GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20539, 15 October 1928, Page 7

GOLF.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. SLOAN MORPETH THE WINNER. A. J. SHAW RUNNER-UP. Returning an excellent card of 73 in the final round of the Open Championchip at Balmacewen on Saturday afternoon, Sloan Morpeth (Auckland) put the finishing touches to four rounds of consistently good golf by beating A. J. Shaw (Napier) for the championship by a margin of two strokes, his aggregate for the four rounds being 303. This is the second occasion since the Great War that . the Open has been won by an amateur, the other being E. M. M'Farlane’s win at Christchurch in 1925. Next in order of merit after Shaw came J. D. MTntosh 306, K. Ross 306, and R. C. Butters-309. The champion was warmly congratulated on his success, and in response to calls for a speech he said; "This is the proudest moment of my life. It has always been my greatest wish to win an open championship. My best previous ferformance was in 1919 at Napier, when tied with Mr Douglas, and ultimately lost in the play-off. I always look forward to competing in the New Zealand championships, and I consider it a great honour to be here to-day. I think I am lucky to win, for I started late and after , .1 had played the first nine holes the wind -.lied right away. After that it was easy going, whereas Mr Shaw, Mr MTntosh, and Dr Ross had to compete against a gale.”—(Applause). Cheers were given for the champion. ■' - The course was in excellent playing condition, the overnight rain having taken a. great deal of the sting out of the . ground. The only complaint which visiting competitors made was that the greens were, in their opinion, too closely clipped. In the morning and early afternoon there was a cold southerly wind that at times .became so strong that it affected players’ performances, but later it moderated rapidly and by the mid-afternoon had dropped almost completely. TIE FOR JELLICOB CUP. The contest for the Earl Jellicoe Cup, tb go to the player returning the best individual score for one round, resulted in a tie between T. H. Horton and E. __S. Douglas, who each returned a card of 72., Douglas thus earns the distinction of being the first professional golfer to be a winner of the cup. O’RORKE VASE TO OTAGO. The teams match for the O’Rorke Vase was won by the Otago No. 1 team, the detailed figures being as follow: — OTAGO No. 1. Dr Ross 77 Dr G. F. Barnett 84 S. C. Colbeck 74 D, H. Butcher 83 Total .. 318 HUTT. J. X Black 83 R. Wagg 83 W. B. Reilly - 75 .6. P. Roberts • 85 Total 326 CHRISTCHURCH No. 1. D. Grant 83 E. M. Macfarlane 82 E. J. Pumphrey 84 A. R. Blank .. .. 79 Total 328 ST. CLAIR. C. B. Wight 80 W. W. Clayton .. .. 83 H. C. Stevens 85 J. E. Matheson . • 86 Total 334 CHRISTCHURCH No. 2. X. H. Campbell •• •• 84 H. W. Macfarlane 79 W. P. Anderson .... ....•• . • 89 C. A. Seymour .... 86 Total 338 OTAGO No. 2. W. G. Wight 87 J- H J. Spence G. C. Henderson 84 Total •• 343 WELLINGTON. J. G. D. Duncan. - • • |2 JI. H. Duncan 86 J. W. Ward 9° R. E. Tolhurst 89 Total 347 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. The following are the individual scores in the four rounds of the Open Championship of New Zealand, played concurrently with the four qualifying rounds for the amateur and professional championships: Ist 2nd 3rd 4th Tl. ' S. Morpeth (Auckland) 76 78 /6 73—303 •A. J. Shaw (Napier) 76 80 73 76—305 *J. MTntosh (Gisborne) .. 76 78 74 78 —306 K. Ross (Dunedin) 78 74 77 77—306 R, C. Butters (Miramar) .. 76 78 77 78—309 T . H. Horton (Masterton) -.. 81 72 82 76 —311 *E. S. Douglas (Auckland) .. 80 77 72 84 —313 H. P. Dale (Eltham) .. . • 81 79 75 81 —316 •G. Forrest (Timam) .. 80 78 77 81—316 S. Colbeck (Dunedin) .. .. 81 78 84 74—319 *J. A. Clements (Hagley) .. 81 81 82 75—319 , W. B. Reilly (Hutt) 80 78 86 75—319 A. G. Sime (Westport) 81 82 77 81—321 B. V. Wright (Timaru) .. 83 84 75 79 —321 J. L. Black (Otorohanga) .. .. 79 78 81 83 —321 M. Macbeth (Hamilton) .. .. 88 78 76 79—321 *F. Branch (Hamilton) .. .. 83 80 79 80—322 *H. R. Blair (Christchurch) 77 85 80 81—323 *J. R. Galloway (Palmerston N.) 88 80 80 75 —323 H. A. Black (Miramar) .. .. 79 SO 84 81—324 *G. B. Ritchie (New Plymouth) 88 79 79 79 —325 J. Goss (Wanganui) .. .. .. 