th, where lie carded a 7 in the afternoon round. Two regular visitors to Auckland tournaments, H. F. Buckley and C. Bailey, of Whangarei, qualified comfortably, each returning one good card. Bailey played very well in the morning for a 74 and his clubmate handed in a 75 in the second round, the only blemish being a 7 at the ninth. After playing the first 11 holes in 55, A. L. McLean had a remarkable run of 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3 to finish in 79 and qualify by two strokes. E. L. Bartleet also staged a recovery in the second round, as, after taking 31 for six holes, lit? carded four threes, six fours, a five and a six to finish in 78.

Performance of Lusk

Probably tho best performance of the day was that of H. B. Lusk, who qualified in third place. He found the four-footers very troublesome in the morning and finished in 79, but in the afternoon, after a 7 at the first hole, he settled down and played fine golf for a 74, which was the second best card returned for the second eighteen. Iji his morning round of 81 B. H. Menzies had three sixes and an eight, this figure being the result of striking bunker trouble at the 15th. He returned the best card in the afternoon, his score of 73 including a 7 at the fifth.

H. D. Brinsden played the first 15 holes well, but visits to the hunkers at the last three holes proved expensive, as he required 6, 5, 6 and finished in 77. He failed to break 80 in the afternoon, sixes at the second, sixth and 18th holes resulting from weak shots. J. H. Young found the fifth hole difficult, taking 8 in the morning and 6 in tho afternoon, but otherwise he played fine golf for his two rounds of 78 each to qualify well up