GOLF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21642, 12 May 1932, Page 4

GOLF

By Divot.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Otago Club. Foursome Handicap (stroke). , St. Clair Club. —Semi-finals of Club Championships Junior Championships Second Round. . , Belleknowes Club. —Final of Senior and Junior Championships. i OTAGO CLUB Temporary greens were in use at practically all the holes at Balmacewen, but despite this handicap the scores recorded on Saturday in the St. Andrews Cross Bogey Competition were of an exceedingly high standard. E. J. Hocking and J. R. Burt could not have found much difficulty to compile scores of 4 up to tie for the senior prize. Even when the condition of the greens are favourable a score of 4 up is no mean feat and botli these players are to be congratulated on very fine performances. K. A. Ross showed good form in the juniors to win with a meritorious 3 up. All these players have earned, the attention of the Handicapping Committee and with regaru to Ross I do not fear to predict that it will not be long before he graduates to the seniors. . , The competition on the programme for Otago next week is a novelty so far as the Dunedin Club competitions are concerned, but it is one which should be played quite frequently. Foursome competitions to some players do not make the appeal that they • should, probably because each player gets only about halt the play that he would get in a foufball or a single. It has, however, this great, attraction to the majority—team spil l *- There have been a number of foursomes bogey competitions and these have proved popular, and I feel sure that foursome medal play will be just as enjoyable. ST. CLAIR CLUB The first round games of the championship were played at Corstorphine bn Saturday in ideal weather conditions. The course was in good order although the greens were tricky. There was the usual number of surprises, but the sensation of the day was the defeat of the present holder of the Club Championship, C. B. Wight, by H. A. Gamble. Although Gamble is a player of considerable ability and one r moreover,, who excels ,in match play competitions;; it was not. expected that he would do other than possibly give Wight a good battle. On Saturday, however, Gamble played remarkably sound and steady golf. His driving was long •and straight and bis short game was very accurate. He holed two long putts from the edge of the green during the round, although this was partly offset by his missing a holeable one at the ninth. The. game was even all the way round the t issue being. decided by the putt on the last green. _ . . , . ,• Wight won the first in 4 end Gamble squared with a 3 at the second. A half in 5 followed, and Wight took the lead with a 4 at the fourth. Gamble again squared the match with a birdie 3 at Pines. At the sixth Wight was too strong with a holeable putt for a win, and laid, himself a dead stymie. His attempt to jump his opponent’s ball ended disastrously, and he knocked Gamble’s ball in for 3. After squaring the next hole in 4, Wight won the eighth to square the game, and a halt at the ninth left the match all square at the turn. Gamble played two perfect shots to the edge of the green at the tenth and won in 4. Wight wa« short with a difficult approach at the eleventh, Gamble winning in 4 and becoming 2 up. Wight regained a hole at and the next three holes were halved; Wight won Boundary to-square the match, and the position wag unaltered at the seventeenth, after Wight had lipped-the hole; for a 2. Gamble reached the last green in 2, Wight being just short. The latter’s ; approach was a good one, but it left him a tricky downhill putt for a half, which he failed to get, Gamble winning the hole in 4 and the match 1 up. . Clayton played great golf in hia match against North, who fought gamely, but was outclassed. Out in 34, Clayton continued to play par golf to win comfortably by 8 up and 6. W. M‘Ghie was very much below form in bis match against Matheson, who played sound golf to win by a comfortable margin. . D. C. Bennie and S. E. Field had a very close and interesting game with the advantage in favour of the former,. The game produced good golf, and Bennie won on the sixteenth green, where he was 3 up. The semi-final will be played on Saturday, and two good matches should he witnessed. The match between Clayton and Bennie should produce some fireworks, as both are long hitters. If Bennie produces the form he displayed at Easter, Clayton will have to play his best to hold him. Matheson and Gamble have met in ,the championship on two previous occasions, and so far the honours are even. The conqueror will undoubtedly be sternly contested and a close game will probably result.

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP I. Orr has the makings of a very fine, golfer, and he showed good fighting qualifies on Saturday when he defeated W. M'Kenzie by 3 and 2. Orr’s figures for the round 'were in the vicinity .of 78, and he is looked upon as a favourite for final honours. There were some close finishes, and most of the second round matches are very open. JUNIOR CUP The surprise of this section was the defeat of B. O’Driscoll by F. Elsom. O’Driscoll was one of the first to qualify, while Elsom qualified only after a play-off for the last two, places, BELLEKNOWES CLUB Last Saturday conditions were ideal for the Single Bogey, and a large field took part, D. Gollan. off an 8 handicap, proved the winner with a score of 4 up, with J. Bain, handicap 9, second, all sou are. The semi-final of the Senior Championship was also played, when G. Kemp defeated F. Olson rather easily. Kemp has been playing very steadily for some time, and his win was expected, although Olson has also been playing well, and .it was thought that he would extend him. In the other game E. Olsen and C. Clark., had a hard tussle, Olsen eventually winning 2 and 1. . , _ .. In the semi-finals of the Junior Championship 0. Brebner managed to defeat F. Sharpe 2 and 1 after a hard game, whilst J. Gooseman just managed to win 1 up at the eighteenth against D. Mackay. The finals of both championships over 36 holes will be played over the weekThe first qualifying round of the Ladies’ Senior and Junior Championship will be played next Saturday. ST. CLAIR LADIES’ CLUB There was some good scoring in the L.G.U. medal competition, played. at Corstorphine on Tuesday. In the seniors Mrs Taylor had a net 75 from a .15 handicap. Miss J. Cousins again distinguished herself by winning the junior event with a splendid card of 105 —36 —69, which entitles her to a reduction by three strokes in her handicap. Miss Cousins s progress can be gauged by the fact that this is the third competition for which she has entered, and she already has two wins to her credit. Next Tuesday a flag, match for Mrs Kindley’s trophy will be held. Miss Kay and Mrs M'Carthy are the finalists for the Club Championship, and „ will probably play their match during the coming week.