GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23124, 24 August 1938, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

EXCELLENT SCORING J. H. YOUNG'S FINE EFFORT TAYLOR BOWL COMPETITION OPEN DAY AT HAMILTON Although conditions for golf wero by no means easy during the week-end, there were n number of remarkably fine snores returned in local competitions. Pride of place goes, of course, to •J. H. Young for his splendid round of 69 at Titirangi. After carding a six at the first hole, Young covered the remainder of the round in five under fours. His outward half of 36 was good, but his figures for the last nine have seldom been, equalled, and never excelled. During the 1934 provincial championship meeting one player covered tho last nino in 33, but on that occasion the course was playing much faster and good figures are.often produced in match-play.

Young has been responsible for a number of fine rounds this season and he has justified his scratch rating. Ho has not yet won a major championship, but, as he is now hitting the ball better than ever, it will not bo surprising if he meets with success in the near future.

In the semi-final of the Taylor Bowl competition, C. Robinson had a comfortable win at the expense of R. R. MeCrvstal, who was conceding five strokes. Young won by default from H. D. Briusden and the final should provide a good contest. llie open day for amateurs and professionals which was staged by the Hamilton Club did not attract many players from Auckland and it is to be regretted that all the professionals were unable to take part. In returning the best gross score of the day, W. J. Davidge played .very fine golf, but he had the advantage over most of the other visitors. During the week lie participated in the South Auckland championship, an event which he won. The young local amateur, It. Glading, was responsible for the best individual round of the day. He was out in 35 and, although lie missed one or two chances coming home, his total of 73 was a splendid effort. L. J. Bryant also had a fine score of 74 and his card of 3 up in the concurrent bogey deservedly met with success. Ihe professionals may reasonably have been expected to return better scores, as A. Murray won with a total which was five strokes more than the aggregate of the winning amateur. However, indoor coaching is not conducive to good golf and it is hoped that the professionals will be given the opportunity of playing in a number of open days before tho close of the sea-son. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS OTAHUHU'S BEST SCORER NICHOLAS LEADS AT PUPUKE The Otahuliu Club is early on the scene with its championships and the scoring in the qualifying rounds was quite good. Following a round of 76 the previous week, a former champion of his club, W. B. Eustace, improved by three strokes to lead the field. H. W. Bell, an elder brother of the 1937 Auckland provincial champion, who returned a 73 in the first round, missed chances on Saturday and ho finished with 78 for a total of 151. A. E. Bell averaged 76's, while J. L. Clark, the present title-holder, was not at his best in either round.

Although there are one or two players who are capable of upsetting calculations, the ultimate winner should coine from the leading quartette. Clark is again favourite for the event, which should be an interesting contest, as the leading players are well distributed in the draw.

With rounds of 78 and 81, A. I?. Jones led the intermediates by a good margin and he was successful in the net medal. Jones recently won the Ballin Cup and he appears to be still liberally handicapped. He lias a sound swing and the progress he has made in such a short time augurs well for the future. Tho championships have also boon commenced at Pupuke and in the first qualifying round H. Nicholas led the field with an excellent score of 72. Nicholas has played a prominent part in his club championship for some time and lie should have a good chance of retaining the title this year. In a Stableford bogey at Remuera the scoring was good and T. H. C. Caughev, who is better known as an All Black Rugby player, was successful, W. J. Somervell being beaten on the count back. In a similar competition at Middlemorc, S. C. Hodges was the winner with a splendid total of 38 points. Hodges played his best round for some considerable time and his net 66 resulted from steady golf. The runner-up, D. A. Burt, also had a fine round, as he was out in 40, including a 7 at the 9th, and was home in 36. H. M. McCoy commenced brilliantly, but be missed chances over the concluding holes, while others to score well were R. W. G. Anderson and A. R. Johnson, JUBILEE OUP COMPETITION NORTH SHORE CLUB'S EVENT Tho Jubilee Cup competition at North Shore is drawing to a conclusion and in the semi-finals AY. Roberts will meet L Harrison, while H. C. Stevens will play D. Freakes. Roberts played well on Saturday to defeat H. TO. Goodwin, who was slow to settle down. Harrison was out in 40 to be 3 up on J. C. Bates, and he had a comfortable win. Harrison is playing particularly well just now, <js later in the week-one! 'jo -vas round in 77 to win a Stableford bogey. L. .Johnston was hitting his long shots very well on Saturday when he Avon a handicap event, his inward half of 37 being a particularly gnod effort., .lolinston has only to effect an improvement in his short game to attain a much lower handicap. The Blcdisloo Cup event was advanced a further stage at Maimgakiekic and in the third round the veteran, 1"). F. MacCormick, defeated 0. W. Rainger. while J, L. Gregory had a splendid round of 78 to account for M. T. Wilson. The low-marker in the competition, J. Pelham, retained his place, and A. Woolley had a narrow win from P Why man. Tu a Stableford bogev, N. J. Kidd won the senior cent and his total of 37 points was a good effort, particularly as he failed to score at the last hole. A splendid round of SO enabled F. Lamb to win the junior division and his score included a 5 ab a short hole.