BRITISH GOLF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 11

BRITISH GOLF

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. June 24 The first qualifying round of the British Open Coif Championship was played to-day on the Gullane and Muirfield courses, Scotland. Macdonald Smith (United States), led the field at Gullane with a score of 66, which beat the course record. Other scores there includedSaynor, 68; Lacey, Alliss and Mahon, 70; Padgham, Oke, Brews, Kenyon, Hartley, Uavies, J. J. Busson and R. Whitcombe, 71 ; Ball (United States), 72; liodson, Holland, Denny, Fasterbrook and Fzar (United States), 73; J. H. Busson, 74. On the Muirfield course Burton led with a round of 70. The next best cards there were: Lees, Cotton, 71; Kirkwood, 72; Compson, 73; E. A. Whitcomhe, McLean, Boomer and King, 74; Dailev, 75; Nolan, Gadd and Jarman, 76; Mitchell, Pickard (United States), 77; Little (United States), 78; Herd, 80; E. R. Whitcomhe and Garnett, 82.

The courses wifl be reversed to-mor-row, after which the first 100 and all who tie for the 100 th place will play in the competition proper, which will be begun at Muirfield on Wednesday. The Gullane course measures 6600 yards, and bogey is 74; and the Muirfield figures are 6800 and <B. Macdonald Smith, who has " knocked at the door " of the British open championship for the past decade, had a most brilliant first qualifying round. His 66 was 10 under the scratch score of the course. His driving and approaching were so accurate that only once was he faced with a long putt. He had only two fives, his card including one two, six threes, and the rest fours. Occasionally he found the rough, but he recovered superbly. A Hiss' 70 was convincing, as he attained it in spite of several visits to the rough. Lawson Little (British and American amateur champion), drove a terrific distance. Nevertheless he had to work hard to keep below 80. He runs some risk of not qualifying. Burton, who has leaped from obscurity to fame in a single season and who is a purely self-made Lancashire golfer, began as caddie and now is one of the longest and most accurate hitters in first-class golf. He had the best score of the actual championship course. Cotton gave an impressive display, and was only one stroke behind Burton, with Lees, the Yorkshire champion.