GOLF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23340, 4 November 1937, Page 5

GOLF

By Divot

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Otago Club.—Second qualifying round Club Championship. St. Clair Club.—Second qualifying round Club Championship.

OTAGO CLUB Golf of a high standard was played on the Balmacewen links on Saturday, when the first qualifying round of the Club Championship took place. Conditions were ideal, and no fewer than 19 players succeeded in recording 80 or better. Pride of place went to A. Glbbs, whose 72, even when the suitability of the conditions for low scoring is taken into consideration, was a particularly fine effort. Gibbs has more than fulfilled the early promise which he gave, and on present form is entitled to rank as favourite for the title. A. G. Sime, D. A. Ferguson, K. Ross and J. R. Laidlaw all returned cards of 74, and Ferguson in particular drew the attention of the handicappers. His net 66 easily headed the field. The title-holder, T. C. Tyrrell, was not far away with a 77, and bids fair to cause concern to the aspirations of many of the more experienced players. ST. CLAIR CLUB The qualifying rounds for the club Intermediate and Junior Championships occupied the attention of St. Clair players on Saturday, and some good golf was witnessed. D. C. Bennie headed the seniors with a 74, and over the longer and more difficult course this represented really good golf Bennie appears to have regained the form he showed a season or so ago, and in particular his putting on the fiery greens was superb. A Lawrence returned the second best gross score of 75, and his play during the round was characterised by fine iron play. C. Rhodes and F. V. Drake each recorded 77, and the former's score, but for lapses during the second half, would have been perhaps five or six strokes better. J. E. Matheson, the reigning club champion, was quite handy to the leaders with 78. F. Sheriff, E. J. Doogue and H. S. Ross, with gross 82's, easily led the field in the Intermediate division. H. S. Ross's net 68, had no difficulty in winning the Junior medal. E. J. Doogue's net 70 placed him ahead of the Senior medal division. H. Greenwood and S. C. Gourley, who carded 90's, headed the Junior field. OTAGO WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP The qualifying rounds of the Otago Women's Championship were played during the week, and that fine golfer Mrs Dodgshun, with rounds of 81 and 82, easily headed the list of qualifiers and had several strokes to spare from her nearest opponent. It is pleasing to see that she has recovered fully from the serious illness which kept her out of competitive 'golf for such a long time. The match-play portion of the Championship will be awaited with interest. BALANCE AND TIMING Jimmy Thompson, noted as America's longest driver, discussing how he averages between 310 and 320 yards with nis woods when conditions are favourable, says balance and timing mean everything. "After I had made sure that balance for the hardest kind of hit had been obtained, I turned my attention wholly to timing," he says. "And it is here that I am going to surprise you by straying from what has been one of golfs cherished fundamentals. I discovered that I got my longest shots by starting the hit at the top of the swing. "I realise it is golf heresy, but I learned that timinf and balance produced the long ball, and I found that the sooner the blow was started the i'aster the club head would travel at impact. . ,f But I must insist that while this is all right for me it could be all wrong for you and hundreds of others." ADHERENCE TO THE RULES Ossie Walker'had a 15ft putt on the seventy-second green to tie with G. Naismith in' the Australian Open Championship. To enable his partner to play his approach Walker, after marking the spot where the bail lay, picked it up. Keen-eyed members of the big gallery noticed that Walker was particularly careful to hold the ball so that the mud adhering to it should not be removed. To clean the ball is to commit a breach of the rules unless a local rule otherwise provides. There is no such local rule at Kensington. When his partner had played cut Walker replaced his ball, complete with its lump of mud, in the exact spot from which he picked it up. And he had that putt to achieve his greatest ambition. He missed it, but only by a fraction. The result might have been different had he held the ball in the palm of his hand, and not lightly in his fingers. His action received great applause, even press comment.

CLUBS PACKED AWAY J. P. Hornabrook who carried off the Opfo title at the New Zealand Golf Championships at Hamilton recently, has packed away his clubs for the summer season and is now participating in the senior cricket matches in Palmerston North. Even though he may not be In the first flight in this branch of sport, John can send down a very useful ball on occasion. AT ST. ANDREWS A record field of nearly 200 took part in the Autumn Medal competition of the Royal and Ancient Club on the Old Course, St. Andrews, last month, in perfect weather. The Duke of Kent, who, earlier, had played himself into office as the club's new captain, was partnered by Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer and last year's captain. The Duke started off with 6,5, 4 and after that his fortunes were varied. Rex Hartley, the former Walker Cup international, was the only player in the morning to beat 80. He was round in 77, out in 38 and home in 39. During the round he three-putted on six occasions. R. H. Wethered won the King William IV Medal, with a scratch score of 73, and Captain C. G. B. Stevens the Gold Medal with 75. G. W Mackie (3). 73, secured the silver boomerang for the lowest handicap return, and Captain C. G. B. Stevens won the George Glennie Medal for the best aggregate—l49—in the spring and autumn medal meetings.