GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19717, 18 February 1926, Page 5

GOLF.

PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT. ■ BRILLIANT ROUND BY SHAW. CLEMENTS WINS STROKE HANDICAP*. The professionals’ championship opened at Balmacewen yesterday morning in beautiful ■weather. Despite the rain of the previous night the greens were in perfect putting condition. Some good cards were passed in after the morning's play. In the Bogey Handieay A. J. Shaw (Wellington) played a brilliant round of 69. He finished 7up on bogey, the next best being J. Forrest (Otago) with 5 up. J. La mbis (Heretaunga) also played a fine round, finishing with 4 up on the “Colonel.” In the afternoon a strong nor -westerly sprang up, and several of the players found themselves in trouble. This was responsible for a change in the totals handed in at the end of the afternoon’s play. Only one player broke 80; most of the cards showed between 80 and 90. Clements’s 73 was, if anythingj a much better round than Shaw’s morning total, Clements’s performance being registered against trying conditions. He stalled off with a 6 and missed two short putts at the fourth. He gave a great exhibition from then on, and deserved great credit for his performance in the First Stroke Handicap. H. R. Blair (Christchurch), P. G. Hood (Mirimar), and J. R. Galloway (Palmerston North) divided the second and third prizes.. Mr R. Clements Kirk (Wellington), chairman of the New Zealand Golf Association, was present in an official capacity. The heat of the sun was very trying, and quite a few of the men from the north were not at all comfortable towards the end of the morning’s play. The following professionals participated: >T. A. Clements (Hagley), J. Lambie (Heretnunga), J. R. Galloway (Palmerston North), H. M’Dougall (Invercargill), B. J. Smith (Oamaru), J. MTntosh (Hutt), Lindsay Ross (Wellington), H. Green (Heretaunga), W. Kay (St. Clair). G. B. Forrest (Timaru), G. Ritchie (New Plymouth), H. R. Blair (Shirley), A. J. Shaw (Wellington). A. J. Milliner (Otago), J. Forrest (Otago), F. G. Hood (Mirimar). THE PLAY. In the morning J, A. Shaw won the Balmacewen (Bogey) Handicap. His card read: Out: 4.4,4,8,4,4,3,4,4 84 In: 4,5,4,4,3,4,4,3,4 35 69 The following are the six best cards handed in with the handicaps within parentheses:

TO-DAY’S PLAY. In the morning at 9.30 the first round of the Otago Professional. Championship (72 holes), concurrent with this the Myers’s Challenge Cup (36 holes), first round, and the first round of the Second Stroke Handicap (38 holes). The following is the draw:—A. J. Shaw v. T. Galloway, G. Ritchie v. H. MacDongall, H. Green v. Lindsay Ross, A. J. Milliner v. J. Forrest, H. R. Blair v. J. A. Clements, F. G. Hood v. Win. Kay, G. B. Forrest v. j. Lambie, J. R, Galloway v. B. J. Smith, J. M’lntosh a bye. At 1.30 the second round of the Otago Professional Championship (72 holes), concurrently with this the final rounds of the Second Stroke Handicap and the Myer’e Challenge Cup. The draw is;—B. J. Smith v. J. Forrest, H. Green v. G, B. Forrest, J. R. Galloway v. Lindsay Ross, Wm. Kay v. J. MTntosh, G.' Ritchie v. H. MacDougall, J”. Lambie v. J. A. Clements, A. J. Shaw v. A. J. Milliner, H. R. Blair v. F. G. Hood, T. Galloway a bye.

A. J. Shaw (owe 2) Bogey, J. Forrest (3) .. .. .. 5 up J. Lambie (1) J. E. Galloway (scr.) .. 3 np H. R. Blair (owe 2) .. A. J. Milliner (4) .. In the afternoon the First Stroke Handicap was played. A. J. Clements handed in a card which read: Ont; 6,4,4,4,4,5,3,3,4 In: 3,4,5,4,3,5,5,3,4 .. .. 36 73 The best cards read:— Gross. Hop. Net. J A. Clements .. .. 73 0 73 H. R. Blair .. .. .. 80 *1 81 F. G. Hood 80 *1 81 J. R. Galloway .. •• 81 0 81 Lindsay Ross .. .. 85 8 82 A. J. Milliner .. .. 87 5 82 * Pins.