GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 64

GOLF.

OTAGO GOLU CLUB’S ANNUAL TO U UN AMENT.

The Otago Goif Club’s annual New Year tournament was commenced at the Balmaoeweu Links on Friday morning. Tho total entries received this year number 72, as compared with 89 received last year. Tho smaller entry is presumably accounted tor'by the attractions of the Davis Cup contest in Ohristchurdh, which not only took some of the local players to tho northern city but seems to have prevented some Canterbury men from coming down here. There were same six or eight players down from the North Island last year, but this time there are only two, Messrs J. Turton, of Hawera, and 0. C- Holmes, of Wairarapa. Christchurch is represented by Messrs C. Treweek and J. Forbes. Out of a total entry of 72, exactly half are visitors, as compared with 49 'visitors last year. A good entry has been received from Invercargill, Timaru sends three men, and Balclutha, Milton, Lawrence, and Geraldine are each represented. On Thursday the prospects of tho course did not look at all promising, and some of the greens were actually under water, but the conditions yesterday proved a pleasant surprise, and tho greens were in remarkably good order considering the amount of rain that has recently fallen. Though undoubtedly somewhat heavy and slow in the morning, they were rapidly drying all day. and some of the leading players wore of opinion that there was nothing to complain of. Tho first competition of the tournament was a medal handicap over 18 holes, and about 30 players competed. Tho scoring was high, and a number of tho competitors did not hand in their cards. Two of the visitors, C. Treweek (of Christchurch) and H. Gunthorp (of Balclutha) tied for first place, and will plav off today. In the afternoon a Bo<my handicap, in which again there were about 30 competitors, was commenced at 1.30. The first cards were handed in at 10 minutes to 4, and shortly after 5 tho results wore complete. H. J. Reeves was the winner, with a score of 3 up, H. J. Gould and H. D. Stronach tying for second place with 1 up. . , The following are the best ©cores in the two matches:

SATURDAY’S PLAY ] Beautiful weather prevailed on Saturday for the second day’s play m the Otago Golf Club’s New Year tournament The principal event was the deciding- of the two qualifying rounds for the amateur charni pionship of Otago, the conditions being that the 16 players returning the best scores were to play off by match play over 10 holes. Simultaneously with the championship rounds three other competitions were decided. Two of these were medal handicaps for a trophy to go to the player retunning the lowest nott scoro in &3oh of the qualifying rounds and the third was an interclub match for teams of four players. Although the weather conditions— particu- | larly in the afternoon, when there was practically no wind and the greens had. dried nicely—were almost ideal for golfing, the scoring on the whole was poor, and it "was evident that most of the plavena were not up to their usual form. There were 53 entries for the championship, and practically «h competed. During the day only three scores of 80 or under were handed in, and the average appeared to bo something over 90. Li )he morning decidedly the best card was 0. Treweok’s, of Christchurch, who w-ent round in 77, made up as under: —Out: Creek 4, Flagstaff 5, Gooawdn’s 4, Terrace 6, Punch Bowl 4, Camel’s

Back 5, Monastery 5, Spion Kop 3, Hawthorn 4 (40). In: Lower Flagstaff 4, Rushes 6, Koromiko 4, Anderston’s 5, Swamp 4, Bishopscourt 3, Gorge 4, Football 4. Lawn 3 (37). Total, 77. A. L. Marshall, with whom he tied for the medal handicap hh Friday, made 100, and allowing for handicaps Treweok won by 75 as against 88. Treweek went round in 89 in the afternoon, and his total of 166 would have given him second place in the qualifying rounds, but unfortunately he cannot remain for the close of the championship, and could not therefore be considered as an entrant. Tho only, other outstanding scores were 77 put up by A. L. Marshall, of Timaru, and 79 registered by B. J. Smith in the afternoon. Marshall’s card read:—Out —5,5, 4,7, 3, 5,3, 3. 6 '(41); in—4, 6. 3,4, 4,4, 4, 5,2 (36); —total, 77; and Smith’s:—Out — 5. 5,4, 3,4, 4,5, 5, 5 (40); in—4, 7,4, 5, 4, 4. 3,5, 3 (39);—total, 79. B. J. Smith headed the list in the championship rounds bv a fairly comfortable margin. The medal handicap in tho morning was won by C. Treweok, with C. A. Seymour, of Timaru, eecond; and the afternoon medal handicap fell to A. L. Marshall, with B. J. Smith second. Three Otago Club teams and one from Invercargill competed in the interclub match. Otago No. 1 team, consisting of Stronach, H. C. Smith, Roberts, and Park, won somewhat easily, and two of the Invercargill men failed to record their afternoon’s score. The following are the results, the lo eligible players being given in the championship and a few of the best scores in. the medal matches:—

