GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 18

GOLF TOPICS

TAYLOR BOWL FINAL PUPUKE AND SWANSON CUPS AUCKLAND DEFEATS HAMILTON by the hover The match between H. T. Jaffrey and L. Knight provided a thrilling final to the Taylor Bowl competition at Titirangi, Jaffrey winning at tlio 19th, where he holed his putt for a 3. Out in 30 to lie 2 up, Jaffrey made use of his stroke at the 10th to increase his lead and as lie had two strokes to come it appeared to he all over. Knight, however, held <o his task and eventually squared the match at the 18th with a splendid 3 and one feels it is a pity that it is necessary for a decision to be reached in such matches. Jaffrey is to be congratulated on his success, but credit is due to Knight for filling the role of runner-up. If Jaffrey is liberally handicapped it in no way detracts from the merit of his win, and the fact that Knight took him to the 19th indicates that the latter is also well treated.

Good scoring was general at Pupuke when the qualifying round for the Pupuko Cup was played, R. Pacey, leading the field with a splendid round of 64 net from a 10 handicap. C. H. Palmer, who has been playing for a few months only, showed promise by returning a like score and his handicap of 24 will no doubt be considerably reduced in the near futuro. J. T. McCorkindale was one stroke more, while C. B. Thomas returned the best gross round 0f,,73, which comfortably earned him a place in the first sixteen. Thomas won this event last year, after playing off for last place, "but with a number of players on higher handicaps returning rounds in the middle seventies his prospects of repeating the performance are not so bright.

Captain's Prize Finalists In the captain's prize, two brothers, H. E. and 11. Nicholas, are semifinalists, but there are still two matches on the other side of the draw to be played, E. W. Mills, J. T. McCorkindale, T. Andrew and G. Waterman being loft in. In the semi-finals of the Swanson Cup at Akarana, H. Brown had a narrow escape, as it was only at the 19th that he gained the decision from V. Smith, while G. Biss beat C. Taylor at the 16th. The final should provide a good match, Biss having to concedo eight strokes to Brown in 36 holes. Biss has won this event in the two previous years and success next weekend will mean winning the cup outright. The annual match between teams representing the Auckland and Hamilton Clubs was played at St. .Andrews under ideal weather conditions, Auckland winning bv nine matches to seven, two being all square. In spite of the rain experienced during the past few weeks the course was in excellent order and Hamilton is indeed fortunate in possessing links which keep'dry throughout the winter.

Apart from one hole, the 9th, the bunkering has greatly improved the course, although perhaps export advice should first have been obtained regarding the formation of the bunkers, which in many cases look too artificial. Titirangi and Middlemore provide typical examples of modern bunkering by experts and in all cases the shapes of the various bunkers are such that they blend with the surrounding country. A Peculiar Match

Leading for the visitors, B. H. Menzies played steadily and was in the comfortable position of being 2 up with three holes to play, but 11. F. Edmonds finished with three great fours to win on the last green. B. G. Thomson and L. V. Bellingham had a peculiar match, not one hole in the first 10 being halved, each player winning alternatively. At this stage Bellingham was 1 up, but the position was reversed by the time the players reached the 1/"th, and Bellingham squared the match with a fine 4 at the last.

R. B. Parker commenced with a 2 to take the lead from H. Plumley and up to the turn there was little between the pair. Plumley, however, chipped and putted well coming home and he won the lltli, 13th and 15th holes to become dormv, eventually winning by 4 and 3, his stroke round being a very creditable 78. By defeating E. L. Bartleet after being 2 down at the 10th. J. G. Ferguson scored another win for the home team, while frequently topped shots by A. L. McLean allowed J. M. Graham to establish a useful lead, the Hamilton player winning at the 16th. W. A. Donald and C. B. Wake had a remarkable match, as, after Donald became 3 up at the 6th, Wake took the next six holes, and then lost the following three. Wake made a brilliant recovery to win the 16th in 3 to become 1 up, and Donald was unable to make up the leeway. R. D. Wright was responsible for the best performance of the day, and his opponent, A. G. Cradwiek, may find consolation in the fact that Wright would probably have beaten anyone in the field by a similar margin. Ho was out in 36 to be 5 up, and at the 12th, where the match finished, one better than fours, hut at the concluding holes he struck trouble, eventually finishing in 78.

S. S. Wilson and A. T. Atkins had a very even match, Wilson reaching a dormy one position after being 1 down at the loth. R. B. Wilson accounted for F. Beehan in a match in which very fair golf was played. Veteran's Steady Play

It is pleasing to seo H. T. Gillies still playing a steady game, alfhough he has reached the veteran stage. It is difficult to realise that over 20 years have passed since he beat B. B. Wood, then reigning champion, in a great match in tlie Nov Zealand amateur championship at Middlemore in 1911. Only one match was played in the captain's prize at Middlemore, and by defeating A. L. McLean, A. J. Friedlander will now meet (Ik; winner of the match between N. Louisson and J. W. Guiiii in the final. Kriodlander missed two rather easy putts at the first two holes, but he more than niado amends on the greens later in the round. The match was square at the 6th, but good putts gave Kriedlander wins at the next two holes, and he became 3 up by winning the 9th with the aid of a stroke.

McLean could win only one hole on the inward half, and he had to hole a 3 at the 14th to do that. Considering that his opponent had a round of 82 after starting with two fives and two sixes, McLean had. practically no chance of conceding him seven strokes, and if Friedlander maintains his form he has a great chaneo ot repeating his success of a few years ago.