AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAGO. v

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 63

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAGO. v

Tour rounds (medal play). The winner will hold for, one year Challenge Cup, presented by Mr W. H. Youm?. Winner and runner-up will xeceive- trophies. Hamilton Smith, the holder of the T\ew Zealand Championship, put up a fine performance, getting round in 83. This player, by some occult -means, managed to keep the handle -of his driver dry, and consequently never lost his ! grip. He went out .in 40, and -canra home | in 43. His performance at the Terrace ; was phenomenal, and he holed in 3. Kori- j rniko was about as bad as could be, and there he took 6. Smith also found trouble •waiting for him at the Swamp, which he negotiated in 7. With a splendid display of golf he did the last hole in a brilliant 2. and H. A. Salmon, following, did it in a pretty 3. H. C. Smith's card read:— s, 4," 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 4, 7, 6, 5, 7. 4, 3, 5, 2. Basil Smith tied with his brother. He played eteadily and well, but did 6ome brilliant work at the eighth hole, when he holed in 3. He -did the next three holes in the same numbers as his brother {6, 4, 7), and also «ot into difficulties at the Swamp, where he holed in 7 His card read : —5, 4, 4, 55,4,5, 3, 6, 4, 7, 3. 4, 7, 4, 5, 4. 4. H. D. Stronaoh also played an excellent game and until 1 he ' Smiths casne in it was thought that his must be the leading score. Four 6's rather marred 'his game, but under such cicumrstaoecs it was -surprising that there -were aiot more of *hem. His card showed : — 5, 5, 5. 6, 4, 5, 5, 4, 6, 5, 6^4. 5, 4, 4, 4, 6, 4. C. Tunnhull and A. F. Roberts both ■went round in a capital 89, and H. Macneill (Sydney) in 90. BOGEY HANDICAP. The second Bogey Handicap, the second round of the Amateur Championship of Otago, a Medal Handicap, and an inberolub match were played on the Balmacewen Links on Thursday in showery wea/ther. ;fbe greens remained heavy aud sodden.

The -"Bogey Handicap was won by J. A. Gow, of Ohrisichurch, A. I. Forbes (Otago) being runner-up. The following were tho 'best scores : —

MEDAL HANDICAP. Concurrently -with the second round of the champioaship a Medal Handicap was played, with the following results : —

