GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

RULE FOE, WINTER PLAY FINAL AT MIDDLEMORE A DISAPPOINTING MATCH liV THE ItOVKII Although local golf courses were in good order 011 Saturday the time is not far distant when the winter rule of cleaning and placing the hall will be enforced on most links. In some quarters there is u good deal of opposition to such a rule, but there is no doubt that it is necessary on most inland courses. The argument that it is not golf for the ball to bo touched when it is in play carries little weight as it is certainly not golf to be forced to play a mud-covered ball from an extremely soft fairway, i The final of the captain's prize at Middlomoro between H. M. McCoy and S. H. Abel was a disappointing match as Abel was completely out of touch. McCoy played very well throughout the tourney and on Saturday he established 1 a big lead in tho early stages. Abel, who was conceding six strokes, won only one hole in the match which finished at the Kith. The finalists were both young players and the winner is to be congratulated 011 his success, while the runner-up is deserving of praise for | his effort in reaching the final. In the No. 2 tourney the final be--1 twoen W. A. Donald and W. M. Bell, | who was in receipt of 1] strokes, was I a fine match as there was little differ- | once between the pair at any stage. ' Donald was 1 up at the 14th, but with • the aid of strokes, Bell won the next j and obtained the half at tho 16th. He played a splendid pitch over tho bun,kers to halve the 17th and when his third shot to the home green finished within two feet of the pin it appeared to be all over. However, Donald chipped up nicely and stymied his op- ! poncnt who had to be content with a | net 4. As in a previous match Donald followed a good drive with a fine second at the 19th and a 4 enabled him to win as Bell required four shots to reach tho green. Although Bell was unfortunate in not winning tho match at the 18th, Donald's success was a popular one, particularly in view of tho fact that as club captain he did not compete in the main event. The low-markers handled the changed conditions well and in the Stableford bogey B. H. Menzies won tho senior grade with 37 points, while E. L. Bartleet, apart from a lapse at the 9th, played well to be runner-up. C. V. Mark had a stroke round of 71, one of his best efforts in competition play, to lead the juniors and ho was followed by J. P. Upton. AKARANA MATCHES JACOBSEX'S GOOD ROUND The handicap match-plav event for the Edwards trophy was commenced at Akarana, and in the concurrent Stableford bogey C. N. Jacobsen was responsible lor a splendid round of 74 to win with 39 points. Jacobsen is playing extremely well this reason and his improvement is due to accurate iron play. It is in this department of the game that the leading professionals are definitely superior to tho majority of the amateurs and proficiency in iron play is essential before a player reaches the' top flight. Probably the nearest approach to a professional in iron play is 11. D. Brinsden and his success is due in no small measure to that fact. H. Cullen is playing a prominent part in club events. In a later Stableford competition he tied for first with P. G. Smith, G. L. Bayley and V. J. Smith, and, partnered by N. T. Tailby, he was successful in the weekly fourball. Cullen and G. Coltman are in the final of the Paterson Cup foursomes, and they will meet H. "Wiggins and L. 0. Wrathall. who defeated C. 1?. Taylor and G. Ashley in the semi-final.

MEDAL ROUNDS NORTH SHORE TROPHY The second of four medal rounds for the vice-president's trophy at North Shore produced better scores than in the earlier round. Although J. D. Bull commenced with a 5 he played the remainder of the round soundly for a (37 net. Following a 72 last week, D. T. Mningav returned a 69 to lead the field with R. M. Saddington next on the list. A. E. Browne is hitting his shots very confidently at .present and his round of 7o was the best gross score of the day. Later in the week-end, Browne won the Stableford bogey competition when he played a fine round of 72. SUCCESS OF LUCAS TITIRANGI BOGEY MATCH The scoring by the seniors in the bogey match at Titirangi was good, F. W. Lucas winning with a card of 3 tip with T. Morpeth runner-up. Lucas had the luck with him at the last two holes ns after obtaining a fortunate win at the 17th, he mishit his scnond shot to the last green but the ball finished within inches of the hole. A card of 2 down proved to bo good enough to win the B grade, G. C. Jones being successful. Two matches were played in the handicap match-plav event for the Ballin Cup and one of the few remaining lowmarkers, R. R. McCrystal, was defeated bv E. C. Nimon. Bv beating W. E. Holdgate at the 14th, G. H. Birch has now reached the final. CUP COMPETITIONS PLAY AT OTAHUHU The Eccles Cup and Ballin Cup competitions at Otahuhu are drawing to a conclusion and the majority of those who retain their places are comparatively new players. In the Ballin Cup G. Graham had little difficulty in defeating Ij. Dueker and 10. Saunders and N. Saunders accounted for N. M. Clark and J. W. Goddanl respectively. A poor start by A. P. Eustace cost him his chance of heating M. AV. Howe in the quarter-finals of the Eccles Cup and S. Clark accounted for C. B. Herrold. .1. J. Roger„s, a young member who has been playing very well lately, went down to A. Mullen at (lie 19th. The Stableford bogey was won hv C. R. Reader, who played soundly for a 79 to score .'!<! points. W. Kerns, .1. W. Johns and I. J. Hutchinson were next. . PUPUKE CHAMPIONSHIPS FIRST ROUND RESULTS The Pupuke club is the first'in Auckland to commence its championships and in the first round results were much as expected. R. Pacey, who led the qualifiers, did not have much to spare in his match as it was only on tiie 17th green that ho defeated F. A. Fox. Two golfing veterans, H. Randrup and E. W. Mills, were beaten by R. Johnston and J. Armstrong respectively and H. Webb scored an easy win at the expense of P. Mason. Mason, however, was later in hotter form as Ik l won the Stableford bogey with a good total. 11. Nicholas and R. Nicholas each retained his place and the former still survives in the captain's prize event.