GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20379, 10 April 1928, Page 7

GOLF.

OTAGO AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY DR G. F. BARNETT. The Otago amateur championship meeting was concluded on the Balmacewan links yesterday, and the final round resulted in a win for Dr G. F. Barnett, of Dunedin, who beat B. V. Wright, of Timaru, after a close and keenly-contested match. The . weather was perfect—bright and warm, and an entire absence of wind. The fairways were in excellent condition, with the greens somewhat keener than on the occasion of previous play. A fair number of spectators followed the contestants in the semi-final, while in the final the keenest interest was shown. The best of fellowship was exhibited throughout the various contests. When Dr Barnett won in the final his opponent, B. V. Wright, of Timaru, smilingly congratulated him on his success. Dr Barnett is a member of the Otago Club, which h joined 17 years ago. He has been runner-up for the Otago championship and the Otago Club championship, and this is his first big win. He is recognised at the second best player in his club, conceding th'e honours to Dr Ross. B. V Wright belongs to the Timaru Club. He comes off a golf-playing family. His sister (now Mrs J. Templar, of Waimate) was the New Zealand lady champion. His two uncles, Mr Harold Wright, and Mr Percy Wright, are both well known in golfing circles. B. V. Wright has on several occasions competed in the New Zealand championship. He has to his credit the Canterbury and South Cautex-bury championships. Quite a young player—only 21 years of age—it is more than likely that Wright will be heard of again in first-class play. His weight is 9st. He has a short stroke, and he bite magnificently. The Timaru representative was within an ace of wresting the honour from Otago. A Timaru player, A. L. Marshall, who competed in 1913, had the good fortune to carry the cup - back to the northern town with him. ■ In the final round Dr Barnett completed the 18 holes in 72, B. V. Wright’s score being 73. At the conclusion of the play the presentation of prizes took place in front of the clubhouse. Dr Cowland, president of the Otago Club, occupied the chair, and, in the unavoidable absence of Mrs Cowland, the prizes were handed to the winners by Mrs Barnett. A warm round of applause, with the singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” greeted Dr Barnett when he came forward to receive the champion’s cup. Before the proceedings closed the Chairman expressed the thanks of the golfers to Mr A. J. Milliner, professional in charge of the course; Mr G. Bennett, greenkeeper. and Mrs Sherriff, who had charge of the catering department. Details of the day’s play are as follows:'— AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-final Round. Dr Gk F. Barnett (Otago) beat D. M. Irvine (Otago), 6 up and 5 to play. B. V. Wright (Timaru) beat W. G. Wight (Otago), 3 up and 1 to play. Final Round. Dr G. F. Barnett beat B. V. Wright on the twentieth green. THE SEMI-FINALS. Barnett and Irvine, both Otago members, had an interesting contest. The former played from the urst too, pushing his drive over to the right. Irvine missed his drive and ran along the ground. Irvine played a good second, Barnett missing his. Both were.on the green in 3, Barnett holing out in 5 to 6. At the seco *1 both got two good drives, Barnett putting his second on the green. Irvine pulled his below the side of the green, and Barnett holed out in 5 to o, making him 2 up. Both got two good drives away at the third. Irvine pitching up dead. He won the hole, 3 to 4, making Barnett 1 up. At the fourth. Irvine played his shot about four yards from the hole, Barnett overrunning the green with his first. Irvine holed out 6 to 4, squaring the match. At the Terraco both had good drives, Barnett pushing his over to the right. Irvine was on the top of the hill with his second, Barnett winning the hole in 5 to 6. In’ the sixth, good drives were made. Irvine’s second overrunning the green. Barnett's second was on the green, and he won the hole in 4 to 5, making him 1 up. Both players made good drives in the next. Barnett’s second being four yards from the hole, which ho won in 4 to 5. Two capital drives at the eighth were followed Joy Irvine’s second reaching the opposite edge of the green, Barnett being just on the near edge. Barnett holed out in 4 to 5. At the ninth, Barnett played his first out of bounds, Irvine missing bis drive. Barnett got a good second, Irvine again missing. Barnett took the hole in 5 to 6, and was 5 up at the turn. Both had good drives at the tenth, which Barnett won in 3 to 4, making him 6 up. Going for the long hole, both got good drives away and good seconds. Barnett pulled his third into the trees near the green, and Irvine, was lying on the green nicely in 3, winning the hole in 5 to b, leaving Barnett S up. Barnett missed his drive at M’Glashan’s, being on the down side of the green in a 3. Irvine s second was on the top side in the rough, the hole being halved in 5. At the thirteenth, Irvine missed his drive, Barnett having a good drive which went over the hill. Ine latter played his second on to the edge of the green, Irvine being on the edge, in 5. Barnett holed out in 5 to 6, and earned the match. 6 up and 5 to play. Wight and Wright provided a contest that at times reached the stage of excitement. Both got good drives at the first, Wight finding the hunker to the right of the green with his second. Wright was on the edge of the green, and patted up nicely to the hole. Wight made a good recovery, but failed to halt his pat for 4, Wright winning the hole in 4 Wright pulled his second to the left of the green, Wight winning the hole in 4. The third and fourth were halved in bogey. The fifth was halved in the under bogey. In the sixth Wright topped his drive into long grass, and tne hole went to Wight in 4. _ln the seventh both were on the green in twos, Wright holing his putt for birdie 3. The eighth and ninth were won byWright in 4,3, making him 3up at the turn. At the tenth both found bunkers to the right of the green with their tee shots, and a half m 4 resulted. The eleventh was halved in bogey 6. The twelfth was won by Wight in 4. The thirteenth was halved in bogey 5, and the fourteenth in 4. At this hole Wright missed a yard putt. The fifteenth was halved in well-played four’s. The sixteenth was halved in 5, making Wight dormie 2. In the seventeenth Wight topped his drive, and Wright, getting birdie 3, won the match, 3 up and 1 to play.