83 81 81 80—325 R. Wagg (Hutt) 82 82 70 83—326 G. F. Barnett (Otago) .. .. 80 81 81 84—326 ' J. Millard (Avondale) .. • • 84 86 74 83—327 C. B. Wight (St. Clair) .. .. 85 80 82 80—327 *T. Galloway (Wellington) .. 82 86 84 76 —328 A. R. Blank ( 83 84 82 79 —328 ■ G. Richmond (Nelson) .. . • 77 81 87 85—330 E. M. Macfarlane (Christchurch) 82 85 82 82 —331 •J. Lambie (Wellington) .. .. 84 86 86 76 —332 J G. D. Duncan (Wellington) .. 85 82 83 82—332 D. Grant (Christchurch) .. .• 86 77 87 S3 —333 J. D. Lawrence (Christchurch) 86 88 80 79 —333 F. C. Fryer (Hastings) .. .. 86 83 84 80—333 N. Louisson (Auckland) • • •• 86 93 84 80—333 E. J- Pumphrey (Christchurch) 76 89 85 84—334 H. W. Macfarlane (Christchurch) 86 85 84 87 —334 *J. Forrest (Otago) 84 81 85 85—335 D. H. Butcher (Otago) .. .. 87 79 86 83—330 *L. Ross (Nelson) 89 86 82 79—336 •B. J-. Smith (Auckland) .. • • 81 81 85 86—336 C. A. Seymour (Christchurch) 85 85 81 86 33/ J. E. Matheson (St. Clair) ■ • 89 81 81 86 —337 JI. Duncan (Weilington .. .. 88 84 82 86—340 W. G. Wight (Otago) .... 85 87 82 87 34■W. Clayton (st. (Clair) .... 89 85 86 83 —343 H. C. Stevens (St. Clair) •. .. 86 83 89 85 —343 J: A. Mangan (In- „ vercargiS) .. 88 83 88 84—343 X H. Campbell

(Christchurch) 85 91 84 84—344 G. C. Henderson (Otago) .... 88 85 88 84—345 J. Spence (Otago) 81 94 82 88—345 J. G. Dick (Otago) 89 88 84 84—345 A.“ N. Haggitt (Otago) .. .. 87 84 92 83—346 S. Turner (Miramar) 89 91 89 78—347 J. M. Hussey (Wanganui) .. 89 84 92 84—349 *F .Fox (Avondale) 86 83 90 91—350 L. H. Marshall (St. Clair) .. 89 86 89 86—350 J. W. Trewern (Otago) .. .. 93 88 87 82 —350 G. L. Cuthbertson (Oamaru) .. 92 86 90 83 —351 *J. W. Ross (Wanganui) .. .. 92 90 84 86 —352 *G. W. Melvin (Wellington) 88 89 90 85—352 R. L. Fisher (Christchurch) 95 89 84 85—353 W. P. Anderson (Christ inircli) 89 89 86 89 —353 J. Want (Wellington! .. .. 90 87 86.90—353 H. Brasch I Otago) 92 83 95 85 —355 G. P. Roberts (Hutt) .... 87 90 95 85—357 J. R. Laidlaw (Otago) .... 93 93 88 83—357 C. H. Stephenson (New Plymouth) S 8 89 100 85—362 R. E. Tolhurst (Wellington) 96 94 85 89—364 W. D. Wood (Christchurch) 94 93 100 94 —381 * Signifies a professional. The following have been winners of the Open Championship:— 1907 — A. Df S. Duncan, Wellington. 1908 — *J. A. Clements, Wanganui. 1909 — *J. A. Clements, Wanganui. 1910— A. D. S. Duncan, Wellington. 1911— A. D. S. Duncan, Wellington. 1912 *J. A. Clements. Christchurch. 1913 — E. S. Douglas, Nelson. 1914 *E. S. Douglas, Wanganui. 1915 to 1919 —No competition. 1919 — *E. S. Douglas, Miramar (after a tie with S. Morpeth). 1920 — *J. H. Kirkwood, Australia. 1921 — *E. S. Douglas, Miramar. 1922 — *A. Brooks, Hutt. 1923 — *A. Brooks, Hutt. 1924 *E. J. Moss, Middlemore. 1925 — E. M. Macfarlane, Christchurch. 1926 *A. J. Shaw, Wellington. 1927 *E. J. Moss, Middlemore. 1928 — S. Morpeth, Maungakiekie. * Signifies a professional. The best cards during the day were:— Third Round. E. S. Douglas: Out—4, 4,4, 3,4, 4,4, 5,6, 38; in—3, 5, 4, 4, 3,4, 3,4, 4, 34; total, 72. A. J. Shaw; Out—s, 4,4, 3,3, 4,5, 4,4, 36; in—3, 5,4, 5,3, 4, 4 4 5, 37; total, 73. J. Millard: Out—s, 6,3, 3, .5, 5,4, 4,3, 38; in—2, 5,4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, 36; total, 74. J. D. MTntosh: Out—3, 6,3, 3,4, 4,4, 4,4, 35; in—4, 5,5, 5, 4, 4,4, 4,4, 39; total, 74. H. P. Dale: Out—4, 5,4, 3,4, 4,4, 5,4, 37; in—3, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5,3, 4,5, 38; total, 75. B. V. Wright: Out—4. 5,2, 3,4, 4,4, 5, 4, 35; in—3, 5,4, 5, 4, 5,4, 4,6, 40; total, 75. Other good cards were: S. Morpeth 76, M. Macbeth 76, A. G. Sime 77, G. B. Forrest 77, K. Ross 77, R. C. Butters <7. Fourth Round. S. Morpeth: Out —3,5, 4,3, 4,4, 4,6, 3, 36; in—2, 5,5, 5,3, 5,4, 4,4, 37; total, 73. S. C. Colbeck: Out—3, 4,5, 2; 4,4, 6,4, 4, 36; in—3, 5,4, 5. 4,4, 4,4, 5, 38; total, 74. , , _ B. V. Wright; Out—4, 5,2, 3,4, 4,4, 5, 4, 35; in—3, 5,4, 5,4, 5,4, 4,6, 40; total, 75. ■ J. R. Galloway: Out—4, 6,3, 4,5, 4,3, 4,5, 38; in—3, 6. 4,4, 3,5, 4,3, 5, 37; total, 75. , « E = b J. A. Clements; Out —4,3, 3,3, 5,5, 6, 5,3, 36; in—3, 6,4, 4,5, 6,4, 3,4, 39; total 75. W. B. Reilly: Out— 6,4, 4,3, 5,3, 4, 5,. 