GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS INTERESTING STAGE REACHED H. B. LUSK IN FINE FORM / BY THE ROVER Tho championships of tho various local golf clubs are now reaching nil interesting stago and a number of good matches took place on Saturday when conditions wero excellent. Some vears ago, H. B. Lusk and R. D. Wri glit met many times in club and provincial championship matches and, although Lusk generally held tho advantage, close finishes wero usual. When this pair met at Middlemore on Saturday, Lusk played fine golf while Wright experienced trouble with his shots to tho, green. L lsk commenced with six splendid fours to win four holes and he spoilt bin run of par figures by three-putting on the 7th green. Out in 37 to be 3 up, Lusk was level fours when tho match finished, and the golf he played left his opponent with little chance of reducing the lead. In his match with .T. P. Aldrcd, R. D. Horton had a lead of one hole at the 4th, but Aldred evened matters by holing a long putt for a 3 at tho // next. Aldred was 1 up at the turn, a lead which he; increased at the 13th during a "run of one-putt greens. Horton reduced his deficit at tho 15th, but his opponent settled the issue with a good 4 at the 17th. R. B. Wilson could co nothing right in his match with B. It. Menzies. Tho fatter now meets the winner of tho game betwee;i W. N. Abbott and I. MacEwan, which is being played today. In the intermediate grade two matches went to the 19th before a decision was reached. K. M. Wilson had a slight advantage ove;* H. V. Coverdale until played a fine chip to obtain a 4 and square the match. He took tho lead with another .good 4 at the next, but played the last hole poorly. A sound 4 at the 19th gave Coverdale a win over his less-experienced opponent. G. W. Williams, who defeated N. LouisBon at the 19th, had a lead for most of the round, and G. C. Henderson commenced by winning the first seven holes from J. B. Lusk. Henderson will /-meet B. B. Armstrong, who accounted for D. A. Burt on the last green, in the semi-finals next week. F. A. Abbott played sound golf to defeat B. C. Jacobs, and the winner > will contest the final with the youthful H. S. Lusk, who defeated W. Wilson by a good margin, '" ■ * ' AKARANA MATCHES SMITH DEFEATS BROWN Of chief interest at Akarana was the meeting between P. G. Smith and H. Brown in tho second round of the club championship. Weak play bv Smith enabled Brown to gain a lead a of three holes in the early stages, but Smith squared the match at the Bth and took the lead at the 10th. He lost his advantage at the 13th, but a brilliant second at tho 14th and a missed putt by Brown on the next green saw Smith become 2 up. Although a weak putt after a good chip cost Smith the 16th hole, he held his lead of 1 up to the end. The game between H. Wiggins and the greatly-improved I'. H. Preston was very even, Wiggins; maintaining the lead he gained at the 17th by holing a putt of, ten yards. Smith and Wiggins meet next week and the winner will play G. Coltmai, who won by default from F. B. Thompson, for final honours. GLENDOWIE SEMI-FINALS PLAY AT TITI.RANGI J. R. Self'and J. E. Stedman defeated E. Hutchison and C. Horton / respectively in the semi-finals the Glendowie senior championship. Stedman played a steady round to win his match and as Self is capable of producing good figures an even final should result. Self was formerly on a 4 handicap at Christchurch and he plays a sound long game. Owing to a spell from the game for some time his putting at present is not of tho same high standard. By defeating It. J. Graham at 11 11rangi, J. Galloway now meets J. MColtmnn for the right to dispute '' nn ' honours with J. H. Young, who had an easy win at the expense of 1 1 . W. Lucas. The semi-finalists in the intcr- ' mediate championship are R<- B. Hardy, J. L. McCoy, G. Bartleet and H. H. Souter, while E. W. Yates and S. J. Robinson will meet in the junior . final.

OPEN DAY TOURNEY PROFESSIONALS AT HAMILTON The Auckland professionals were well represented at the open day at _ Hamilton, but unfortunately, owing to players being engaged in pennant matches, few of the leading amateurs were able to make the trip. Jn view of the New Zealand championships, which .Till be commenced in a iortnight's time, the play of A. Murray, Present open champion, and J'-. JMoss, past champion, was watched with interest. The fact that these players displayed good form, Murray finishing one stroke ahead of Moss, indicates that they will play a prominent part at this year's meeting. I' 1 . Ratter was responsible lor one good round, and although ho is perhaps not steady enough to win the open he should do well in the match-play event. The local player, J. Poimtney, was the best of the amateurs, while Pclham, of Maungakickie, was runner-up.