j IXTERCLUB MATCH. I The infcsrelub match resulted in an easy •fwin for the Otago team. — Otago. J i H. C. Smith _ 165 B. J. Smith „ 179 R. J. Smith 191 C. Tuirnbull , „. ... 186 Total 721 , ChristehjHrch.— B. C. Rutherford 199. J. A. Gow IB£, L. IBcrmington 197, P. Trolove '• 199,— total 780. Alexandra.— J. A. O l Kane 169, L. G. Re.lly 219, R. Ross 211, W. Murray 235,— total 854. BRUNTSFIELD MEDAL. The itwo rounds played on 9 j for the Bruntsfield Medal resulted in a tie , between A. -F. Roberts and B. J. Smith. j The first and second rounds of the AmaI teur Championship of- Otego were made a j deciding iesue. The medal was therefore I won by* A. F. Roberts with a score of 177, ; Smith being 179. BOGEY FOURSOMES. Tic Foursome Bogey- Handicap, which commenced at 9.30 a.m. on the 30th. wasproducti\e of a good deal of excellent golf, especially on the part of fclios« who were lon the ground before the wind rose. The Chrietchurch representatives again asserted themselves, and the event was -won by B. C. Rutherford and P. Trolove with 1 up from 1 a very moderate handicap. The handi1 capping was exceptionally good. Hamilton , Smith and Basil Smith got into duficulties at halfway, and finished 1 down from scratch. T. Brydone and /A. I. Fofbes (the iuiiners-up) played a good game, and finished all square with a substantial handicap. The best cards were : — i Hep. Score. B. C. Eufaerford and P. Trolove (Christchurch) ..2 1 up. T. Brydone and A. I. Forbes (Otago) 8 all square. j G. M. HacLean and F. W. j MecLean (Otago) .. ...10 all equare. j B J. Smith and H. C. ' Smith (Otago) — • I down. W. O. M'Carthy and A. Laing (St. Clair) . . . 11 2 down. JuLn -A. Cook and C Turnbu'.l (Ctago 6 2 down. A. F. liobert3 and H. A. Salmon (Otago) 1 3 down. G. R. jdacßwan (Otago) and R. W. D. Robertson (Xew Plymouth) . . 4 3 down. I L Bcnningtozi and J. ( A Gow (Chrisichurch) . 4 3 down. • W. K. Dariing (Camaru) and j H. M. Roxby (Oaniaru).. 6 3 down. J. Lawfon (Otago) and A. Hcwden (Oamrtiu) ..8 3 down. R. J. Smith and Krrol ! Smith COtflgo) ... 2 4 down. Hugh Macn-eil (Sydney) aud I A. M-acn°il (Melbourne) . 4 4 down. ; H D. Stronach (Otago) and | C. E. Howden (Oamarti).. 7 4 domi. i VT. J. Wyatt and F. L. Bifs U'Jtago) 12 4 down. J. Milne and E. H. L-uugh (Otago) 12 4 down. A. Todd and G Tcckl (Otago) 4 5 down. J. E Park and C G. Soolon (Otago) 7 5 down P. Y. Wales (Otago) ard A. Drummoiid (Scotland) . . 7 5 down. W. Wyinks and E. A. Tapper (Otcero) . . . . 10 5 down. I C. W. Birch and E. H. VTi!j liains (Otago) ... 14 5 down. J. Forbes -and A. R. Barren <St. Clair) 8 6 down. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAGO. The .'econd round of the Championship, I played on Thursday. was marked by better results than the firsr. Hamilton Smith bettered his previous good score by 1. but his brother, Basil, fell off considerably. It took him 96 to go round, and ho was then fourth on tho \ht. Hamilton Smith played a capital game throughout, and showed specially brilliant form at the third, rjia fifteenth ami last "holes. He met

I difficulty ' about halfway, but commenced and finished with a fine display of -golf. His card read : 4, 4, 3, 5, 4. 4. 5, 4. 5, 5, 7, 5, 6, 6, 3, 5, 4. 3. H. D. Stronach played a very fins game, and he also improved his first score by 1. Of the visitors, H. Macneil, of Sydney, was well up with 89, 1 though J. A Gow (Christchurch) beat .him by 3. The other Chris tcburch players did not distinguish themselves in this event The third round was played on the afternoon of the Ist under circumstances which strongly militated against good golf, and j in addition the links were swept by a | piercing wind. >In spite of this Hamilton I Smith made a -superb display, and kept his i head in places -where many players could hardly keep their feet. Smith is to be congratulated on his fine performance and his Bcore — SI. The "Football"' was especially difficult, and here Smith met with his few infelicities. MEDAL HANDICAP. The Medal Handicap, played concurrently with ;the third rownd of the Amateur Championship, was nominally won by Hsunirton Smith, with F. W. McLean ruinner-up. P. Y. Wales played a good | game, and P. Trelove was the best of the : Christchurch players with 87. The tie for Thursday's Medal -Handicap was won by F. W. Mac Lean. The best scores were : —