4, 38; in—3, 5,3, 5,5, 4,4, 4,6, 37; total, 75. _ Other good cards were:—A. J. ohaw 78, T. H. Horton 76, J. Lambie 76, T. Galloway 76. Playing sound golf in the morning round, 6, Morpeth compiled a useful 76, which placed him in a handy position for the Open Championship. In the afternoon he set out with a good drive to the first hole. He made a nice approach and sank his putt for a 3. At Flagstaff he made a splendid drive, pitched bis second shot pin high to the right of the green, mashied on to the green, and sank his second putt. He hit an iron shot from the tee at the third, approached on to the green, missed a three-yard putt, and sank his fourth. At the fourth he played a mashie on to the green and holed out with two putts. At "Terrace” he hit a splendid drive into the wind, found the green with an iron shot, and took two putts. _ At the sixth he hit a long drive with a slight cut, approached on to the green at the left of the pin, and holed out with his second putt. It “ Camel’s Back ” he got another long drive, took a mashie for the second, but spared it slightly, was on the green in 3, and sank a three-yard putt. At the “ Monastery ’’ he slightly cut his drive, played a poor iron for a second, was on the green to the left with his third, and took three putts. At “ The Glen ” he played an iron shot from the tee, was on the green with his second, and holed out a five-yard putt for a three, turning for home with a score of 36. At the tenth he was on the edge of the green with his tee shot and sank a 33-foot putt for 2. A long drive over the hill at “ Tipperary, ’ with a medium iron shot for the second necessitated another stroke to reach the green, and he took two putts, holing out in 5. After a splendid drive at “ M'Glashans ” he duffed his mashie shot into a bunker, and reached the green in 3. He sank his second putt for a 5. He hit a very long drive, with a slight cut, at “ Manuka,” got in a medium iron shot for his second, and reached the green in 3. He holed out with his second putt. At “ Roy’s ” he was on the green with his tee shot, stopping 10 yards past the pin. He holed out in 3. Two good shots at “ Spion Kop ” left him with an easy approach shot, and be took two putts and holed out in 5. At “Hawthorn” a good iron shot, followed by a strong mashie, put him 10 yards past the pin. He missed a long putt and sank his fourth. A good iron shot saw him reach the green at the seventeenth. He was short with his approach putt, missed his third, and was down in 4. After hitting a very long drive at the eighteenth, he pulled his second into a bunker, reached the green with his third, and sank a 30-foot putt lor a four, giving him a total of 73. His grand total for the four rounds was 303, which gave him the Open Championship by a margin of two strokes from A. J. Shaw, who showed an aggregate of 305. A. J. Shaw made a strong bid for the Earl Jellicoe Cup, and returned a, sound 73 for the morning round. He went out in 30, equalling par. He was unlucky at the seventh hole, chipping short and taking five. Although he was somewhat unfortunate with his putts he made few mistakes, as his final score indicated. In the first half of the afternoon round he played fair golf, and commenced the home run with a score of 37. A four at the Mount and fives at ‘ M’Glashan’s ” and “ Hawthorn ” were only partially counterbalanced by birdie threes at “Roy’s” and “ The Gums,” and Ik finished with a total of 76, making his aggregate for the four rounds 305. J. D. MTntosh, after taking the first hole with an eagle three, took six for the second. From then to the turn he played very sound golf, and started on the homeward journey with 35 to his credit. A four at the tenth and a five at “ M‘Glashan’s” spoilt what would have otherwise been an excellent second half, and ho finished with the sound score of 74. Fives at the “ Terrace ” and “ Ridge ” brought his tally for the outward journey in the afternoon round up to 37, but in the home journey disaster befell him at “ Manuka, ’ “ Spion Kop.” and “ Hawthorn,” and he could show only 41 for the trip, making his total 78. In his morning round M. P. Dale played excellent golf, though his performance was somewhat marred by fives at “ Flagstaff " and the “ Monastery.” He turned for home with the score of 3/, one over par. \ 5 at “ Spion Kop ” was counterbalanced by a birdie 3 at “ Hawthorn,” and he finished the second half of the round with a par 38.. Reverses at “ Flagstaff ” and the “ Monastery.” which were holed out in sixes, brought his total for the outward run in the final round up to 41, while a 5 at “ Spion Kop ” and a 6 at “Home” spoilt his inward run, his card reading 81 for the round. J. Millard, the Avondale champion, made an excellent round in 74. A 6 at “ Flagstaff ” spoilt a very fine sequence of holes, but birdie threes at “ Goodwin's ” and “ The Glen ” brought his outward tally to a par 38. A birdie 2 at “ Mount ” and n birdie 3 at the “Gums” were re-

