GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 47

GOLF.

By Divot. Tile professionals’ tournament, which is being held this year on the Tahunanui links. Nelson, will be begun this morning and will extend over three days. The formal opening of the Sit. Clair links for the season took place on Saturday, day. it seems doubtful whether the competition between the Otago and Christchurch Clubs will eventuate on the Shirley links at Easter, as had been hoped. So many of the more prominent Otago players hare signified their inability to go to Christchurch that if a team went it would be hardly representative enough to have much prospect of success. At Swinley Forest, near Ascot, on February 2, Miss Joyce Wetliered, for the second time in her career, did a hole in one — a hole 175 yards from the tee. J. M. MTntosh, who recently' arrived from Scotland, has been appointed professional to the Lower Hutt Club, and will begin his duties next week. He replaces Arthur Brooks. New Zealand open champion, who is now attached to the New • Plymouth Club. It is reported that one remarkable result of the rise of Gene Sarazen to fame at the age of 22 has been that the American courses are swarming with the dark-skinned sons of Italian emigrants who are beginning —as Sarazen began—by caddying and hoping to emulate their kinsman. PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT. NELSON, March 27. The Nelson Golf Club's professional tournament commenced at Tahunanui Links this morn ing in beautiful weather, nine professionals taking part, £2OO being given in prize money. The links were in good order for so early in the season, and some first-class play was seen. The first match was the Colonel Golf Bali (Bogey) Handicap, 18 holes, which resulted in a yvin for G. W. Ritchie (Miramar), e up ; Macßae (Nelson) was second, 3 un; and Hood (Miramar), third, all square. Other scores were: J. Watt (Auckland), E. J. Moss (Auckland), E. R. Galloway (Palmerston North), A. J. Shaw (Auckland), all 1 down; J. MTntosh (Nelson), 6 down. James (Masterton) did not return his card. Mr R. C. Kirk (chairman of the New Zealand Golf Council) attended the tournament in the afternoon, when the First Stroke Handicap, 18 holes, w r as played. The net scores for the First Stroke Handicap w’ere: James 71, MTntosh 75, Hood 75, Galloway 78, Moss 79, Macrae 79, Shaw 79, Watt 82, Ritchie 85. Of the scratch men Hood put up a good performance with a round one under the bogey. Ritchie, who did a 72 in the morning round, fell away badly. On the yvhole some excellent golf was shown, and the two rounds played should stand the competitors in good stead for the first round of the championship to-morrow morning. March 28. The professional golf tournament was continued this morning in perfect weather, when the first round of the Nelson Professional Championship of 72 holes, concurrently with the first round of the Myers’ Challenge Cup, and the first round of the Second Stroke Handicap was played. The championship scores and the first round of the cup are: Shaw 71, Hood 76. Moss 76, Ritchie 77, Macrae 79, Galloway 79, MTntosh 81, Watt 88, James 89. Shaw played perfect golf. This afternoon a close finish was seen for the Myers’ Challenge Cup. Shaw, wdio obtained a good lead in the first round, failed to repeat his performance, and had to give way to Hood, who played particularly steady in both rounds. Some good goit was seen during the day. The scores in the second round of the championship were: Hood 78, Moss 74, Ritchie 77, Galloway 79, Shaw 80, Macrae 80, MTntosh 81, Watt 83, James 91. The Myers’ Challenge Cup for the two best rounds in the championship, played, concurrently, was won by Hood, with 149, Moss (150) and Shaw (151) being clase up. The 36-hole Stroke Handicap resulted m the following net scores: Hood 149, Moss 150, Galloway 150, Shaw--151, Mitchie 152, Macrae 155, MTntosh 160, Watt 161, James 170. March 29. The professional golf tournament was concluded this afternoon, when the ohampionsliip was won by Hood, who played a particularly steady game all through. Hood took a place in every competition, and in the last round of the championship, returned a card of 71, equalling Shaw’s and MTntosh’s. At the conclusion of the tournament, the prizes were presented by Mr R. C. Kirk (chairman of the New Zealand Golf Association). The fourth and final round of the championship resulted :--Hood 71, Moss 76, Galloway 76, Watt 80, MTntosh 81, Shaw 81, Ritchie 82, Macrae 83. James did not return a card, The totals for the four rounds of the championship were: —Hood 295, Moss 306, Shaw 309, MTntosh 314,_ Galloway 315, Ritchie 316, Macrae 326, Watt 331. The Fourth Stroke Handicap resulted in the following net scores: —Hood 71, Galloway 72. Watt 74, Moss 76. Macrae 79, Ritchie 80, MTntosh 81, Shaw 81. James did not put in a card. Hood, Shaw, and MTntosh, with 71 each, will divide the special prize presented the Taranaki Herald and Budget for the best gross modal round of 18. "The driving competitions were won by Ritchie and Moss. EXHIBITION MATCH IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, March 26. A message from Comden, in South Carolina, says that White and Harman, in an exhibition match of 36 holes, defeated Havers and Ockenden. 4 up and 3 to play.