The tournament was continued yesterday under very favourable weather conditions. In the morning the first round of the amateur championship of Otago was played off, and the second round was decided in tno afternoon. In addition there was a medal handicap in the morning, and a bogey handicap in tho afternoon, for each of whicn there were about 50 entries. An informal putting competition has been held each afternoon since the tournament began, and tho winner will probably be announced tomorrow. The results of yesterday’s games are appended. Amateuh Championship or Otago. First Round. A. Todd beat'C. A. Seymour 2 up and 1 to play, i _ _ _ , i- _ C. G. Scolon beat A. L. Marshall, 3 up and 2 to play. A. F. Roberts beat H. D. Stronach 3 up and 2 to play. „ , J. H. Fotheringham beat F. L. Biss, S up and 4 to play. K. Ross beat P. Y. Wales, 6 up and 5 to play. J. R. Park beat H. J. Gould, 4 up and 3 Young beat H. C. Smith, 3 up and 1 to play. _ . . _ B. J. Smith beat R. J. Smith, 3 up and The contest between B. J. Smith and R. J. Smith proved a close and interesting one. Basil Smith went out in 43. and returned in 37, his brother taking 40 and 41. The scores at the individual holes were as follow, Basil Smith’s score being placed first: Creek 7.5; Flagstaff 4,5; Goodwins 4,3; Terrace 5,5; Punch Bowl 4,5; Camel’s Back 5.5; Monastery 5,4; Spion Kop 4. 4; Hawthorn 6,4. 40). _ Lower Flagstaff 3, 4; Rushes 3,0; Koromiko 3,4; Anders ton’s 5,6; Swamp 5,6; Bishopscourt 4,3; Gorge 3,4; Football 5,5; Lawn 4,3. —(37,41.). Totals: 80 and 81. It will thus b* seen that at

the turn R. J. Smith. was 2 up, .but his brother won the first five coming inland though the former won Bishopscourt in 3, Basil won the Gorge in the same number. The game thus ended in a win for Basil by 3 up and 2 to play. J. R. Park beat H. J. Gould by 4 up and 3to play. The winner went out in 43 and came in in 57. The gajn© was fairly level for the first half. Park being one up at the turn. After this he drew away, and holed out both at Anderston's and the Swamp in 4, Gould requiring the bogey score of 5 for both of these. The defeat of H. 0. Smith by Young was one of the unexpected ©vents of the round. The golf was good, and the winner went round in 82. Smith w r as right off in his short putting, and lost the match on the greens. He had the putt for a., win at Anderstons and lost it, and the same thing happened at the tSwamp. He won at Bishopscourt, but Young holed out with a beautiful 3 at the Gorge, where Smith missed the putt. The 17th hole was won jn the bogey score of 5, leaving Young 3 up and 1 to play.

Soine excellent play was seen in the match between Dr Ross (Seacliff) and P- Y. Wales. Ross did the course' in 80, which would have been 79 had it not been for a stymie at Hawthorn. He took 44 to go out, and came back in 36. A peculiar incident happened at the tenth hole. Ross drove into the bunker'and the ball stuck half-way up the bank in a thistle. Taking his niblick he drove about 40ft straight into the air, and the ball landed on the green within 20ft of the pin. He completed the hole in four. The feature of the play was his long driving, and also his second shots, which were remarkably straight and true. Todd and Seymour had a very level game up to Spion Kop, where Todd was 1 up. From that stage Todd kept the lead, finishing , 2 up and 1 to play. - In the game between Roberta and Stronach’ the former had the misfortune to lose a ball at the fourth hole, but he did the remaining 17 holes in 75. He heat hia opponent on green play. Scolon w’os putting excellently, but Marshall was not up to form in this department, and this really decided the. game. In the contest between Fotheringham and Biss the former played a steady consistent game throughout, and did tlie first half in 40. His play on the green was particularly effective. Second Round. Fotheringham beat Todd, 7 up and 5 to play. B. J. Smith beat Young, 4 up and 2 to play. Roberts beat Scolon, 8 up and 7 to play. Rosa beat Park, 5 up and 5 to play. Todd was not playing up to form in his match against Fotheringham. The latter halved the first hole in 5, won the second, lost the third, and then won five holes in succession. At the turn he was 5 up and had covered the first half of the round in 41, or one better than Bogey. The first four holes in the second half added 2 to his lead, and he thus won 7 up and 5 to play. B. J. Smith started off very strongly against Young, and by _ the eighth hole had established a -load of 5. At the ninth lie was unfortunate enough to lose a ball, and this left him 4up at the turn. Allowing 5 for this hole, he went out in 39. The tenth hole was halved in _4, - the eleventh in 6, and the twelfth and thirteenth which left Smith dormy 5. At the fifteenth Smith lay on the green, but took three putts to go out, allowing Young to win in three. This left Smith dormy 3, but he won the Gorge in 3, and secured the match 4 up and 2 to play. In the first half of the game Smith was very accurate on the green, and his approaching was very deadly. The second half he did in 40, making a total of 79 for the round.

