GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 46

GOLF.

At a special meeting of the New Zealand Golf Council it was decided to accedo to the strong representations made by the Napier Club and revert to the original dates fox the New Zealand championship meeting. The meeting will open on September 1, and ■will last for a week. The days of " the great triumvirate" among the professional players at Borne— H.Vardon,

J. H. Taylor, and J. Braid—are numbered. The new school of players includes men -who are apparently capable of extending under any conditions the three celebrated players who for two decades created such a powerful " trU3t" that everyone else was squeezed out. An interesting illustration of the keenness of the competition between the leading professionals in the Old Country is furnished in the result of a match, over 72 holes, completed at St. Anne's on June 21. J. H. Taylor, by a magnificent effort, upheld the position of the great triumvirate by winning in 301, beating Abe Mitchell by one stroke. Then came E. Ray, whoso score was 303; C H. Mayo, G. Gadd, G. Duncan, and H. Var-r----don, with scores of 304 each; C. Hughes and A. Herd, with 305; R. Jones and F. Robson, with 307; T. Walton and J. Braid, with 808. It will be seen, therefore, that only seven strokes separated the thirteenth from the first competitor.

"When the last English mail left what is called the Substitute Championship, in which the leading 60 professionals in Great Britain were competitors, was in progress on the St. Andrews links. After two rounds had been played, B. Ray led with a score of 150, Abe Mitchell being next with 151. Eight other players had better scores than J. °H. Taylor, whoso 159 was equalled by two competitors. H. Vardon was 160, and J. Braidi 163. Prom all appearances, each one of the great trio was in a hopeless position. OTAGO LADIES' CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. The final of the Otago Ladies' Golf Club Championship was played on Thursday between Mrs Cook and Miss Snodgrass. The first six holes were very even. Mrs Cook being two up at the turn. Mrs Cook won Spionkop in five, ending the match —four up and three- to play.,. Both players showed good form, Mrs Cook's* long game being particularly good, while Miss Snodgrass played her approaches with great accuracy and putted excellently. The winner of Mr Rattray's trophy for August was Mrs Oldhanij with a score of 51 net; and for the ball in the same match Mrs Cook was tbe winner with 58 net.