H. C. SMITH CHAMPION. The links during the past week hawe been the happy hunting ground of moist -and boisterous elements, which, however, while affecting scores, did not disturb the equanimity of some 60 enthusiasts, whose gocd humour and other sportsmanlike assets greatly contributed to the success of the tournament. A tricky, troublesome wind prevailed on Sararday morning, when the fourth and final round for the Amateur Championship of Otago was played, and «n the afternoon play was marred by successive squalls. ' AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAGO. Four rounds (medal play). The winner will hold for one jear Challenge .Cup, presented by Mr W. H. Young. "Winner and runneT-'np will receive trophies. As might have been expeoted 'from his scores m the first three rounds, and the prestige gained from former triumphs, Hamilton Smith won easily with a total of 344, which, curiously enough, is precisely the same as his aggregate last year. It must, however, be Temembered that the weather conditions on that occasion were vastly different from those on this. Smith led by 17 from his brother, Basil Smith, who in turn was six ahead of H. D. Stronach. The final round was far the worst Smith has played during the -week, the baulking tactics of the wind being mainly responsible. He did well enough till the approach to the tenth hole, where he got into difficulties. This hole cost him six. His drive from the Rushes proved even more disastrous, and he took nine strokes to hole at the eleventh green. Going- to Anderston's he sent his ball into ih" ditch and lost a stroke. He then made a brilliant recovery, -and got the hole in si-. Tlms sort of poor ludk seemed to dog his etop* all through the home journey, aad for the last nhte holes his card was disfigure^ by a nine and two sixes. His score oi 88 was, under the circumstances, very good. The win was a popukvr one. Hamilton 43rnith i« the holder of the Amateur Championship of New 'Zealand. The runner-up wa* Basil Smith, with & total of 347. He did the last round in four less than the champion, and played steadily and with fine iudgment. He went out in 42, but lost ground coming home. His lapse to 96 in the second round did not prove co dangerous as some players thought, for lie won ths second place easily, with a margin of 16. H. D. Stronach played well, but his ball wa*> too frequently the sport of the elements to ensure really decorative card entries. H. Macneil (Sydney) came fourth on the list. This player's golf had been fairly consistent throughout, though bis score in the two last rounds was not a& good as in the first two. On Saturday morning ho made a meat unfortunate srart. awl the fiiv.t hole cost him no less than 13. This would have -taken the heart out of a less experienee-cl player, but Macneil played on undismayed, and, rnak-

! ing a wonderful recovery, and playI ing excellent golf all the way round, ! finished with "84. H. Macneil, by the waj-, is an *ex-champion of Otago. J. A. I Gow and P. Trolove (Christchurch) put in 1 some good bard play. Rutherford and the 1 high wind fell out early in the round, j and he did not hand in his card. At the end of the third round A. F. Roberts occupied fourth place with 271, but he did not hand in a card for the fourth round. Robert Smith commenced with misfortune, which, as he proceeded, crowded so upon him that he desisted. Following were the best scores : —

MEDAL. HANDICAP. The fourth round of the Amateur Championship was, like the other three, made to evolve the results of a Medal Handicap, which were: —

COMBINED FOURSOMES. This event was played in the most execrable weather, end resulted -in a tie for first between J. Forbes and Miss 'Potherin-gham (St Clair) and" H. Macneil : (Sydney) and Mass Rafcrray (Otago). Some of the best scores were : — J. Forbes and Miss Fotheringham St. Oiair) 1 down H. MacDeil (Sydney) and Miss Ratteay (Otago) 1 down W. Wyinka and Miss M. Law (Otvgo) 2 down A. Maeneil (Melbourne) and Mrs Fergus (Otago) 2 down ' C. G. ScolonaE.d Mies Scott (Otago) 3 down P. R. Sargood and Mrs Sargood (Otago) 3 down Basil Smith and Mrs Allan (Otago) 4 down C. W Birch arjd Miss Batchekn- j (Otago) * down A. F. Roberts and Miss A. Mill (Otago) ■* down [ H. A. Salmon and Miss D. Williams (Otago) * down H. 0. Smith and Mrs Mackie (Otago) 5 down W. J. Wratt and Miss Graham (Otatro) 5 down A. I. Forbes and Mi-<s Sice (Otago) 5 down Mr and Mrs M'Oarihy (St. Clair) 5 down A GOOD UNDERSTUDY. A feature of th' 2 tournament has be«n the very excellent work done by Mr George Smith, who, during the absence of Mr D. Crawford, has -filled the difficult position of sec-rotary with commendable efficiency. Thanks to thh gentleman everything passed off without a hitch. H-s courtesy ■and attention lo detail considerably lightened the reportorial burd&n. TROPHIES. Til© various trophies won dtn^iajr the tournament were presented by Mr W, C. MaeGregor, an old member anJd-a past captain of the Otago Golf Club. Mr MaoGtregor prefaced the presentation -with a few ant remarks, in which he regretted the weather conditions having be«n so unfavourable, but expressed gratification at the number of visitors who were bearing trophies away with them.

