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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20787, 5 August 1929, Page 9

GOLF

VICTORIAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. THREE NEW ZEALANDERS QUALIFY. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, August 3. (Received August 4, at 5.5 ,p.m.) Seventy players competed at the Commonwealth links for qualification in the final rounds of the Victorian amateur championship, comprising ] the most talented field which has yet appeared in the Australian amateur title event, i Sloan Morpeth (Auckland) was favourite for- the event, and his first round of 78 justified the choice. His smashing drives were appreciated. The normal par for the course is 72, but abnormal conditions prevailing would make it five strokes harder. . K. Ross (Dunedin) had the best of the outward half, playing convincingly for 38. He sank a six-fdoter for three at the second (401 yards). He came home in 44. la the second round be commenced weakly, but settled doyn, enabling, him to be placed in the qualifying sixteen, T. H. Horton, of Mastcrton, though stylish, was out of form in the putting of the game, missing putts from two feet." Twice the ball went in and out of the hole. In the second round he started brilliantly with three “ birdies ” • at the first four -holes, but he weakened towards the finish. .Morpeth, in, the second round, did not reproduce' his form. At the ninth he hooked his drive into-, an unplayable jwsition, taking ten, and later he took two sixes, finishing in 88. J. L. Black (New Zealand), , with 92 and 91, was among the notable failures, and could not in cither round make an impression on the high aggregates. ' The sixteen to qualify for the final rounds on Monday include ten Victorians,, three New Zealanders, two New South'Wales, and one Tasmanian. Ivo Whitton, with 161,. led the field. Tha lowest qualifying score was 173. , Morpeth scored 81 and 88; Horton, 81, and--85; and ; Ross 82 and 90. —Australian Press Association.