GOLF

Otago Witness, Issue 3942, 1 October 1929, Page 48

GOLF

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. OPENED IN BAD WEATHER. WANGANUI. September 27. To expect anything like low scoring today for the opening rounds of the Open Golf Championship of New Zealand, with which the Dominion championship commenced, was to expect the impossible. The weather conditions were atrocious, and these, combined with a more than ordinary difficult course, led to the downfall even thus earlj' of not a few golfers of class. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY SHAW. WANGANUI, September 29. The weather conditions to-dav for the continuation of the New Zealand golf championship tournament on the Belmont links, when the third and fourth rounds of the open championship were played, were in striking contrast with those of Friday. There was practically no rain, and very little wind. Indeed, the day was very warm, holding well to the traditions of a good spring day. The golfers found that under the altered weather conditions the experiences of the previous day VMere no guide, and. indeed, were a distinct handicap to many. On Friday the greens were dead with the heavy rain. They were fast to-day, the water having either percolated through the sandy surface or having been dried by the morning and afternoon sun. Whereas on Friday it was the exception for golfers to be up with their putts, to-day they were running feet past the hole, even from average distances. But -taken all in all. to-day gave the good golfers who had crashed on Friday a chance to retrieve their lost laurels, and the scores returned at the end of each round showed marked improvements on the previous day's. A not unimportant factor in to-day’s better play was that of being able to hold the clubs without the hands being numbed by the cold, or the grip of the clubs being wet and sticky. The in players to-day lacked control of their shots, and wandered off into the “ tiger ” country. They had only themselves to blame. The whole of the four rounds for each of the 95 competitors could only produce one hole in one, the distinction falling to W. D. Harman, of Christchurch, who holed his tee shot at the hole called Terawhiti. the shortest hole on the course. The tee for this hole is 60 feet above the green, and the hole itself is in the middle of a basin. Twos at it were numerous.

A. J. Shaw is again the open golf champion of New Zealand. lie is so by virtue of his two rounds on Friday under atrocious weather conditions rather than by his play to-day, fine though it was, in beautiful weather. Those two rounds, the conditions and the uiiticulties of the course, have never been equalled in a New Zealand open championship. To his win of the open championship he has the distinction of bein’ the only player to break 300 for the four rounds. His 76, 75. 76, 72 denote a wonderful consistency. It must be admitted that luck held to um when, in the fourth round, he twice holed his chip shots. But it must not be forgotten that on the last green he missed an easy putt. - tle °P en championship n 192 b at Miramar. There the luck held to him. for the one who ought to ?, av , e I."°'? ’V. '? n<! it: seeme d impossible that he should lose it. was Dr Ken. Ross, of Dunedin. As m big golf nerves have a habit of giving way. so ther gave wav with Dr Ross then. In 1925, at Shirley, loss of nerve on the last green cost Shaw the probable title, and it went to E. M. 3 n' Q he r J’ rst a , ma teur to win it since A. D. S Duncans victory in 1911. Always has Shaw been well up, and he lias given illustrations galore of the fact 1*? at - be 16 , a golfer. To-day he was hittin o a long ball from the tee and if it was not always truly on the fairway, ™ m eVe x g 0? ,nto any trouble that he could not get out of by going for his shot with confidence.

A.I the golfers were loudly bemoaninthe tact that the experiences of the first day could not be taken as a guide for the second day. Particularly was this so on the greens which, dead on Friday to-da.v were like fire in many cases. Most of the goiters were running past ° a distance that was their despair, and often cost them two strokes more. Most ht the high scores can be explained bv this fact. lor one that was short with his approach putt at least 10 went several feet past. It caught players with a ” a Donal reputation equally with players ii » t mCre V m Cub one ’, Weather conditions could scarcely have been improved on. and the fairways of the course generally were in first class condition The following are the detailed scores of the four rounds of the Open Championship. the names marked with stars being those of professionals:—

WINNERS TO DATE. The players who have held the New Zealand open championship title in previous years are as follow:— 1907. A. D. 8. Duncan (Wellington), at 1908. *J. A. Clements (Wanganui), at Dunedi n. 1909— »J. A. Clements (Wanganui), at Auckland. 1910. —A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington), at Christ church. 1911. A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington), at Wanganui. 1912. *l. A. Clements (Christchurch), at Wellington. 1913. *E. S. Douglas (Nelson), at Dunedin. 1914. —*E. S. Douglas (Wanganui), at Auckland. 1917,-1918. —Not played owing to war. 1919. —*E. S. Douglas (Miramar) at Napier (after a tie with Sloan Morpeth, Hamilton) . 1920. —<l. H. Kirkwood (Rirersdale, Victoria) at Hamilton. 1921. *E. S. Douglas (Miramar), at Christchurch. 1922. —*A_ Brooks (Hutt), at Palmerston North 1923. «A. Brooks (Hutt), at Wanganui. 1924. —*E. J. Moss (Auckland), at Auckland 1925. E. M. Macfarlane (Christchurch), at Christchurch. 1926. »A. J. Shaw (Wellington), at Miramar (after a tie with E. J. Moss, Auckland) 1927. »E. J. Moss (Auckland), at Hamilton. 1928. —S. Morpeth tMaungakiekle), at Dunedin. 1929. —»A. J. Shaw (Wellington), at Wanganui. * Denotes a professional. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. PLAYERS TO QUALIFY. WANGANUI, September 29. There was keen competition to qualify in the Amateur Championship. A play-off for thirty-second pla.ee between C. A. Seymour, A. N. Goulding. F. S. Parkes, and F. Quin was necessary, as all did 336, and Seymour won. It will be interesting if history again repeats itself when Seymour and Horton meet, when the last man to qualify and through a play-off eliminates the man to qualify