Gross. A. liaiag (St. Clair) ... 89 J. R. Park (Otago) ... 86 J. Forbes 4St. Ckir) ... 87 Basil Smith 4Ckago) ... '84 S. F. Grig*r<St. Clair) ... 99 Hamilton Smith (Otago) 88 P. TroloV* (Chivetebureh) 94 RM. Roxby (Alexandra) 86 li. Bonnington (Christchurch) 94 F. W. Mac Lean (Otago) 103 J. A. Gow (Chrietchurch) 94 H. D. Stronach (Otego) 94 J. H. Fotheriagham (St. Cteir) 93 H. A. Salmon (Otago) ... 92 W Wyittk* (Otago) ... 102 H. Maaneil (Sydney) . . 94 J. R. Scott (Otago) ... S3 .J. A. O'Kane (Alexauidira) -93 H. R. Grigor (Balclutixa) 100 P. Y. Wates <Otago) ... 101 C. G. Scoion (Otapro) ... 105 A. E. Tapper (Otago) ... 107 H. W. Brpant (Melbourne) 100 G. H. MacEwan (Otago) 98 W. R. D. Robertson (New Plymouth) 106 A. I. Forbes (Otaeo) . . 109 Hctcp. . 12 ,6 4 14 6 8 5 14 4 A 8 %1 11 2 6 6 8 '• 8 12 14 5 2 9 12 JSet. 11 B0 83 84 85 88 SS 88 :89 •89 90 90 90 ,91 91 92 92 92 92 93 ■93 93 95 96 97 97

■a I 1 g s £ <? S 1 1 i 1 -« pq oq H -Eh H. C. Smith (Otago) 83 82 81 88 — ,334 B. >. Smith (Otago) 83 86 84 84 — 347 H. D. Stronach (Otago) f3 87 94 94 — 363 H. Macnea (Sydney) 90 . 89 86 ,94 — 369 H. A. Salmon. (Ot*go) 94 87 99 92 — 372 J. A. Gow (Chch) ... 99 86 97 94 — 376 G. H. MacEwan (Otago) 96 96 89 98 — 379 P. TroLove (Chch) . . 104 95 93 94 — 386 •W. C. MacGregor (Otago) 92 92 100 103 — 387 J. A. O'Kane (Alexandra) 96 93 100 98 — 387 L,. Bonnifegton (Chch) 103 94 98 94 — 389 P. Y. Wales (Otago) 205 100 92 101 — 398 F. W. Mac Lean (Otago) 103 96 97 103 — 399

