GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

CHANGE IN CONDITIONS LOW SCORING DIFFICULT BARTLEET'S BRILLIANT ROUND BY THE ROVER A complete change in conditions was experienced oei local courses early in the week-end and, in contrast to previous weeks, the giround was quite firm. A strong wind and fast greens made low scoring extremely difficult with the result that few players handed in good cards in championship qualifying rounds. At Middlemore, a brilliant second round of 72 enabled E. L. Bartleet to lead the field, hisi inward half of 33 being a particularly fine effort. His score of 83 in the morning does not give a truo indication of his golf as actually ho played his shots quite well, but was not obtaining the "breaks" which are so necessary if one is to return a. good score. The club champion, B. G. Thomson, played two oven rounds, but he lost chances over the last four or live holes. B. H. Menzies, who had a one-stroke advantago in the morning, retained Jtua lead to the 13th, but lus troubles commenced at the next and ho finished weakly. H. Flumley played well in tho afternoon for a 76, although most of tho others failed over the first nine holes. I. MacEwan anil P. C. Savage were each out in 46 and came home in 35 and 36 respectively, to qualify comfortably. H. V. Covordale was playing soundly although perhaps he did not obtain tho results he deuerved. while S. S. Wilson and R. D. Wright, after playing at Rotorua, had difficulty in adapting themselves to the changed conditions. S. S. Handyside won the net medal and the progress of this young player will be watched with interest when he is engaged in the match play stages. The failure of W. A. Donald and W. N. Abbott to qualify caused a surprise, but on the dsiy Donald could do nothing right, as in tho afternoon he required rio fewer thun 48 to reach the turn. A string of sixes in the morning ruined Abbott's chances and while possibly he has somo regrets at not obtaining a place, he may look back on his record in the club championship with justifiable pride. TITLE-HOLDER BEATEN SURPRISE AT TITIRANGI The club championships at Titirangi were advanced a further stage, and the unexpected happened when R. L. Wilson beat last year's winner, J. M. Coltmun. Wilson commenced with a 3 and ho became 2 up when he holod a 2 e,t the 4th. He increased his lead to 3 tip at tho turn, which ho reached in 35, s.nd tho following thrco holes were halved in good figures. Coltman continued to play steadily and on the 16th he squared the match, but Wilson won the las.t. J. H. Young made a few mistakes against J. Carnachan, whom he defeated at tho 17th, and A. Harvey accounted for C. S. Woods on the same green. I. MacEwan lias yet to play his siecondl round and the match between H. D. Brinsden and E. G. Tallis should provide a good contest as Tallis is playing very well at present. In the intermediate division results were much as expected, with the possible exception of the win of A. V. Peace over E. Ohlson. M. Fraser-Smith and H. H. Souter had comfortable victories at the expense of F. G. Alpe and 0. V. Garland respectively, and these two winners uhould go far in the event. HIGH SCORING PLAY AT ONE TREE HILL i) .• : J: The greens at One Tree Hill were surprisingly Fast and, as the four short holes were exceedingly difficult bogey threes, the scoring in the qualifying rounds was much higher than usual. J. Palmer and L. B. Schnauer qualified at the head, these players being the only ontis who succeeded in breaking 80. The holder of the title, D. G. McFarlane, struck trouble early, as he put two shots out-of-bounds and required seven for the first Inple. He never settled down and finally missed qualifying. This is to be regretted as the championship had already been robbed of a good deal of interest owing to R. M. George being unable to compete and also through the absence of A. K. Hawley.

NORTH SHORE AND PUPUKE SIEVENS IN GOOD FORM Club championships are also in progress at North Shore and Pupuke. At North Shoro H. 0. Stevens led the aeniors with a isteady 75. Stevens is the present champion and it is pleasing to see him back to form after a temporary lapse. M. Bush also played soundly, anci in the intermediate division S. V. H. Chambers, with his usual steadiness, tied with N. S. Chalmers to head the list. M. D. Ash, who led the juniors by six strokes, is making good progress in the game and he may be the hardest to eliminate in his grade. At Pupuko R. Pacey, who easily led in the preliminary rounds, had a narrow escape in his match with A. F. Burnett, as it was only at the 20th that he holed the winning putt. E. W. Mills and J. T. McCorkindale still retain their places and as, in the previous week, R. Johnston beat H. E. Nicholas, tbe championship has now reached an interesting stage. PENNANT MATCHES GLENDOWIE EASILY BEATEN Interest in the pennant competition is being maintained and in the A grade Glendowie suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Titiranei, while North Shore dealt with Maungakiekie in a similar manner. For Titiranci. J. H. Young had a comfortable win at the expense of E. Hutchison and R. R. McCrystal and W. A. Cole failed to reach a decision. The only successful players for Glendowie were J. man, who beat J. M. Coltman, and 0. Wolfgramm, who accounted for the youthful L. J. Clifford by a good mar--81 At North Shore the visitors could win only two matches in the singles, Schnauer' performing best as he had a stroke round in the low seventies Local knowledge has, of-course, to be taken into consideration, but surprisingly few golfers play well except on tho course to which they belong. By continually playing on one course only one is s.pt to judge distances from certain landmarks and the choice of clubs becomes largely automatic. A more frequent exchange of visits between members of the various clubs would help to overcome this weakness and it would also benefit players in their shot production.