GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23088, 13 July 1938, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

TITIBANGI OPEN DAY DISAPPOINTING SCORES LEADING PLAYERS TAKE PART BY THE KOVKit Practically all tlio local professionals and leading amateurs took part in an invitation open clay at Titirangi during the week-end. With the "clean and place" rule in force and the greens quite fair, although not nearly so good as a few weeks ago, better scoring might reasonably have been expected. ith a few exceptions, the cards returned were disappointing. liy winning the four events and returning the best card of the day A. J. Murray demonstrated his superiorit.}' over the other professionals. He played splendid golf three years ago at Shirley to win the open and professional titles, but he is now hitting the ball even better. He is obtaining good length from the tees, his iron shots have improved considerably and his short game is very sound.

C. C. Clements, who was making his first appearance in Auckland golf since I 1933, played well, but owing to lack of practice, and being strange to the conditions, lie had trouble in judging distances. J Galloway played a fair round in the morning, but lie struck trouble in the second round. E. J. Moss had a 77 in the first round. As he was a late starter, however, dusk was falling before he completed the second round, and he did not return a card. Although the field was large, the players should have had ample time to complete two rounds in daylight. Long waits before each shot were common. No one objects to a : player, particularly one who has a good deal at stake, taking a reasonable time to play a round. To saunter along between shots and to study putts leisurely from all angles when others are held up are inexcusable. This was the case at Titirangi, and the players concerned should have some consideration for others in the field—those who make possible the holding of open days. Of the amateurs, H. J), lirinsden was outstanding, and although he finished weakly in each round, his total of 151 was a splendid effort. On each occasion he required bogey figures over the last four holes for a 72. In the morning lie slipped a stroke at each hole, and in the second round a 7 at the 15th spoilt an otherwise brilliant effort.

The provincial champion, W. J. Davidge, was responsible for the best round of the day among the amateurs, and his score of 74 was the result of steady rather than brilliant golf. He continued to play a good long game in the afternoon, but missed a number of chances on the greens.

After an indifferent start in the morning H. L. Hobson played a great inward half of 37, a score that was not equalled bv any player in the field. He carded bogey figures to the turn in the second round, but was unable to repeat his morning performance over the second nine. '

MAUNGAKIEKIE COMPETITION MACFAKLANE OUTSTANDING Calm conditions at Maungakiekie were favourable to low scoring in the second round for the C. J. Schnauer Memorial Cup. 1). G. Macfarlane was again the outstanding low marker. He dropped only three strokes to the scratch score of 72 and these were all lost at the short 12th. He failed in his first attempt to recover from a bunker and required a (/ for the hole. Apart from this lapse, Macfarlane played very fine goll and had lie met with a reasonable nieas.ure of good fortune on the greens he would have returned a sensational score.

With two rounds played, Macfarlane j and 13. G. Bond are leading the field with net totals of 136. Should these not scores remain the best after the final round next Saturday, a tie would be decided on the result of the third round. However, several other players are well within striking distance of the leaders. In thia category is A. N. Turner, whose net score of 60 on Saturday was an excellent performance. E. M. Laurie and L. J. Druinmond, who returned cards of 68, are also favourably placed. The final round will serve a dual purpose, as it will be the qualifying round for the Bledisloe Cup. Under the added strain tho aspirants for the Schnauer Cup will find it more difficult to excel.

The scoring in a bogey competition at .Middlemore, which was played in conjunction with tho George Cup qualifying test, was not quite up to the standard of previous years. This does not'apply to the leaders, as both K. M. Wilson and H. A. Wilson, particularly the former, played splendid golf. K. M. Wilson had a modal round of 74. and the only blemish on his card was a (J at the last hole. Wilson is one of the best shot-makers in his club, and with a little more experience his turn for championship honours should not be far distant. ,

R. A. Wilson also had a 74, a score which included a 6 at the 9th and fives at the 14th and loth. li. G. King commenced with a 7, but lie then settled down to play steadily. .Although he carded four sixes. G. L. Alderton returned a good card, his homeward run of 39 being a fine effort.

ECCLES CUP OT'AHUHU SK.Mi-FIXALS in the semi-finals of the Ecclcs Cup com petition at Otahuhu, G. Lyttelton defeated S. Pinfold by a bin margin, and A. Bullen played soundlv to account for G. Kirkbride. J. L. Clark retained hits place in the captain's prize and A, .R, Jones, a rapidly improving first-year player, defeated H. \V. to reach the final of the IJallin Cup event. Although H. J1 Kverton was successful in last week's medaf handicap at North Shore the handicapper apparently considered that his rating was correct as Kverton was not penalised. However, lie repeated his success in a Stablel'onl bogo.v on Saturday and lias now been reduced by one stroke. Kverton was out in -fa, and although lie carded at / at the last hole, lie covered the last nine in 3 ( J. H. E. Goodwin, who was runner-up, played steadily and I. Holmes waß the best of the juniors.