sponsible for bringing an excellent inward total to 36, two strokes below par. In his'afternoon round he failed to show his morning’s form, and could show only a very average score of 83. A 7 at “ Flagstaff ” and a 6 at “Terrace” contributed towards his downfall. Several mistakes in the morning round brought T. H. Horton’s score up to 82, but in the final round he played steady golf, and returned a card of 76. Commencing with a good succession of fours, E. S. Douglas spoilt the first half of his morning round by taking 5 at “ Monastery “ and 6 at “ The Glen (bogey fours), and turned for home with a score of 38. The second half was productive of excellent golf, Douglas taking “ Manuka ” in 4 and “ Roys ” and “ Hawthorn ” in birdie threes. His total of 72 equalled T. H. Horton’s score of the previous day. In his afternoon round he failed to reproduce his earlier form, and could not do any better than 84. Although he continued to play sound golf in the two final rounds. Dr K. Ross failed to show his form of the second round on Friday. He did the third and fourth rounds in 77’s, his putting letting him down frequently. After playing very average golf tor three rounds, S. C. Colbeck came to light with an excellent 74 in the last round, and was largely instrumental in winning the O’Rorke Vase for Otago. He commenced with an eagle 3 at “ Rushes, took 5 at “ G-oodwin’e ” did the short fourth in 2, and then marred a good start by taking 6 at the seventh. In spite of this, he showed a par 36 at the turn. The remainder of the holes were played in bogey figures, and he finished with a good par 74. AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Among the amateurs, players having aggregates of 343 or better qualify for the Amateur Championship. As three players tied for thirty-second place, a play-off was necessary between W. Clayton, J. Mangan, and H. C. Stevens, and this resulted in Stevens winning. In the Professional Championship a play-off for egihth place between H. R. Blair and J. R. Galloway was necessary, and this was won by Galloway. The draw for the Amateur Championship is as follows: S. Morpeth plays H. C. Stevens. C. B. Wight plays A. R. Blank. M. Macbeth plays H. W. Macfarlane. J. L. Black plays N. Louisson. H. P. Dale plays C. A. Seymour. R. Wagg plays J. G. D. Duncan. S. C. Colbeck plays J. E. Matheson. J. Goss plays D. Grant. T. H. Horton plays M. Duncan. G. F. Barnett plays B. M. Macfarlane. W. B. Reilly plays D. H. Butcher. H. A. Black plays J. D. Lawrence. A. G. Sime plays F. Fryer. B. V. Wright plays E. J. Pumphrey. J. Millard plays G. Richmond. K. Ross plays W. Wight. The draw for the Professional Championship is as follows; — A. J.* Shaw plays J. R. Galloway. E, S. Douglas plays G. Forrest. J. A. Clements plays R. C. Butters. F. Branch plays J. MTntosh. CAREER OF THE CHAMPION. Mr Sloan Morpeth is secretary of the Mangakickie Golf Club, Auckland. He started his golf career in the Auckland province when he was 12 years of age, at Waihi. He played there until 1916, when he went to the war. While in the army in England he represented New Zealand, with three others, at the Inter-allied Army Golf Championship Tournament, and went through to the semi-final, when he was beaten by Colonel Hutcheson, a plus-three man from St. Ann’s. The championship was won by Lord Charles Hope. Mr Morpeth was present at the New Zealand Championship meeting in 1914, and went through to the semi-final, when he was beaten by Arthur Duncan, 2 and 1; at the New Zealand Championship meeting in 1919, in which year he returned from the war,'when Arthur Duncan again beat him in the semi-final, 