GOLF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 4

GOLF

By Divot. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Otago.—First Round, Bruntsfield Medal. St. Clair. —Mixed Foursome. ST. CLAIR NOTES The scores in the Stroke Match played at Corstorphine last Saturday show that the new standard scratch score of 72 is sufficiently hard for_ the course in its present winter condition. In the seniors, S. G. Cooke, with a net 69, had a clear lead of three strokes from W, N. Satterthwaite, who was runner-up. Cooke’s 79 was a very good performance for a 10 . handicap, man, and was the result of very consistent golf. The finish in the juniors was much more interesting, J. W. Bain being the winner with a net 68 —only one stroke better than J. R. Nimmo. Dennis Wood was also among the leaders with a net 70. SATURDAY’S FOURSOME The Mixed Foursome to be. played on Saturday-has been set down very hurriedly and does not give members a great deal of time to make arrangements. In spite of this, however, it is hoped that the competition, the proceeds of which will be in aid of the Sports Queen, will be well supported. The secretary hopes to be able to publish a draw in Friday’s papers, but to enable him to do this he must be notified of matches by intending competi-. tors not later than 5 o’clock this afternoon. MATCH AGAINST INVERCARGILL Next week-end a party of St. Clair members will travel to Invercargill to take part in a match against Invercargill at Otatara. The Otatara links have gained an enviable reputation on account of the excellent condition of the turf both on the fairways and on the greens, and those who l are fortunate enough to be able to make the trip can be assured not only of a good day’s sport, but also of the warm hospitality they will receive in the southern citj r . The secretary of the St. Clair Club is required to forward the names of the members who will comprise the team before the coming week-end, and those who have not yet notified him should do so m order that they be included in the list which will be posted to-night. VICTORIAN TOURNEY The Victorian Golf Association is offering a prize of £2OOO, for a championship meeting at the Metropolitan Golf Club, Oakleigh, Victoria, as a feature of Victorian and Melbourne Centenary celebrations next year. In addition, there will be a valuable gold cup for the Victorian amateur open event. Mr H. G. M’Roberts, president of the Victorian Golf Association, says that the £2OOO prize is the biggest golf prize in the British Empire. The Daily Mail prize, England, is £ISOO. He said there should ultimately be £SOOO offered in prize-money in Victoria alone. Already another club proposes to offer a Centenary Gold Cup and a substantial prize, and still a third club.is negotiating for a competition for which £250 prizemoney will be available. Negotiations are at present being com-' pleted to ensure that at least one of the world’s leading golfers will be present in Australia during the Centenary arid leading professionals from other countries going to Melbourne for the Centenary will find a most remunerative “gate” throughout Australia, where there- are 120.000 golfers, for private exhibitions. Around Melbourne there are at least five picturesque golf courses which are definitely ■ of championship standard, and have been described by overseas visitors as the equal of anything to be found in Britain or America. BRUNTSFIELD MEDAL On Saturday the first round of the Bruntsfield Medal competition will be played at Balmacewen. This match deservedly occupies a place second on!y v to the Club Championship in importance, and indeed is looked upon as the stroke championship competition on the_ year’s programme. The present holder is T. B. I er•guson, and his recent_ form "indicates that he will be a very serious contender. The competition is for 36 holes championship stroke play, the first 18 holes of which will be played on Saturday. , , Those whose dhances.are most favoured are B V. Wright, whose haiidicap is plus 1, and T. B, Ferguson, the holder, who is on the 2 mark, , Others whose chances cannot be ignored', are K. Ross, W. G. Wight, J. Spencer J. 'Sdouler, J. 6. Dick, and J. M'Dougall. ..." '

- TASMAN CUP CONTEST ■’The New Zealand team’s win in the first international contests'for the Tasman Cup was not So satisfactory as it would have been if they had beaten, Australia at full strength. In. • the ’Singles New Zealand’s only win was recorded by Miss Kay, who defeated Miss # Susie ..Tomurst, With three matches; against one in the Singles, Australia had to win. or square only* one of the Foursomes. Unfortunately, owing to the illness, of three of the leading Australians, only, one of the Foursome games was played,. Miss Kay and Miss Gaisford defeating Miss Lefebvre .and Mrs Russell 2 and 1. The other match having been' won by New Zealand by default at the score of 10 and 8 left the number of games square, and New Zealand- won on the number of holes. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Miss Kay is the only remaining New Zealander in the Australian Championship, but as at the time of writing she has reached the semi-finals she has worthily upheld her reputation. Apparently all the New Zealanders show a distinct weakness in playing from sand. That is by no means strange since very few New Zealand courses are adequately furnished with that kind of trap. BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP The cabled reports of the British Open Championship, played at St.. Andrews, gave very few details. The British press reports of the time disclose the event to he one of the most thrilling in history. On the eve of the championship the four favourites were Hagen, Cotton, Sarazen, or Mitchell. Other fancied competitors included Craig Wood, described as golf’s matinee idol, OUn Dutra, and Alfred Padgham. Hagen was conceded to be as good as ever, and although he, modestly suggested that he was, perhaps, getting too 1 old, there was no appearance of his Fame having deteriorated. The fact that Scott at 55 had won the Amateur while Mitchell in his forty-seventh year could accomplish the amazing feat of winning 13 out of 14 consecutive holes against Dutra, the match play champion of America, were cited as reasons to deprecate Hagen’s cause for despair. The qualifying rounds were remarkable mainly by the brilliant play of William Nolan, an Irish professional, who qualified first with 138 with a 71 on the new and a 67 on the old course. ■ The latter score was a course record accomplished under difficult conditions. Lacey and Allies, two British Ryder Cup players, were among the failures. Nolan’s record was one stroke better than the previous record, held by Bobby Jones and George Duncan. Nolan’s 67 was, an amazing performance. He did not make a single mistake, .but at the same time there was nothing in the whole round which could have been • described as a fluke. ■ He had the wind against’ him on the outward half, and when he turned to face home the wind suddenly changed, and so far the inward half he still had to play against the wind