GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19270, 6 September 1924, Page 10

GOLF.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS. (Peb United Peess Association.' AUCKLAND, September SI Keen interest marked the opening stages of the New Zealand golf championship meeting at Mid die more Links to-day. Seventy-two competitors, including 13 professionals, took part in the initial play. The conditions fell short of the perfection that had marked the practice games. The wind abruptly veered from the south, to the north and blew in fitful gusts, disturbing some well-designed play. Tho fairway was in capital order, but it was some time before the greens hardened to the fiery conditions. This betrayed many competitors into playing their putts too snort, and lack of the firmer briskness caused tho loss of numerous strokes.

The outstanding feature of the first round of the open championship was the fine play of tho loading amateurs who were bracketed with 13 professionals. A. D. S. Duncan, the veteran amateur and open champion, who carries his 50 odd years easily, was the first to set a high standard. With an aggregate of 71 he established a record for tire championship course and equalled the existing record for the ordinary shorter course. Ho went out in 37 and came back in 34. It was a crisp demonstration of consistently good golf, in no way deprecated by the fact that the player was favoured with an appreciable measure of luck. This lead promised much advantage, but it was considerably dissipated by two factors, these being, first, a more erratic round of El in the afternoon by tho same player, and, secondly, the excellent play of E. J. Moss (the Auckland professional), who returned his card with a score of 73 for his second round, making his aggregate equal to that of the veteran amateur—152 each.

None of the other professionals achieved distinction, their play generally being uneven. The architecture of the course_ is such that it offers in a capricious wind many pitfalls, and occasionally even, the wariest players fell into these with a sacrifice of several strokes throughout the course. Most of tho players, however, drove a straight ball and hit well in the open. It was the overpitching’ of the approach shots and in slack and short putting that tho majority of the competitors failed to make golfing history. On the day’s play, however, there is reason to anticipate some excellent golf in the later stages of the tournament. The results are as follow:

ii. ivuueiauu wv ' G. H. Abel returned a score of 94 for the first round, and did not hand in a card for the second roundThe last two rounds of the Open Championship will bo played to-morrow, MANAWATU LAMES 1 CHAMPIONSHIP. tPKK Ukitki' Pmtsa AbsocxatioiO PALMERSTON NORTH, September 5. The Manawatu Ladies’ Golf Club championship tourney resulted as follows: Semi-final: Miss Zambill (Wellington) beat M. E. Collinson (Manawatua), 6 and 5; Miss Seifert (Manawatua) boat Miss Conway (Wellington), 5 and 5.

The final was won by Miss R. E. Gambrill (Wellington), who defeated Miss G. Siefert (Manawatu), 3 up and 2 to play. Miss Gambrill also won- the championship in IS3O and 1923. Miss Siefert is a promising player, this being her first year at golf. AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOORNE, September 5. (Received Sept. 5* at 9.35 p.m.) Play in the Open Golf Championship of Australia is in progress all the Sandringham Links, in fine weather. The heavy eninclude several ex-champions. The opening rounds produced some keen contests. The contenstants include Dr Kenneth Ross (New Zealand), whose chances of finishing among the first eight appear to be remote.

A. D. S. Duncan ... 71 81 152 E. J. Moss ... 79 73 152 H. W. Maofarlane ... ... 84 34 — 168 W. I/. MTntosh ... 79 79 — 158 H. B Lusk ... 79 80 — 159 R. D. Wright ... 77 82 — 169 J. Goss ... ... 79 CO — 159 R. O. Rutters ... 62 77 — 159 C. A. Seymour ... 81 78 — 159 T. H. Horton ... 80 80 — 100 T. A. Goulding ... 80 80 — 160 A. J. Shaw . ... 80 80 — 160 J. L. Black ... ■ 80 81 — 161 J. G. W. Duncan ... 82 80 — 162 C. K. Clements ... 82 79 — 161 A. E. Ekstodt ... 84 77 — 161 M. B Forrest ... 81 81 — 162 F, G. Hood ... 81 • 81 — 162 J. A. Clement? ... 80 83 — 163 G. W. Ritchio ... 82 82 — 164 W O’Callaghan ... 83 81 — 164 A. E. Conway ... 86 • 78 — 164 P. Grey ... 85 79 — 164 J. Harold ... 81 84 — 165 F. C. Fryer ... 84 81 — 165 \V. B. Colbeck ... 85 81 — 165 J. L. Petley ... 80 8b — 165 J. Galloway ... 82 84 — 166 G. F. Gunson ... 80 87 — 167 H. E. Troutbeck ... 66 81 — 167 J. M. Hussey ... 86 81 — 167 Kari Taroha I ... 76 82 — 158 H. P. Dale ... 84 84 — 163 J. O. Bidwell ... 84 84 — 168 K. D. Duncan ... 84 84 — 168 R. 0. Gardner ... 81 83 — 169 F. Quin ... 84 86 — 170 F. G. Binney ... 85 85 — 170 J. Quin ... 8B -82 — 170 o. P. Hay ... ... 85 86 —- 171 H. Horton ... 89 82 — 171 J. L. Clark - ... 87 84 — 171 E. M Macfarlane ... 87 84 — 171 tl. B. Lair ... 87 84 — 171 R. M. George ... 86 86 — 172 R. 0. Cheaney ... 83 89 — 172 L. Quin ... 83 89 — 172 J. Watt ... 85 83 — 173 H. T. Gillies ... 85 88 — 173 W. S. Ralph ... 87 86 — 175 T. Galloway ••• ... 86 88 174 0. J. Wilson ... 89 85 — 174 E. J; Pumphrey ... 91 83 — 174 D MacCormick ... 87 88 — 175 R. E. C Kirk ... 90 85 — 175 L. Bartleet ... 86 89 — 175 F. Trice — ... 91 85 — 176 R. a Wagg F Gardner ... 85 ... 86 01 90 176 176 A. L. Cropp ... 89 87 — 176 J. B. MaoEwan ... 88 89 — 1/< L. E. Carter ... 90 83 — 178 J. Forbes ••• ... 86 93 — 179 H. .T L. Rees ... 89 90 — 179 B. Lusk ... 89 91 — 180 P. T. Upton ... 91 89 — ISO,, R. J. Hamilton ... 87 97 — 184 W Grace ... 92 92 — 184 H. A ... 92 92 — 184 C. Andersbn ... 96 90 — 186