2 and 1; at the New Zealand Championship meeting in 1920, when he was runner-up to Kirkwood, and he won the Amateur Championship that year from Kenneth Ross, of Dunedin, in the final; at the New Zealand Championship meeting in 1922, when he was put out in the first round by J. C. Bidwell; and at the New Zealand Championship meeting last year, when he beat T. H. Horton, 6 and 5, and won the Amateur Championship. Judged by his recent play, Morpeth promises to be a worthy successor to the doughty Arthur Duncan, of Wellington. He holds an excellent chance of equalling Duncan’s record of winning the open and the amateur in the same year. BALMACEWEN COURSE. THE CHAMPION’S OPINION. Questioned subsequent to the contest, Mr Morpeth said: “The course has been severely criticised in the North Island, but my impression, when I first came here, was quite favourable, after all I had heard. I consider it resembles many Scottish courses, which I have played on. One has to use one’s head on a course like Balmacewen. I think that Hamilton, Shirley and Miramar are essentially English courses, whereas Balmacewen is essentially Scottish. It is my view that Shirley is the best golf course in New Zealand at the present time, with Miramar second. Balmacewen differs from other courses in up-hill ties and downhill ties, and it proves a man to be a golfer if he can negotiate such a course.” A THRILLING AFTERNOON. A “STERN CHASE.” By Fairway. A dramatic finish in the last round of the Open Championship thrilled 300 spectators for over half an hour on Saturday afternoon as they watched Sloan Morpeth, the Auckland player and present amateur champion. If Morpeth could do the last six holes in two over fours he would displace the leader and win the Open. He needed a 74 to give him a total of 304 when Shaw was leading the field with 305. To the armchair golfer it seems easy for a /first-class player to achieve what faced Morpeth on the thirteenth tee, but the experienced campaigner knows how testing was the situation that faced him. His chief enemies were eagerness, hesitation, caution. These foes are apt to invade one’s personality precisely at a moment like this, and the concern of Sloan’s fellow golfers was that he should be left alone to play his own game without the knowledge of Shaw’s aggregate or the figures which he himself needed to beat Shaw. If he discovered that he was in a very good position for winning the Open the foes of caution and of eagerness were both apt to attack him. We. wanted the spectators to keep away from him and leave him alone. In June last, in the American Open Championship, the same promising situation faced a young professional in the fourth and final round. “Bobby” Jones had declined, had taken 77 for that final round, and Farrell, with a brilliant 72, had caught him at the winning post. Hagen, with a final 76. was out of the hunt. Roland Hancock, a young professional, making his first appearance in the Open, was four under fours at the sixteenth after three good earlier rounds. Two fives at the last two holes would bring in Hancock ahead of Jones and Farrell. At once the crowd gathered round him. and an ass with a megaphone called, “ Clear the way for the new champion.” That donkey’s bray informed the young player of the situation and the wonderful prospect before him. His unity and ease deserted him—in fact, he was crudely robbed of them by that stupid shout. He took a couple of sixes, and missed the chance of a lifetime. Left to himself, he would almost certainly have won the American Open. As a matter of fact, someone did inform Morpeth at the twelfth hole. He know what he had to accomplish, although. by his own confession, he would have preferred to play on without that knowledge. Morneth h.„s been an athlete and a nlayer of game/; all his life. He finished the six holes without a sign of hesitation. of eagerness, or of caution. Fortunately, the crowd did not get too close to him. nor did any admirers seek to bespeak him. He got his 5 at the thirteenth. and it was a par 5 in the wind: then his 3 at the fourteenth (238 yards long) in a cross helping wind which made the tee shot one of the most difficult on the course. The fifteenth uphill cost him a 5. his second being wide of the green to the right and his third still 14 feet away. Now he needed 4,4, 5 in order to win. By this time all the golfers who had finished their rounds had joined the ranks

