WOMEN'S GOLF TITLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26903, 15 October 1948, Page 6

WOMEN'S GOLF TITLE

MRS BALL SUCCESSFUL PLATE TO MRS CROMBIE P.A. PALMERSTON N., Oct. 14. Mrs J. Ball, of Wanganui, won the New Zealand women’s Amateur golf championship when she beat, Miss H. Buchanan, or Christchurch, 8 and 7 m the final, played over 36 holes at Hokowhitu. The match was played in almost continual rain, casual water lying on most of the fairways and greens. The handicap event, the New Zealand Plate, played over 18 holes, was won by Mrs D. A. F. Crombie Wellington, who beat Miss C. Smith, Invercargill, 1 up. Playing the consistent, accurate golf which won her the title in 1946, Mrs Ball gained an early lead and was 6 up after the first 18 holes. Faultless driving, sound fairway shots and approaches, and excellent putting were evident in her play from the first hole, and though her opponent made a determined bid to keep within reach, Mrs Ball, apparently undeterred by the rain and changed conditions, maintained her lead all the way. A tremendous hitter, Miss Buchanan, who plays on a handicap of 8, outdrove her opponent on most holes but lacked direction with her second shots and was frequently short or bunkered with her approaches. Neither player scored brilliantly on the heavy course, and under the strain of match play, but Mrs Ball had outward scores of 41 in both the first and second rounds and on the first 18 a return in 42. She was deadly around and on the greens. Mrs Crombie was too good for the younger player, Miss Smith, although her long game was not quite up to the standard of her play on the previous day, when she exhibited outstanding form and played some of the finest golf of the tournament. Unaccustomed to the course under heavy conditions, neither player was really confident with fairway- shots and both sometimes lacked direction with theii tee shots. It was unmistakably the sunerioritv of Mrs Crombie’s short game which won her the- final decision. Miss Smith frequently missing the opportunities offered her.