Roberts in his match against Scolon was playing at the top of ius form, and for the first nine holes gave an almost perfect exhibition of the game. He covered the outward portion of the course in 38 strokes, or 4 less than Bogey, while his opponent took 45. Roberts’s scores at the individual holes were! 5,4, 4,5, 6,3, 4,4, 4, and he was 7 up at the turn. He stymied Scolon at the first hole. The only bad shot ho made was at the Punch Bowl, where he carried his tee shot out of bound®, but got out in 5. He lay in the lip of the hole, and Scolon knocked the ball in. At the Monastery he overran the green with his second shot, but, making an excellent recovery', he won in 4. The only putt he missed was at the ninth hole, where he tried for 3, but ran past and had to be content with 4. In the run home Robom won the tenth and halved the eleventh, which left him a winner 8 up and 7 to play. The winner scored mostly on his consistent driving and on his putting, which was excellent. Ross early established a good lead over Park. He won the first hole in 5 and the second in 4, while the third was halved in 4. At the Terrace Park pulled slightly, and the wind carried the ball into the broom hedge. The ball could not be found, but in sporting spirit Ross allowed it- to . be counted as out of bound®, which means the reduction of a. stroke instead of the loss of a hole, and Park succeeded in halving. Of the next five Ross won three and halved two, and was thus 5 up at the turn., . The tenth hole was the only one which Park succeeded in winning. Ross won the- eleventh, halved the twelfth, and won the thirteenth which gave him the game, 6 up and 5 to play. Park was somewhat off his game, and weak putting cost him several holes. Ross played a good, steady round equal to Bogey score, the outward journey being accomplished in exactly 42. His long game was particularly good, and many of his approaching shots were very nicely judged. The Medal Handicap, decided in the morning, was won by R. R. Stewart, H. C. Bilton and J. B. M'Clymiont tieing for second place. In the Bogey Handicap Errol Smith and G. Todd tied for first place with a score of 2 up on Bogey, and will have to play off at the close of the meeting. , . The following are the best scores in the two games:

MEDAL HANDICAP. Gross. Hp. Net. C. Treweek, Chtistchurch 84 2 82 H. Gunthorp, Balclutha... 94 12 82 H. J. Gould, Balmacewen 89 6 83 W. D. M'Carthv, St. Glair 94 10 84 Bragg, Balclutha 102 18 84 C. G. Scolon, Balmacewen 91 6 ■ 85 J. R. Park, Balmacewen 87 1 86 G. L. Cuthbertson, Inver94 8 86 cargill J. E. Stewart, Invercar12 86 gill * 93 W. Smith, Invercargill ... 100 14 86 E. A. Tapper, Balmacewen 101 15 86 J. B. M'Clymont, Milton 104 18 86 BOGEY HANDICAP. Hp. Score. H. J. Reeves, Balmacewen 12 3 up H. J. Gould, Balmacewen ... 4 1 up H. D. Stronach, Balmacewen 4 1 up R. J. Smith, Balmacewen ... 2 all square J. H. Gale, Balmaoewen C. G. Scolon, Balmacewen ... 4 ... 4 1 down 1 down H. C- Smith, Balmacewen — 2 down J R Park. Balmacewen ... 1 2 down Ci T,. Onthbertson. Invercargill 6 2 down J. M. Laing, Invercargill ... b 2 down G. J. Ronaldson, Balmac2 down ewen J .R. Smyth, Lawrence ... 13 2 down

