IRISH GOLF TITLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 15

IRISH GOLF TITLE

SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESSFUL BRILLIANT PLAY BY LOCKE After a thrilling finish Bobby Locke, the 20-vear-old South African golfer, won the Irish open golf championship on the Portmnrnoek course last month. His aggregates of 292 beat Henry Cotton's score by one stroke. In winning the title Locke not only won the first prize of £l5O, but took £2OO, the gift of a number of wellknown Dublin golfers, for the player or players breaking 70 during the championship. He was the only player to achieve the I'eat. Starting the championship with an 80, a score which apparently put him out of the running, Loeko accomplished tae next three rounds in 73, 69 and 70 respectively. Barely has a player finished so courageously. In his final round of 70, the last four holes were accomplished in 2, -1, 4, 4, —four strokes under par. At the 15th he holed a putt of three yards and at the next ran a long npproach putt stone dead. Locke got nn easy fonr nt the 17th nnd at tlie last hole he chipped one from the top of a bunker close to the green. Out in 34, Henry Cotton had four strokes in hand with the last four holes to plav. His position seemed impregnnble, but an amazing collapse was witnessed. Going for a two at the short 15th, Cotton ran a yard past and missed the return. He was thus otilj* two strokes, ahead. A stroke was lost at each of tho next two holes. He was tlifts left with a four to tie. From the edge of tho green lie putted 4ft. short, and, without apparently taking any nains, missed the putt. The last four holes thus cost him 19 strokes as against Locke's 14. In congratulating the South African youth Cotton said: " Well done, Hobby. Your last round was just too good for me." Locke said: "1 did not do well in the open at Sandwich, but I knew I could play better, and I have done so to-day." Tho open champion of South Africa, Locke turned professional a few months ago, on resigning his position as clerk in a mining office at Braktan.