LADIES' GOLF TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 6

LADIES' GOLF TOURNAMENT

MISS COLLINS GAINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. (Per United Press Association.) NELSON, September 5. The Now Zealand Ladies' Golf Championship Tournament, which has occupied a week's play, came to an end this morning with tlio playing of the final of the championship. From the play in all the matches it appears that those who may be expected to set near tho final next year are Mis* Collins, Miss Pcarcc, Mrs Williams, Mrs Slack, Miss Wood, Miss Gould, MissGorrie, and Miss L. Brandon, whoso defeat in tho second round cannot Iw considered as any indication of her ability. Miss Collins and Miss Pcarcc, both Wellington players, met in the linaj, and the result proved an easy win for Miss Collins. Tho gamo commenced at about 10 a.m. Tho links wore in splendid order, better thwi on any other day during the tournament. Tho greens showed wonderful improvement, while the fairways, which wore always good l , showed tho cleanest of surfaces. Tho weather conditions woro propitious. There was considerable excitement amongst tlio spectators when the match commenced, but this simmered down when the gamo had worn on a little. Tlio |>opular opinioa at tho start was that Miss Pearee, who is looked upon as the better golfer of the two, and whose handicap is ono as compared with Miss Collins's 7, would win by n lair margin, but tho many supporters of Miss Pcarcc were doomed to disappointment. Miss Peareo has, as a rule, showed a minimum of strain in big matches, but she was obviously very worried to-day. No ono would have been surprised to seo tho match result in a close linisli. as both contestants have handed in cards very much aliko during the past week, but victory by 5 up and 4 to play was never dreamed of. Miss Collins never looked like losing, and was ahead from tho first hole. She plavcd with confidence in her long game, \vhieh caused surprise at n few 'minor mistakes she made. Miss Pcarcc, on the other bund, was ragged at tho start, and could not pull herself togcthor, although she made a plucky recovery halfway through the match. Some of her shots were badly topped, while tho putting of both' ladies was not im to the mark.

Miss Collins secured honour at the first tee, and drove n good length ball. Miss Pcarcc commenced with disaster, topping her drive, and playing a i>oor second. Following up her advantage. Miss Collins wou iho holo in 6. Both drives off the second tee were good, but' a poor brasscy shot gave Miss Collins the advantage, and she reached the green in 3, and holed out in Bogey (5). Miss Peareo rallied, a succession of four halved holes being the result. At ihc "Little Lighthouse" Miss Peareo played the best hole of the day. Both drives travelled well, and Miss Peareo approached to within 2ft of the pin, going out in 3. and winning the hole. This left Miss Collins 1 up. At the " Basin," although over the hill in 2. Miss Peareo made several mistakes, while Miss Collins beat Bogey in 4. At the ninth bote Miss Pearee got on the green with a beautiful drive and a brasscy, and reduced the s:ore to 1 up again. In the second round only four holes were traversed. Miss Collin's winning threi- and one being hulved. Both drove close to the first green, and Miss Collins tcol; advantage of a missed putt ami holed out in 3. one under Bogey. Another splendid stroke enabled Miss Collins to get in a good position at No. 11, while Miss Pearee fell short into the bunker. She came cut well, but ran over the hole, wlile her opponent went down in 3. Two good drives fle-.v from the 12th tee. but a short second saw Miss Pcarcc in the water hazard, from which she lost 1. She topped her next, and got on the green after two attempts in 5. Miss Collins took tlree nicely played strokes to get within putting distance, and the hole looked hers, but Miss Pcarcc holed a 20ft putt and halved. Miss Pearee took the ground on her drive olf the next toe. but this was equalised by Miss Collins topping. Miss Pearee was short in her approach, but Miss Collins made no mistake, and went down in 5. Good drives opened play to '.he next hole. Miss Collins being in a good, safe pesition before, the fence with her s'econd, and by an astonishingly accurate approach near the pin in 3. Miss Pearee fell into a depression, from which she had difficulty in playing, losing two strokes liere, she got on the grren in 5. Then Miss Collins went out in 4 and won the match ami the championship.

After the final the presentation of prizes took place. Most of the golfers left by delayed steamer at 4.30 p.m. for Wellington.