VISITING GOLFER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23200, 21 November 1938, Page 13

VISITING GOLFER

LOCKE AT MIDDLEMOEEr TWO MATCHES YESTERDAY MURRAY TWICE DEFEATED LOW SCORING DIFFICULT ' \ A strong south-westerly wind and a drying course made low scoring extremely difficult when the South African professional golfer, A. D- Locke, met A. Murray in a special return match at Middlemore yesterday. In the morning round Murray was completely out of touch in the early stages and, playing brilliantly on tho outward half, Locke established a lead of six holes. The visitor gained - another hole at the 10th when a putt of 14 yards found the cup for a birdie 2. A glorious No. 6 iron to the 205 yards 13th hole enabled Locke to obtain a win in 3 to 4. His second shot to the 16th green caught a bunker and Murray holed his putt for a 4 to win the hole. Murray further reduced his deficit at the following hole when he obtained a 3 and the last was halved in fives. It was originally intended that the match be decided over 36 holes, but the players agreed to play a separate match in the afternoon. A gallery of .<& nearly 400 followed the players after lunch and, although the scoring was not particularly good, there were brilliant shots executed by both players. Murray Takes! Lead Murray took the lead at the second hole when he played a magnificent second to within five ireet of the hole and obtained a three,' Locke hitting the cup with a forty-footer. Locke holed a putt of six yards for a half at .the third and Murray missed a chance at tho next when he three-putted after a brilliant recoveiry from- a fairway bunker. Murray hit a very Icing drive at the sixth, 340 yards, the ball finishing pin high, but down the bank. However, 'he recovered well and holed a twentyfooter for a win in three. Locke, after a good second, missing a six-footer for the half. The large gallery worried Murray when he was playing lys second shot to the eighth and he caught a Locke winning with a 4. Locke struck trouble in a bunker at the long ninth and took two to recover. However, Murray obtained a four to turn for - home 1 up. A five yards putt for a 2 at the 10th put Murray 2 up, Locke's tee-shot finishing in a bunker. Successful Stymie Murray sliced his tee-shot into trouble at the 11th, failed to recover, and conceded the hole. He misjudged his second shot to the 12th and finished in the rough at the back of the green. Locke's putt for a 4 stopped on the lip of the hole and Murray, who recovered well, was stymied. His putt was a good one, but his ball just touched that of his opponent and they both fell into the hole. As was the case in the morning, Locke again played a brilliant No. 6 iron to the 13th green and he holed the putt of 20 feet for a two to take the lead for the first time. The position was unchanged after the next four holes and Lock© won the last with a 4 to a 5, the match finishing in his favour, 2 up. Details of Locke's cards were as follows: Morning Hound.—' Out: 4 4 3 4 5 4 3 4 4—35 In: 2 4 5 3 5 4 5 5.5—38 !f£i . 73 Afternoon Round—y Out: 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 6—38 In: 4 3 5 2 4 5 5 4 4—36 74 Both Playerß Tired Both players were obviously tired during the second round. Locke has had a very sitrenuous tour of the Dominion, while Murray was feeling the effects of his trip north on the previoug day. In the circumstances the scor-' ing by the two players was good ai pitch shots to the greens with the wind . were by no means easy. Locke is the finest putter ever seen in New Zealand and litis future in the game is bright. Murray played golf more in keeping with his capabilities in the afternoon and he 1 did well to take the match to the last green. BIRTHDAY GIFT PRESENTATION TO LOCKE \ ■ AUCKLAND CLtJB'S GESTURE At the conclusion of the match the president of the Auckland Golf Club, Mr. H. P. Richmond, presented Locke with a greenstone paper knife, suitably inscribed. Mr. Richmond stated that Locke attained his majority that day and ho hoped that the South African would use the gift to open the scroll for the British and American open golf championships. In reply Locke thanked the president and members of tho club, and said that, although he was away from home, he felt that h;5 was actually at home with the* committee and the gallery which had followed tho play. VISITOR'S FLANS RETURN IN CENTENARY YEAR Locke was very impressed with the Middlemore links and the general layout of the holes. He expressed regret that he did not have the chance of playing on the course when the greens were more holding and the wind was not so strong. Locke sails for Sydney to-morrow and he will play matches against J. Ferrier, N. von Nida and C. Bolger. He then leaves by air for Tasmania, where he plays L. J. Nettlefold. and is scheduled to meet Harry Williams in a return match at Melbourne. He sails from Perth for South Africa on December 8. Locke will take part in the British open championship next year and he expects to later visit America to play in the "winter circuit." His preset intentions are to come to Australia in 1940 and also to New Zealand to competo in the centenary championships. MATOH AT HAMILTON DEFEAT OF E. J. MOSS [from our own correspondent] « HAMILTON, Sunday A high wind made conditions difficult for the exhibition match played at the St. Andrews golf links yester- % day afternoon between A. D. Locke »" and E. J. Moss. Tho South African played the steadier golf to defeat Moss, 3 and 2. Locke commenced badly, taking five strokes for the first hole after driving his tee shot into the rough and his second into a bunker. After a. birdie four at the second, which squared the match, he took six for the third hole. Moss took seven strokes- at the second. Both players went out in 40: Better golf was played after the turn. Locke took the lead at the 11th, but Moss squared the match at the next hole. This was repeated at the 13th • and 14th. Tho South African won the 15th hole, and when Moss picked up : at tho 16th, Locke won the v -aj and 2. Both went oh to .'-finish.. course,, Locke's medal round bcnig ' •