GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23384, 28 June 1939, Page 21

GOLF TOPICS

MIDDLEMOKE FINAL CAPTAIN'S PRIZE EVENT "hard task for e. bartleet G. WILLIAMS WINS STABLEFORD IIY TIIF, ROVER r ilio result of the captain's prize final at was only to ho expected, as E. L. Bartleet was set an almost impossible task in trying to concede D. I'\ Rogers ten strokes. In the circumstances Bartleet did very well to take the match to the loth. Rogers received three strokes in the first five holes and he obtained a useful lead. He commenced by winning the two opening holes and surprisingly missed a very short putt for another win at the third. At .this hole both played good seconds and Rogers' approach putt finished within two feet of the cup. Bartleet, who was pin high, failed to get any closer than his opponent, but ho holed his short putt for a four, and Bogers missed. Apparently one spectator considered that Rogers was closer to the hole than Bartleet, but such was not the case. It was impossible to judge from the back of the green, which is fully ■'•iO yards from the pin, and the players themselves agreed who had to putt first. Bogers won most of his matches in the. competition comfortably and he is to be congratulated 011 his success. His rapid progress this season is due to the fact that he has practised assiduously and seldom did he miss a day without swinging a club. He has quite a good style, although naturally his swing is not yet compact.

A number of good scores was returned in ;i Stableford competition, and G. AV. S. Williams played a splendid round of ~'2 to lead tlio field. He was out in 37. and coining in lie commenced with 4, 4, 3, 3. Up to this stage lie was hitting his shots so well that it appeared lie would break 70, but lie slipped strokes, and finished with three fives. F. P. Worley, who was beaten on the count-back, played one of his best rounds for a considerable time. \Y. A. Donald had a good run of figures for a round of 74. His only mistake on the outward half was a six at the second, and he came home in level fours. Although T. Gill scored 37 points, he was defeated at the 17th in the No. 2 match-play tourney by F. G. Lintott. Lintott, who did not enter for the Stableford, had a round of 76. '

SPLENDID STRUGGLE COLTMAX CUP TO G. GRAHAM The final of the Coltman Cup event at Akarana, which was played over 36 holes, provided a great match, two extra holes being necessary before G. M. Graham defeated D. Merryweather. During the morning round Graham had a lead of four holes, but was only 1 up at the 18th. In the afternoon he won three of the first five holes, and his opponent won the eighth and ninth. Graham became 3 up at the 12th, but Merryweather obtained five fours at the i4th and 15th, and won both without the aid of strokes. He squared the match at the next, which Graham plaved weakly, but lost the 1/th. A stroke at the last enabled Merryweather to square the match. At the 38th be played the better second shot, but made a mistake in using a putter from the back of the green, which was verv wet. He left himself a three-yard putt and when he missed, Graham, who was short of the green with his second, holed a six-footer for the match. . , ~ The Maungakiekie course is in better order at present than it has been previously in June, and the adoption of the clean and place rule should not be necessarv for some weeks. In medal, matches played in two grades the form of the seniors was again disappointing, and W. G. Clavis added to his imposing list of successes with a /L net after a tie with J. Tanner and H. Roy. The juniors were more convincing the B grade event being won by t. lsetcnlev with 67 net. r~> The sixth round of the hlliffe Cup event produced one marathon match. Against J. Jerrat, jun., J. S. Kidd appeared likely to win when he was 3 up with four to plav. His youthfu opponent then produced five splendid fours, two of them birdies. After losing the first three of these boles, Ividd held on determinedly to halve the I't h and 18th holes. Jerrat won eventually at the 21st, and in view of his limited experience his finishing eflort was excellent. C. S. Craig, who is now favourite for the event, defeated A. H. Winstonc. K. 11. Halstead was up against a difficult proposition in J. '-<• Stedman, who is now playing very accurate golf. Penalties incurred through striking his opponent's ball on the green robbed Stedman of victory in the concurrent medal event. Several good cards were returned in a Stableford competition at r l itirangi, J L. Carnaehan winning after tieing with B P. Lavcoek. Carnaehan had a stroke round of 76, while the runner-up was one better. V. L. Humphreys made cood use of his long drives and had a solid round, while H. V. Ganley was another to score well.

STATUS OF AMATEURS ACCEPTANCE ok presents For many years it has been the practice of certain leading amateurs in England to accept free golf balls during championship meetings. In fact some are regularly supplied, and the English Coif Union has now decided to take action, although it is doubtful if the proposed step will have the desired effect. The executive will require competitors for this year's English amateur championship to sign the following declaration relating to amateur status: "L declare that during the past year 1 have not accepted as presents or been given facilities to buy at prices below those usually charged for golf balls, golf clubs, or other golfing merchandise, when such presents are made or facilities granted 011 account, directly or indirectly, of my skill as a golfer and for purposes of advertisement."

Apparently the Royal and Ancient Club has not yet taken any drastic action regarding the acceptance of free balls by amateurs, but it is expected that the joint advisory committee will make some recommendations.