GOLF CHAMPION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 15

GOLF CHAMPION

ROTOBUA TITLE SUCCESS OF H. D. BRINSDEN EASY VICTORY IN FINAL KUSABS DEFEATED 10 AND 8 [by telegraph—own correspondent! ROTORUA, Friday A brilliant round in par figures during the morning by H. D. Brinsden, of Titirangi, in whi<;h he gained the commanding lead of seven up for the final 18 holes in the_afternoon and-the, game struggle against almost impossible odds by W. Kusabs, of Rotorua,' to-day provided one of the most interesting finals of the Rotorua open amateur golf championship witnessed for many years. Even if disappointment was felt that the young Rotorua player was, so thoroughly beaten it was ho and, not Brinsden who on se\-eral occasions provided the thrills, particularly in' th© afternoon. When dormy 10 he sank a putt frorn beyond the green to be down in birdie two and gain a temporary respite. Brinsden won 10 and 8 • and although he has previously, won th© title he has never been seen to better advantage on the Rotorua course. Accurate Play It is also doubtful if a more impressive display of accurate golf has ever been witnessed on the course than that given by Brinsden in the morning. Going out in this round he never once deviated from the straight and his approaching and putting were beyond reproach to give him the exceptionally ' fine figures of 33 at the turn, seven holes being done in bogey and the remaining two with birdies at the Crossing and the Drop. Facing such devastating opposition in his first such championship appearance the inexperienced Rotorua contender for the title was completely unnerved and on the outward journey in the morning his play was not a semblance of the excellent form which he had shown on the previous day. Although he had visited most of the bunkers on the course and was six down at.the turn he fought, back gamely,

Shaky Start ! Hopes that Kusabs had now overcome his nervousness were soon dashed when he again commenced the afternoon round very shakily, although he managed to square the 19th with another brilliant 20ft. putt. A weak approach which landed liiin in a bunker at the 20tli, and an almost inexcusable putting lapse on the 21st, cost him the next two holes, but the 22nd wiis squared in fours.- . Since the commencement of the afternoon round Brinsden had not been playing with the same uncanny accuracy as that during the morning and he cave a poor display on the 23rd green, taking a virtual seven for the hole against a good five by Kusabs. At the Drop he played his iron tee shot into the bunker, but. made a good recovery to secure a half in fours. At the next it was Kusabs' turn to ex-' perience trouble, and Brinsden was again nine up. Kusabs went to pieces on the next tee and, after badly pulling his drive, topped his second into the rough. Sgain. However, he gave the gallery a thrill when, with his iron, from a distance of over 200 yds, he played a beautiful ball, which sailed straight for and hit the pin, but he missed a one-foot putt when wanting a four for a half.

Thrill for Spectators The position was now dormy 10 and, as the crowd watched Kusabs plav his tee shot short of the green, with Brinsdeu lying in a handy position five feet away from the pin, yefc another thrill was in store. To the amazement of all, Kusabs holed out in two to Brinsden's three, making the game now dormy nine. Both had a &ood drive at the 28th, but an inaccurate second and a weak attempt to clear a bunker with the third gave Brinsclen the game and the title. In the Thermal Cup final H. G. Davies and T. McElroy had a . close contest during the morning round, Davies completing the 18 one up. In the afternoon he gradually forged ahead to be four up at the turn, but had lost two at the 30th. Davies took the next with a birdie three and the 32nd with a birdie two, the match ending on the next, when Davies was down in three to McElroy's N four. Results were as follows: OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP H. D. Brinsden (Titirangi) beat W. Kusabs (Rotorua), 10 and 8. THERMAL CUP H. G. Davies (Hastings) beat T. McElroy (Rotorua), 5 and 3.

VETERANS' TOURNEY NINETY ENTRIES RECEIVED COMMENCEMENT NEXT MONDAY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Friday Ninety entries have been received by the Rotorua Golf Club for the annual New Zealand Veterans' Cup tournament, which will be commenced at the Arikikapakapa links on Monday. The first qualifying round will be played on Monday and the second on .Tuesday, followed by match play until the finals on Friday. - The competitox-s and their starting times for the first round are as follows: — . •' 8..30 a.m.—H. P. Bryan v. H. Parkin; 8.35, W. H. Swangor v. G. H. Scott; 8.40. Agmen Smith v. T. Kelly; 8.45, A. W. Downer v. xT. Falconer "Brown; 8.50, R. P. Phelan v. V. C. Keys; 8.55, W. L. Parsons v. A. E. Powdrell. * r 9 a.m.—S. Powdrell ;y. R. G.. Rainger; 9.5, C. Howden V. H. B. Lusk; 9.10, J. S. Harrison v. J". B. Lusk: 9.15, F. Wiseman v. V. H. Lightband; 9.20, A. M. Howden v. H. T. Blackie; 9.25, C. Kusabs v. F. C. Ewan; 8.30, J. L. Dempster v. A. T. Spain; 9.35, W. A. Todd v. H. T. Gillies; 9.40, F. J. Hint* V. A. 11. Lawrence; 9.45, J. Barraclough v. D. L. Blyth; 9.50, P. J. Fordham v. M. R. Grant; 9.55, G. F. Pulley v. E. T.Baker. V 10 a.m. —L. Whitcombe v. T. H. Lowry; 10.5, T. A. Blyth v. Colonel J. Hughes; 10.10, H. L. Blamires v, W. H. Speer; 10.15, P. Campbell v. N. H. Prior; 10.20, F. R. Simpson v. F. Wilkie; 10.25, H. P. Hugo v.-H. B. Arniitage; 10.30, Hector J. Smith v. C. Worthington; 10.35, E. M. Hutchinson v. Sir Henry Horton; 10.40, H. W. Brown v. W. Somerset Smith; 10.45, F. A. Garry v. J. L. Keys; 10.50, A. Mirrielees v. D. McCormack; 10.55, J. T. Pavitt v. C. Redhead. 11 a.m.—A. W. Gillies v. W. G. Hamilton; 11.5, S. (3. Jounneaux v. J. Lindsay; .11.10, J. D. Brown v.-A. W. Every; 11.15, W. Pavitt v. F. M. B. : Fisher; 11.20. E. H. Runnerstrum v. C. Gee; 11.25, A.,.T. Shepherd v. P, Pittar; 11.30, S. Walker v. F. Hawley; 11.35, H. P. Butts v. L. H. Rogers; . 11.<10, C. Waterson v. A. E. Godwin; 11.45, .T. K. Lowe v.,J. A. MeDongall; 11.50. J. Craig v. W: Parsons; 11.55, J. .Mc-Lcod v. D, C'rozier. Noon. —G. G. Ashley v. J. Banks; ' 12.5, G. S. Gordon v. A. 12.10, S. W. Neilson v. C. Dumbar, .