of the spectators, and showed their keen interest in Morpeth’s position by discussing his prospects and his shots. Shaw, whose 305 was still leading the field, waited in the clubhouse, feeling the strain of the situation more acutely than anyone. For he had to sit and wait. His bolt had been shot. Morpeth was still in action, and could affect the situation. Shaw could do nothing more than wait for the result of the amateur’s effort. “Johnny” Farrell was in the same situation as he waited for Roland Hancock to finish. Walter Hagen had to wait at the eighteenth green in 1922 while the brilliant George Duncan was “ burning up the course ” to overtake him. As Hagen waited he knew that Duncan was likely to get the 68 that would give him a tie with Hagen. A 4 at the last was all that Duncan needed. His iron shot to the green broke badly, and found a bunker. He finished in 69, and Hagen won that Open by one stroke. So Shaw had to wait in suspense. Harry Vardon says that the chances are usually on the side of the man who has already finished with a good aggregate. Others may have chances of beating that total, but seldom are these? chances taken. In the American Open of 1927, French, Mehlhorn, Hagen, and Armour each had a chance of tieing with the aggregate of 301, which Harry Cooper had already handed in. All let their chances slip, except Armour. These and similar reflections passed through ones mind in watching Morpeth face up to his chance. He now needed 4,4, 5 in order to win. , He played his mashie carefully at the sixteenth after a drive of 300 yards down hill. His run-up putt went close. tie holed his first 4. An out of bounds fence, 280 yards away, stands beyond the seventeenth green. Sloan played his No. 1 iron, and got the left edge of the green; he clipped his second to within eight feet, but failed to get a 3. Another 4 A fine drive at the last hole left him in the middle of the fairway with the green still 190 yards distant, surrounded By people who knew that Morpeth was staging a dramatic finish. Owing to an error most of the spectators thought that the amateur needed a 4 at the last in order to win. In fact, a 5 would now give him an aggregate of 304. But the thrill in store for hundreds was all the greater because of the misapprehension. His iron shot to the green was slightly pulled; it drew a little to the left in the wind. The ball found a bunker guarding the green. In the bunker with two shots to go in order to win! That is how the hundreds of onlookers understood the situation. A chip shot out of a bunker at a crisis is an extremely delicate matter. Sloan cast his burnt out cigarette to the ground, stepped into the bunker, addressed the ball, chipped it out on to the green. But he was still eight yards from the cup—a long putt. He contemplated it. took up his position. Silence fell on the crowd. He played smoothly, the ball rolled, rolled, up to the hole, went in. A cheer of delight! Sloan Movpeth had won the Open. His full round was 73, and his grand aggregate 76, 78, 76, 73 equals 303. _ Morpeth was now carried shoulder high to the clubhouse, responding to the congratulations and the handshakes on every side. Shaw warmly congratulated him on the steps ns one golfer and sportsman greets another. . , After 10 minutes of handshaking and of response to everybody’s warm congratulations, the new Open Champion was hoisted on to a table and made to speak. What he said was characteristic; “Gentlemen, this is the proundest moment of rny life. I have always longed to produce my best form in a national _ championship. Nine years ago at Napier I managed to achieve a tie with Mr Douglas here, but he proved much too good for me in the play-off; For years I have looked forward to the experience I have had today, the realisation of my greatest ambition. ’ Also I have been lucky. When I came to play my tenth tee shot—-I mean my tee shot off the tenth tee —I had a difference of opinion with my caddie about the club I should use. For the wind had gone down. Shaw, Mclntosh, and Ross had to contend with its full vigour, while I had nine holes to