GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19503, 11 June 1925, Page 5

GOLF.

By Divot.

The final round for the championship of tho Otago Ladies’ Golf Club for the season was played ot. tho Bahnacewon yesterday afternoon, Mrs J. A. Cook ami Mrs M'Carthy being tbo competitors. The playin the early stages of tho game was hardly up to the standard that should bo looked for in a championship final, Mrs Cook being especially weak on the greens. There was, however, very little between the players. Mrs M'Carthy had a slight advantage as far as the 13th green, where she was I up. The weather changed about this time and cold showers came up from tho south-west. Mrs Cook’s play not only did not suffer from this, but it actually improved, and she did the next four holes in bogey, and won at the 17th, 3 up and 1 to play. The final for the junior championship of the club was played on Tuefflay, when Miss I Rattray defeated Mrs Gilray, 1 up. Tho contest for the South Canterbury amateur championship, decided on the aggregate of two rounds of stroke play drew a largo field of competitors on tho Highfield links on the King's Birthday B. V. Wright, the holder of the championship, was successful in retaining tho title, which he has added to that of champion of Canterbury, secured by him at tho last Easter tournament at Shirley. Tho loading scores in the competition at Timaru were: —

At the Shirley golf links last week Miss Kathleen Bristed played and won the sixth and last match in connection with the Wilkin Cup competition. As'Miss Bristed is tho only one of tho seven competitors who has won six matches and lost none, she becomes the holder of tho Wilkin Cup for the next 12 months. It is a somewhat rare occurrence for a match to go to tho fifty-third green. Playing in the second round of tho captain’s trophy competition at Shirley, J. 11. Early and D. Rouse met, and at tho end of tho first 18 holes were all square. ’ihe conditions of the competition wore that any mutches halved had to bo played again. At tho end of the second 18 holes they wore still all square, and they played up to the seventeenth hole in the third round before a decision was arrived at, when Reese won by 2 up ahd 1 to plav. One of tho Hutt leading Indy players. Mrs Holm wood, has provided the members with a sensation. Sho is one of tho ladies who have decided that plus-fours are more reasonable golfing garments than skirts, and on a recent Saturday afternoon donned them for tho first time. Just to , prove that they were suitable garments for the. game, she was round the' first half in one under fours, or equal to the men’s bogey. However this was not tho major sensation, for at the “Citadel” she played tho perfect too shot and holed out in one. At the time sho was playing wilh M‘lntosh, tho professional whoso tee shot was two feet from the pin. so that the pair nearly accomplished tho very rare fe.at of a hole halved in one. Walter Hagen has decided not to cross the Atlantic this year (o defend his title as British Open Champion, notwithstanding that 1m is oyjditod with having stated recently that ho was anxious to emulate Vardon’s feat of winning the British Championship six times. The golfing contributor of tho Observer says he is sure that many British golfers will sleep sounder in their beds by reason of Hagen’s absence from tho scone of conflict. They will feel that their chance of recovering the championship, and of earning fame, will be all the greater. They fear him, not because his golf is any better than a dozen others, but because ho takes command of tho situation and imposes his will on all those who doubt and hesitate. It seems fantastical that it should 1:0 so in a game like golf, where none can interfere with another either by voice, gesture, ot in any other way. Something of this kind happened at Hoyloko last year, when Ernest Whitcomhe and Macdonald Smith, knowing that the aggressive Hagen was behind them, collapsed after each had virtually made the championship secure for himself. Among the American competitors for the British Open Championship this year will, it is exported, be Leo Diegcl. who lately, for the second year in succession, won the Florida Open Championship against all the world’s most celebrated players. Diegcl is an interesting personality. lie is twentysix years of age, and nine years ago, when a student at tho University of Detroit, he throw up everything to make a career of golf. At tho university ho was basket-ball champion. He also played baseball and orthodox football ns well, and one of tho greatest authorities states that a real baseball player was lost to the game when Diegel became enamoured of golf. The complaint is often hoard in America that golf is stealing tho good men, from baseball; catching them young, and holding them true to the new love. Dcigol is mentally and physically the typo of Ihe true champion—hold in his play, nn earnest student of tho game, and with a (lair for brilliant strokes, especially on tho putting sfre<ic There is a pretty little story concerning Picgel’s putter, and his putting, that brought him victory over “Long John" Barnes, the wise old golfer. Quite recently Diegcl was partnered with Sarazen against T. D. Armour, the Edinburgh amateur golfer, and Mike Brady in a match at Palm Beach for 10,000 dollars. Deigol ami Sarazen lost, principally because Diegel could not. putt. Ho had adopted a peculiarly wide stance, and by reason of the fail re of the new method ho was chaffed unmercifully, lie telegraphed to Hollywood for his old putter, which met him on the first day of the championship. Ho closed up bis stance, hoisted his elbows, and began the famous Ouimot pendulum swing that carried Dieigel through to fame, with a wonderful record in tho first round of 67. Improve your game by following ihe example of the British and American Golf Champions and use tho “Spalding Red” Golf Ball.—Advt.

Strokes. B. Y. Wright — 158 U. E. Wright 1G1 H. W. Maolarlane 162 E. A. Sootb 165 A. L. Marshall 168 r. C. Chatfifkl 170 E. G. Bristed 170 E. Ziosler 171 T. II. A. Bichards ' ... 172 M. Macbeth 174 (I. Cuthbortson 174 F. L. Barker • ... 174