THE FINAL. The final between Barnett and Wright was followed round the course by a large gallery, who were treated to one of the finest exhibitions of golf ever seen in Dunedin. The following are the details of the run:— Both got good drives to the first. Barnett put his iron shot a yard from the hole, winning the hole in 3 to 4. The second bole was well played by both players, a half in 4 resulting. Both got excellent drives to the third, just short of the green, both running up fairly close to the hole, but missing their putts for 3, the hole was halved in 4. At the short fourth Barnett put his tee shot sft past the hole, Wright being short. Barnett holed his putt for 2, winning the hole, making him 2 up. At the Terrace both had good drives, and both found the green with their seconds. Barnett was short with his long putt, but holed a two-yarder for a 4, a half resulting. At the Ridge both were on the green with their seconds, Wright holing a long putt for 3, making Barnett 1 up. At the seventh both were short with their approaches to the green, a half in 5 resulting. At the Monastery, Barnett topped his drive, but got a good second to the top of the hill, with his third on to the green. Wright got two good shots on to the green, winning the hole in 4 to 5. The Glen was halved in 4, making the match all square at the turn, Barnett being out in 35 and Wright in 30. At the Mount both were on the green, Barnett the closer to the hole. Wright was short with his long putt, and missing the next lost the hole in 3 to 4, Barnett 1 up. Both had good drives and seconds to Tipperary. Barnett put his third on the green to the left. Wright played a bean(ifn! approach, hut just stopped short of the hole by two yards. Barnett, taking three putts, lost the hole by 5 to 6, making the match all square again. At il'Glashac.'s Wright made an excel-

lent approach to within a yard of the hole, winning the hole in 3. This left Wright 1 up. At the thirteenth Wright earned the hole with his drive, getting on to the green in 2, and winning the hole in birdie 4. 'At Roy’s Wright played a beautiful shot to within three yards of the hole. Barnett’s was a still better one to within sft of the pin, and holing his putt for 2 brought the match to 1 up for Wright. At Spion Kop Wright topped his drive, Barnett winning the hole in 4, making the match all square, with 3 to play. At the ■ sixteenth both got good drives, Barnett finding the green with his second. Wright was also on the green, just past the hole. Barnett putted too far, and, missing the return, lost the hole in 4. Wright, 1 up and 2 to play. . At the seventeenth Barnett was just short of, the green with his drive, and, running up nicely, won the hole in 3. Ail square and 1. , , , , , , Going to the last, both had beautiful drives, Wright putting his second well on the green, with Barnett just short. Bar--nett’s approach was too strong, just missing his.putt for 4. Wright putted up to within 2ft of the hole, but missed the putt, and the match finished all square. At the nineteenth both found the green with their seconds, a half in 4 resulting. The end came on the twentieth green. Wright pushed his second out in the rough grass to the right of the green, Barnett getting on nicely in 2, winning the hole and the match with a 4.

MEDAL HANDICAP. The Medal Handicap, played in the forenoon, was won by J. W. Trewern, with J. E. Barnard as the runer-up. The best cards were:—

G. Henry Ul 1/ —■ /± FOUR BALL HANDICAP. The tie for the Four Ball Handicap between W. K. Sumpter and H. S. Corson (Oaraaru) and R. E. Hayward and R. W. Dick (Otago) was won by the former.. BOGEY HANDICAP. The tie in the Bogey Handicap, played on Saturday morning, between E. J. Hocking and R. E. Hayward, was won by the former. The Bogey Handicap yesterday afternoon was won by J. Spence (Otago), 7 up, with P. R. Fordham (Otago) 5 up. CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY E. PRINCE, AVONDALE. (Peb Dnited Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. The amateur golf championship of Canterbury wa9 contested at the Shirley links on Saturday, and fell to E. Prince,,of the Avondale Club. Prince, who got his morning round in before rain seriously interfered with play, struck a patch of almost brilliant form, and returned a gross score of 70, three under bogey. The next best first round cards were put in by A. R. Blank (76 gross) and R. W. Morgan, Wilson, Bristed, Dolph, and Anderson, who were equal with 77. Rain made the afternoon round a severe test, and Prince took 78, but his total of 148 was five strokes better than the efforts of Blank and Morgan, who played consistently good golf for 153. SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. (Peb United Pb-bs Association.) INVERCARGILL, April 9. The golf tournament was concluded today in magnificent weather. The championship of the province was won by C. A. Masters (Invereargili) and the junior championship by J. A. Templeton (St. Clair). . •-, ■■■

CHAMPIONS S TO DATE. 1903-1 D. Meldrum ' 1914-19 War period 1904-5 G. H. MaoEwan 1119-20 Dr K. Boss 1D05-6 J. Harold 1920-21 C: B. Wight 1908-7 B. J. Smith IujI-sJ M. W '. Horton 1907-8 H. C. Smith 1925-23 0. B. Wight 1908-9 H. C. Smith 1923-24 C. B. Wight 1909-10 B. C. Rutherford 1924-25 Dr K. Boss 1910-11 B. J. Smith 1925-ii> Dr K. Rosn 1911-12 B. J. Smith 1926-27 Dr K. Boss 1912-13 A. h. Marshall ,1927-28 Dr G. F. Barnett 1913-11 Dr K. Boss

Hep. J. W. Trewern .. 76 8 — 68 J. E. Barnard .. 91 22 — 69 w. , A. Dawson .. .. 94 24 — 70 R. G. Scott .. .. 78 4 — 74 R. S. Stokes .. .. 8ft 12 — 74 R. Penman . .. .. 88 14 — 74