play in very little wind. I have been lucky to win, and I am very very proud.” I must now tell the story of the whole day’s play for the championship. Dr Ross was the leader with 152 when the third round started. He played off with Douglas, the Auckland professional, who was 157. Ross went to the turn in 38 and came home in 39. This 77 made his three round aggregate 229. Douglas was swinging his club beautifully on Saturday morning, but he occasionally played carelessly and too quickly. With a poor 0 at the ninth, he went out in 38. He came home in par figures at every hole. Here are the details: — . „„ Out —4,4, 4,3, 4,4, 4,5, 6 —38. In—3, 5,4, 4,3, 4,4, 3, 4—34—72. That made him 229, equal with Ross. Shaw had already turned in a fine 73 as follows: — . „ . . Out—s, 4,4, 3,3, 4,5, 4, 4—36. In—3, 5,4, 5,3, 4,4, 4, 5 —37—73. He had thus caught up the leader just as Douglas had done. MTntosh, however, was 228. He had come in 10 minutes after Shaw and before Ross and Douglas with a 74: Out—3, 6,3, 3,4, 4,4, 4, 4—35. In—4, 5,3, 5,4, 4,4, 4, 4—39—74 Morpeth, starting later, handed in a 76: Out —4,5, 3,3, 5,4, 4,5, 4 37. In —3,5, 5,5, 4,4, 5,4, 4, —39—76. This made his aggregate at lunch time 230 —one behind Ross, Shaw, and Douglas, and two behind MTntosh. These were the positions of the five leaders when the final round started. Shaw went out first in the afternoon, and reached the ninth in 37. At the thirteenth he had to play his third back cut of trees on to the course, and on the green sank a 15 ieet putt tor a 5. Aitei two slack shots at the sixteenth he sank five feet for a 5, and again at the eighteenth sank 12 feet for a o. He came in in 76, and finished with a grand aggregate of 305. ihree couples behind Shaw came MTntosh, who was playing his wooden and iron clubs beautifully. He was only 2 over fours at the thirteenth. Level fours for the next five holes were not too much to expect of him. For some mexplicable reason his fine putting touch deserted him. He took three putts on the twelfth, thirteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth greens, and nis bright chance laded. A 78 made his aggregate 300. 'Shaw still led. Douglas threw away his chances going out. He was bunkered at the second; aused a foot putt at the third; played a bad masluc at the fourth; missed four feet at the fifth, played weakly at the seventh and eighth, and took 41 for the nine holes. His second halt was 40, and he faded out of the picture. Dr Ross started well in his last round, and was one below fours at the fifth. Ho slipped a shot at the next, took three putts on the seventh, and went out in 37. He needed now a 38 to beat Shaw a 39 to tie with him. He lipped the hole at the next with a four foot putt, hit the manuka hedge at the long hole with a tood second, and took 6; lipped the hole at the twelfth for a 3, missed three feet on the fourteenth, and two feet on the fifteenth. On the sixteenth tee the doctor was four above fours, with three holes to play. Three fours would give him a tie with Shaw for the leading position. He knew what he had to do,. On the sixteenth green his 30 foot putt rimmed the cup and stayed out. He took 4. At the seventeenth a three-footer shaved the hole, and he took 4. Finally he was faced with a 15-footer on the last green for a 4 and a tie. The putt looked like going in all the way, but did not. Ross was 77, and his aggregate 306, equal with MTntosh and one behind Shaw. Once more the doctor came within reach of the title but found himself unable to grasp it. Shaw’s aggregate had thus survived the attacks upon it from Douglas, MTntosh, and Ross. Butters had a chance if he could do a 74. He took 78. Only one player remained with any - chance of overtaking Shaw, and that was Sloan Morpeth. The crowd was already with him. He kept his head, and played good golf to the end, where the national title was waiting for him. The most extraordinary round of the day was achieved by Millen Macbeth, formerly of St. Clair, who plays now a* Hamilton. He was putting badly, but went round in 76. On each of seven greens he had tlvce putts. On the other hand, in spite of that fact, his card shows 6 threes and a two. Here it is: Out; 4. 4. 3. 2. 5. 3. 5. 5, 5—35. In: 3, 7. 6, 5. 3. 6. 3. 3, 5—41.—76.