Gross. Up. H. C. Smith (Otago) ... 81 — T. "W. Maclean <0ta,g0)... 37 14 B. J. Smith *< Otago) ... 84- — JP. Y. Waies fOtago) ... 92 8 G. H. MacEwan (Otago)... 89 2 P. Trolove (Cfektch-ureh) 83 6 R J. Smith (Otago) ... 88 — J., Forbes (St. Glair) ... 92 * A. Laing Otago) 101 12 H D. -Stomach (Otago)... 94 ♦ A. How<l?n (Otosro) ... 99 8 J. H. (St. Clair) 100 8 J. A. Oook KUtago) 106 14W. I>. M'Certhy (St. Clair) " 108 16 J. A. Govr (Chris-toburcli) 97 4 L. BomMngton (Christchurch) 98 5 A. F. fioberts (Otas^o) ... 94- — H. MacNeil (Sj-dnsr) ... 96 2 J. A. OTiane (Aioxandra) 100 6 -W. R. Darling (Oamai-u) 104 7 W. J. Wratt (Otago) ... 109 14W C. MacGregor (Otago) 100 4 T. Bry-done (Otago) ... 103 7 W. Wyrnts (Otago) ... 107 11 B. C. Rinherford (Christchuroh) „ 97 — A. MacNeili (Melbourne) 106 9 J. H. Gal® (Otego) ... 107 10 J. M. MaeLean (Otago) ... 108 11 R. Ross (Alexandra) ... 108 12 J. Bartholomew (Alexandra) 109 12 Net. 81 83 84 84 87 67 88 88 89 90 91 91 •92 92 93 93 94 94 94 94 "95 96 96 96 97 37 97 97 97 97

Gross, i H. C. 'Smith (Otago) ... 82 J. A. /Sow (Ghristohurch) £6 F. W. Mac Lean (Qtagol ... 96 H. D. Stronaeh (Otago) ... 87 *\\ D. M'Cartby •<&. Clair) 99 T. Brydone {Otago) ... 92 H. A. Salmon (Otago) ... 87 H. Macneil (Sydney) ... 89 J. A. O'Kane (Alexandra) 93 J. H. Gale (Otago) 97 I A. I. Forbes (Otago) ... 99 lA. F. Roberts (Otago) ... 88 jW. 0. MacGiEgor (Otago) 92 ~ J. R. Park (Greco) 9* K. F. Grigg (St. Clair) ... 102 3j. Bomiiington (ChristchjiTcb) ... ' 94 P. Trolov« ■(Cbxistohurch) 95 C. G. Scolou (Otago) ... 101 13. TV. Bryant (Melbourne) 95 G. M. MacL-ean (Otago) 101 R. Ro*s (Alexandra) 103 F. C. 3te\eneoii (Wangauiui) 105 J. R. Scott (Otago) 98 W. R. Dteriing- (Oaniaru) 99 P. T. Wake -(Otago) ... 100 -D. Samuel <Otago) 108 R. J. Smith (Otago) ... 93 B. C. Rutherford (Christohurch) 94G. H. MaeEwan (Otago) 96 R. R. Grigor (Baiclutha) 102 C. TurubuLl tOtaso) ... 97 B. J. Smith \Ota8«) ... 96 Vk. Murray (Alexandra) ... 103 E. H. Lough (Otago) ... 112 1,. G. R«iLly (Alexandra) 105 J. H. !Law.»on 108 R. \X. D. Robsirifon (New Plymouth) 107 J. Bartlu>lomew (Alexandra) 110 tidep. 414 4 16 7 1 2 b 10 12 4 6 14 5 6 12 5 11 12 14 6 7 8 16 2 8 2 12 16 ■8 11 9 12 Net. 82 82 82 33 83 85 86 87 87 87 87 88 88 88 88 .89 89 89 90 90 91 91 92 92 92 93 94 94 9* 95 96 96 86 97 97 93 93

- Hdep. Score. J. A. Gow (Christchurch) ... 3 3up A. I. Forbes (otago) 9 1 up B. J. -Smith (Otago) ~. •.» — 1 -down H. D. Stronach (Otago) ... »', 3 1 clown F. M. (Mdham (Otago) ~, 11 2 down nA. F. Roberts (Otago) «, .- — 3 down H. J. Smith (Otago) — ... 3 3 down C. Turnbull (Otago) 2 I down Li. Borauingtoa (Oihrd-stchureh) A 4- down J. Coom CWellingion) 9 5 down H. W. Bryant (Melbourne) ... ♦ 5 down F. 0. Stevenson (Wanganui) 11 5 d<swn S. F. Grigg (St. Clair) 11 5 down E. M. Theomin (Otago) 14 5 down