Championship Qualifying Rounds. 1st 2nd round round. Total B. J. Smith ... 82 79 — 161 Dr K. Ross. Seacliff ... 85 84 — 169 A. L. Marshall, Timaru 95 77 — 172 C. A. Seymour, Timaru 81 93 — 174 H. C. Smith ... 88 87 — 175 W H. Young ... 86 89 — 175 R. J. Smith ... 89 87 — 176 H. D. Stronaoli ... ... 86 90 — 176 J. R. Park ... 89 89 — 178 A. F. Roberto ... 95 84 — 179 H. J. Gould .. 88 91 — 179 C. G. Soolon ... 90 90 — 180 J. Fotheringham ... 93 88 — 181 P. Y. Wales .. 89 93 — 182 F. Jj. Biss .. 90 92 — 182 A. Todd ... 95 87 — 182 First Medal Handicap. Gross. Hep. Net. C. Treweck 77 2 — 75 C. A. Seymour ... 81 4 — 77 C. J. Ranaldson 92 14 — 78 H. D. Stronach ... 86 6 — 80 W D. M'Carthy 91 10 — 81 R. R. Stewart 99 18 — 81 B. J. Smith ... 82 82 H. J. Gould 88 6 — 82 P. Y. Wales 89 6 — 83 F. L. Biss ... ... 90 6 — 84 T. H. Glendining 99 15 — 84 F. J. Du Croz ... 94 10 — 84 C. G. Scolon 90 6 — 84 Second Medal Handicap. Gross. Hep. Net. A. L. Marshall ... 77 2 — 75 B. J. Smith 79 79 J. Turton 91 12 — 79 A. Todd 87 6 — 81 O. I. Wilson 93 15 — 83 K. Ross 84 84 A. F. Roberts 84 84 J. H. Fothoringham 88 4 — 84 H. D. Stronach 90 6 — 84 C. G. Scolan 90 6 — 84 J. Milne 96 12 — 84 W. Smith ... 98 14 — 84 T. H. Glendining 99 15 — 84 Inteb-club Match. Otago No. 1. 1st 2nd round, round. Total. B. J. Smith .. 82 79 — 161 H. C. Smith ... • .. 88 87 — 175 A. F.‘ Roberts ... . .. 95 84 — 179 J. R. Park — ... . .. 89 89 -4 178 . 354 339 693 Otago No. 2. H. .A. Salmon ... . .. 95 89 — 184 R. j. Smith .. „ 89 87 — 176 W. H. Young ... .. 86 89 — 175 H. Brasch .. 96 91 — 187 365 356 722 Otago No. 3 J. H. Fotheringham 93 88 — 181 W. C. MacGregor .. 95 91 — 186 H. D. Stronach ... .. 86 90 — 176 Andrew Todd ... .. 95 87 — 182 369 356 - 725 Invercargill. G. L. Cuthbcrtson .. 92 94 — 186 G. B. Banks ... . • .. 99 97 — 196 C. J. Ronaldson ... .. 92 — J. M. Laing ... - .. 97 380 YESTERDAY’S PLAY.

MEDAL HANDICAP. Gross. Hep. Net R. R. Stewart ... . .. 95 18 77 H. C. Bilton 94 16 78 J. B. M'Clymont . .. ..I ... 96 18 78 J. Milne ... ... ... 9112 79 J. Forbes .' .. £2 2 80 E. Smith ... ... ■ ... ... ■ 86 4 82 H A. Salmon ... 84 2 82 E. Smith .. . ... 86 • 4 ' 82 T II. Glendining ... 98 ■ 15 83 F. J. Du Oroz . ... ... 94 10 84 I). Samuel ... - 96 12 84

BOGEY HANDICAP. Hep. Score. Errol Smith ... ... 5 2 up G. Todd ... 4 2 up A R Barron .. 3 1 up W. Smith, Invercargill . ... 11 1 up J. Milne ... 8 all square D. A. M‘Parian© ... 14 all square H. A. Salmon ... 2 1 down H. do C. "M‘Arthur ... ... 6 1 down D. F. Dowling ... 12 1 down W. S. Ferguson ... 14 1 down