TO-DAY’S PLAY. This morning and afternoon the Amateur Championship Foursomes and the Professional Championship Foursomes for cups presented by the late Mr R. C. Kirk, will be decided. INTERCLUB MATCHES. ! With so many members of the Christchurch Golf Club at present in Dunedin, the opportunity was taken of reviving the old-established interclub matches between the Otago and Christchurch Golf Clubs for the Campbell Hosking Hanmer Shield. The matches were played with the following results: CAMPBELL HOSKING SINGLES. Otago. Christchurch. K. Ross .... 1 E. M. Macfarlane 0 S. Colbeck .. 1 M. Macbeth .. 0 W. G. Wight .. 1 A. R. Blank .. 0 G. F. Barnett 0 H. W. Macfarlane 1 J. G. Dick .. 1 E. T. Pumphrey 0 D. M. Irvine .. 0 L. H. Campbell 1 G. Henderson .. j C. A. Seymour J A. N. Haggitt 1 W. D. Wood .. 0 H 2J HANMER SHIELD FOURSOMES. Otago. Christchurch. Ross and Bar- Campbell and E. nett 3 M. Macfarlane 0 Dick and Col- Pumphrey and beck 5 Seymour .. 0 Wight and Ir- Macbeth and vine .. .. 0 Blank .. .. 3 Haggitt and H. Macfarlane Henderson sq. and Wood sq. 8 holes 3 holes. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. The Amateur Foursome Championship and the Professional Foursome Championship will be played to-day by stroke play over 36 holes. The following is the draw and order and times of starting:— PROFESSIONALS. 9 a.m. —L. G. Ross and J. W. Ross v. J. Lambie and G. W. Melvin. 9.5 a.m. —R. C. Butters and J. D. MTntosh v. G. B. Forrest and J. Forrest. 9.10 a.m. —H. R. Blair and G. W. Ritchie v. A J. Shaw and J. A. Clements. 9.16 a.m.—H. M‘Dougall and W. W. Kay v. E. S. Douglas and B. J. Smith. 9.20 a.m. —F. Branch and R. Fox v. J. R. Galloway and T. Galloway. AMATEURS. 9.30 a.m. —S. Turner and L. H. Marshall v. A. N. Haggitt and G. C. Henderson. 0.35 a.m. —J. Goss and J. M. Hussey v. J. L. Black and H. A. Black. 9.40 a.m. —K. Ross and G. B. Wight v. G. L. Cuthbertson and W. G. Wight. 9.45 a.m. —W. Lints and C. H. S. Stephenson v. W. B. Reilly and G. P. Roberts. _ „ , 9.50 a.m. —J. G. Dick and S. C. Colbeck v. J. W. Trewern and J. Spence. 9.55 a.m. —H. C. Stevens and J. B. Matheson v. G. F. Barnett and D. H. Butcher. 10 a.m. —J. D. Lawrence and W. D. Wood v. A. R. Blank and W. P. Anderson. 10.5 a.m. —H. Dale and G. Richmond v. E. M. Macfarlane and H. W. Macfarlane. 10.10 a.m.—J. W. Ward and R. E. Tolhurst v. R. L. Fisher and H. Brasch. 10.15 a.m. —W. W. Clayton and J. A. Mangan v. R. Wagg and N. Louisson. 10.30 a.m. —S. Morpeth and M. Macbeth v. C. T. Irvine aitd J. R. Laidlaw. 10.25 a.m. —A. G. Sime and B. V. Wright v. D. Grant and L. H. Campbell. 10.30 a.m. —F. G. D. Duncan and M. Duncan v. T. H. Horton and F. C. a.m. —C. A. Seymour and E. J. Pumphrey v. J. Millard and partner.