GOLF.

Opunake Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 3178, 6 September 1929, Page 3

GOLF.

D. J. THOMAS, CHAMPION

The final of the junior championship took place on Wednesday, D. J. Thomas defeating L. Des Forges 4up and 3 to play. Although the state of the greens precluded good putting, the play generally was of a disappointing standard, neither ■player, particularly Des Forges, playing up to his usual game. Thomas was in the lead practically all the time and only a good recovery by Des Forges saved him from a very heavy defeat. On the day, Thomas undoubtedly deserved his win. Both were on the first green with their seconds but three putts by Des Forges gave Thomas the first hole in 4. At the seeond Des

Forges put his first out of bounds • to the right but managed to secure a half in 7, the putting of both being weak. Thomas took 4 to reach the green at the third, Des Forges being on in three, but weak putting by the latter I'esulted in a half in 6* Both played the fourth poorly the approaching being weak, Des Forges finally winning in 6 to Thomas’ 7. Thomas drove well to the fifth and put his second on the green. Des Forges being too strong with his second. Thomas just missed a three, but won the hole with a good four. Thomas was now 1 up. At the 6th Thomas duffed his drive and Des Forges hit a fair one but made a mistake in taking his wood in a bad lie and hit his second into the ground. Thomas was steadier to the green and won in 6 to Des Forges 8. Thomas hit a beauty on to the green at the 7th, Des Forges being a bit too strong. Weak putting by Thomas allowed Des Forges to secure a half in four. Des Forges put his first on the green at the Bth. Thomas being out to the left, Des Forges took two putts and won the hole in 3 to Thomas’ 5. Thomas hit a good tee shot at the 9th, Des Forges topping his. Des Forges had a chance to halve the hole in 5 but stymied himself and lost in 6 to Thomas’ 5. Thomas had taken 48 and Des Forges 50 for the round, the former being 2 up. Commencing the second round both played fair tee shots but Des Forges’ second hit the green fence and stayed on and he won in 4 to Thomas’ 5. Des Forges sliced his tee shot at the second and Thomas duffed his and took 5 to get on the green. Des Forges took three to the green and taking 3 putts won in 6 to his opponent’s 7. The match here was all square. Poor approaching at the third by Des Forges lost him the hole, Thomas holing out in a good four. Both played the fourth fairly well, each taking three to reach the green and two putts. Both took 4to reach the sth green, a half in six resulting At the 6th Des Forges put his fir«b into the river, and took five to reach the green, Thomas being there in 4. Good putting by both resulted in Thomas winning in 5. Down to the river Thomas put his first on the edge of the swamp but a great recovery enabled him to win the hole in 4, Des Forges taking five, after being just outside the green with his first. Poor approaching by Des Forges enabled Thomas to win the Bth with a fair 4. Both topped their drives at the 9th and Des Forges took five to get on the green to Thomas’ four but a good putt by * Des Forges enabled him to secure a half in 6. Thomas took 46 for this round and Des Forges 50 and the former was 4 up and having all the best of things. Both started the third round well, a great third by Thomas finishing alongside the pin, enabling him to halve, Des Forges, after being just off the green with his tee shot, tak- . ing four. Both played the second well, good putting after taking four to get on the green making a half in 5. Good putting by Thomas won him the 3rd in 4, Des Forges taking five. Thoma* won the 4th by holing a good putt, and made himself 6 up. At the fifth Des Forges took five to get on the green to Thomas’s 3 and although he sank a good putt, he lost, Thomas taking five. Thomas was now seven up and the match looked to be all over. Des Forges again put his tee shot into the river the 6th, but they both got on the green in five. Thomas took three putts and lost the hole 8 to 7. Both played the river hole well, a half in 4 resulting. Des Forges failed to get up from the river but got up with his third. Thomas looked sure to win the hole but was very weak round the green and his opponent secured a half in 6. Both put their tee shots oul of bounds to the right at the 9th but a good putt enabled Des Forges to win the hole in 5 to 6, Thomas was now 5 up, he having taken 47 to his opponent’s 48. Commencing the final round, Des Forges holed a twelve foot putt for a half in 4. At the second Thomas topped his drive and took six to get on the green. Des Forges was on in 4 and taking two putts won in f 6to 7. Thomas was now 4up and _ appearing to feel the strain. Thomas topped his drive at the 3rd but secured a half in 5. Des Forges topped his drive at the fourth, taking four to reach the green to Thomas’ three. Both took two putts, Thomas winning in 5 to 6. Thomas was now dormy fi v e. Both topped their drives at the oth, Thomas taking 4 to get on the green and Des Forges three. Three putts each gave Des Forges the hole in 6, Thomas 4 up. At the sixth a great iron thi’d put in a good position and both lay about 4 feet from the pin in 5. Both rank their putts, a half in 6 making Thomas the junior cliam-

pion for 1929. Thomas had taken 34 and Des Forges 33 for the six holes played. Mr. J. N. Stephenson was umpire. All those engaged iu the competition for the president’s trophy are requested to play their respective matches as soon as possible.