"The Kid"

NZ Truth, Issue 1029, 15 August 1925, Page 14

"The Kid"

Wias Auckland Title

A CHAMPION AT SIXTEEN.

(By "Sammy.")''

When Miss OHiver Kay made such a sensation at Hamilton last year, . some people thought her play was a fluke. Since then she has prov- \ ed otherwise. This year at - Rotorua she won her *way to the semi-final and to-day, she is Auckland provincial champion and she had to fight all the way to win it. Perhaps the unbelievers will now realise that Miss Kay is a golfer whom New Zealand should be proud of. Every now and then we read of young players m America and at Home winning events, how we have one here. I hope "Mr. Press Association Cable Man" will broadcast to the world that Miss Olliver, Kay won the A.P.C. at the age of sixteen, years, that she can hit a ball 200 yards and also that she is a New Zealander. > To defeat players of such' experience as Miss Kay has done since her entry Into championship play stamps her as a wonderful golfer. Now she has one championship to her name it will not be long until anqther is claimed by her. The experience gained this year will be of great help to her for the greater tussle later on at Miramar. The tournament at Titirangi was not played m the best of weather,' rain interfering greatly with play.. When the totals of the qualifying stages were posted Miss M. Payton headed the list and Miss Kay just managed to qualify. It's a strange thing, but it is not by any means the Vfirst "occasion on which a player has. h.ad\ the most extreme difficulty m surviving the 'qualifying stage of an important event and then gone on to win the event outright. \ . ' . . ;i ' Miss Payton and "The Kid" fought the semi-final over again.' On this occasion "The Kid" was more experienced , and had-- set her mind to wipe off past defeat. - A great match went to the 19th hole. Here Olliver hit a fine tee shot whereafe Miss Payton half topped into the ditch and so ended the game m Miss Kay's favor. After defeating the holder one looked upon her as a winner, but her supporters got a shock m the match against 'Miss Upton, who had her young opponent 2 down and three, to play. The, youngster, after slack piay, produced a great spurt and hitting beautiful balls won the next two holes. A great hit to the last had her opponent pressing and .a drive into the creek was the result. Miss Kay holing out a four won a hard fought match by one hole. ' In the final ' against Miss Culling, Miss Kay won the first hole and throughout the game she h*ld the lead. She played steady, sure golf and won on the 17th green. Her score at that period wast 0ut— 455454864 — 45; in— 64554455—37—82 for 17 holes. ,-, These figures show her golf coming home m drenching rain. The conditions were far from ideal for scoring. Miss Kay is , still playing the bold, powerful game 'of last year and if she could only drop the 'slackness of her play now and again she would return marvelous scores. In her matches Bhe showed great spurts of grand golf When m a tight position and twice she won her match by real gameness. Her long game is fine, m fact I Jhink she : tries to hit too hard. She need hardly worry as no lady in>Ne'w Zealand can hit the ball so far as she can. Her putting is inclined to be over bold, but practice will overcome this. Still it's the kind of putting which wins 'matches. . ' . #. * * Wellington will see this grand little girl golfer at Miramar and I can tell you now her arm is stretched out for the championship v'cup and it will be a big . surprise to "Sammy" if she does not win it. .* ■-* >* ■ *■ Miss Culling put up a fine match m the final and at the tenth the game . was all square. The heavy wind and rain m the final few holes had the Middlemore lady beaten. Better luck next time. ' * * * Miss M. Payton is always. at a disadvantage m rain. The rain may have

made a difference m her match against Miss Kay. Wet glasses are not the best to sight a golf ball through. It's some consolation to know her conquerpr won . tne tournament, and for Miss Payton to return a record score of 82 for tne course, a score which won the medal. #■. * ■ * The Americans attach great import.- -'. ance to ."shooting, the hundred," i.e., having a score less than a hundred for 27 consecutive holes. At Roehampton tournament. Abe. Mitchell achieved this distinction — a feat unpai-alleled m Britain. Mitchell's score was 98; 31 home m the first round, 34 out and 33 home m the second round. Anybody "shot a hundred" m New Zealand? -* # * ■ #' Scores of 70 and -71 show top golf, and that is what Arthur ■ Duncan is playing at present. The first score was rattled up at Heretaunga and the other at Miramar over the full course. Form such as this will make the "pros." who think they can win the open take a bit more notice and. start to practice m earnest. .' * * * W. Horton , can manage to produce a fine game when up against the man. He defeated Black, Hutt's leading man, m the ihter-club match as nicely as he beat Ekstedt the other week.. This is nice practice for .the big meeting. # ■••••*■ * E. J. Moss, the open champion, is under dpctor's care owing, to an old trouble making a reappearance. He has been ordered aa.l' 1 complete rest for a month, but., he intends to travel south and defend his titles at Shirley. *.. * • . *" "G-.M." '(Blenheim) wxites asking- the ruling of rule 15 by the R. and A. which was printed some time back. I give again the principal part: "Regarding the reading of rule 15 I beg to state that this rule prohibits the player from bending or breaking anything growing unless it is necessary to do 'so to enable him fairly, to take his stance, or m the actual making of the stroke,; i.e., the backward or forward swing as a preliminary to his stroke. In reference to trees, etc., attention is called to recommendations for local rules. . * *.■■■■■*■ The Australian championships were played m vile weather and the scoring was really excellent. H. R. Sinclair, the amateur champion, started • badly and then played grand golf afterwards. Had he g6t off well he may have won. the double. F. Popplewell scored a most popular win on his. own course. The leading results are as follows:. F. Popplewell .. 73 75 72 79—299 T. E. Howard .. 77 74 74 76—301 H. R. Sinclair . . SO 73 79 72—304 A. Russell , 74 77- 7G 77—304 R. Stewart ..... .76 77 82 72—307 C. Campbell .... 81 .73 78 76— 308 * * . * A. Russell, last yeai"'s winner, again made a great attempt but failed m the last ; round. ' V He was defeated m the first round of the amateur championship. W. lies, late of New Zealand, was disqualified for playing the wrong ball at one hole. *- # # There is talk of scrapping national handicaps at Home. With all the fuss and bother they have made, the handicaps are useless. Why does not the New Zealand Golf Council adopt the rules of the Ladies' G.U. on handicapping for all clubs m N.Z.? # . * * R. A. Wilson, the ex-Southland champion^ is playing great golf at present and. on present ■fox-m is going to "be hard" m the -club championship at Shirley. He is right back to his old form and confidence. •■ / ■' * •'■ # # • I trust that the handicapping system m last week's issue will help the many small clubs which are always asking for a system. If H.S.B.R. will give it a trial. I'm sure it will help his club. # * # Leeds has set a pace at Home m municipal golf and has lately opened a fine course at Templenewsam, which is the fourth under the town control. The club house is most commodious and is 'fitted with all modern luxuries, including ' a loud speajser m every room. The. expense on the course and club house is amply justifying itself. No doubt Auckland is just waiting until the next most perfect municipal course is made then will go ahead and beat 'em all — let's hope so!