. A pleasing feature of those to qualify in the Amateur Championship is the presence of K. C. Ward (Avondale) U Armstrong (Wanganui), B. M. Silk (Wanganui), and R. J. Smith, jun. (Akarana), all youthful players, who are taking part in their first championship meeting. Others who have qualified for the first time are F. Huggins (Nelson). J. -Mangan (Invercargill). T. Park (Westport), and 11. Cathro (Castlecliff). Horton (71) and Morpeth (71) were the best cards returned. The Christchurch veteran, XX . T. Harman, livened l ‘P tilings by holing his tec shot at Terawhiti, 139 yards. INTERISLAND LADIES’ MATCH. DRAWN GAME RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, September 26 A drawn contest between teams representing the South Island and North Island marked the opening of the New Zealand Ladies Golf Championship at Christchurch this morning. Eight singles determined the issue, and each side won tour. The following are the results (the South island players being mentioned first) Mus ChrystaU beat Mrs Culling. 1 up: Mrs Dodgshun beat Miss Payton, 7 up and ° \° « g °4? l,s ® . bea ‘ Mrs Weston, 3 and 2; Mrs M'Carthy lost to Miss Gaisford, 2 down; Miss M- Stevens lost to Mrs Collinson 4 and 3; Miss Acheson lost to Mrs Williams, 3 and 1; Miss Beadel beat Mrs Foreman, 8 and 7; Miss Pringle lost to Miss Snodgrass, 3 and 2. OTHER EVENTS. The championship foursome was won by Alisa Pay ton and Miss Kay with a score

of 83, Mrs Dodgshun and Mrs M'Carthy being second with 85. The handicap medal foursome was won by Mrs R. O. Symes and Mrs Watts- «£«>«. T " lth Alrs H - Richards and Miss White-Parsons second. •H bt i found of the championship will be played to-morrow morning, and will be followed by the Coronation ’Medal match. UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. Rain and a blustering southerly wind spoiled the playing conditions at Shirley this morning for the first round of the Ladies Golf Champion hip, but nevertheless the competitors were promptly out. and the play, though naturally not the most brilliant as far as shot making was concerned, proved close and keen in almost every game. The handicap match of the day was for the Coronation Medal, one round of stroke play on handicap. In that competition again the scores were spoiled by the bad conditions, the ladies finding it hard to keep their figures down in the wind and with the course wet and heavy. At one stage in the championship matches hail came down heavily, and the players were putting with hailstones so thickly on the greens that the path of the ball was seriously affected. In the afternoon the weather improved considerably. though the wind was still very trying. The results of the championship matches were: —

Miss Upham (Miramar) beat Miss Pringle (Timaru), 2 up and 1. Miss 0. Stevens (Otago) beat Mrs M'Carthy (Otago), 4 up and 3. Miss Payton (Rotorua) beat Mrs Slee (Westport). 5 tin and 4. Miss Richardson (Wellington) neat Miss Bell (Wellington). 1 up. Mrs Foreman (Miramar) beat Miss Manson (Miramar) 5 up and 2. i Miss Rathbone (Auckland) beat Miss Petrie (Miramar) 3 up and 2. Miss Parsons (Amlrcrley) defaulted to Miss Cracroft Wilson (Christchurch). Miss O. Ka.v (Otago) beat Mrs Kingscote (Christchurch) 2 up and 1. Miss V. Fleming (Hagley), 90 —19 —71. won the Coronation Medal Match. Mrs M’Killop (Christchurch) 93 —19—74 being runner-up. with Miss O. Kay (Otago) 79 —I—7B1 —78 next.

FINE PLAY BY MISS 0. KAY. CHRISTCHURCH. September 28. Keen golf under perfect conditions took p’ace at Shirley this morning in the second round of the Ladies' Championship of New Zealand. The course had recovered wonderfully well after the rain, the greens being fairly fast, and very true, and the fairways beyond reproach. The results of the morning’s play were: — . Miss O. Stevens (Dunedin) beat Mies Upham. 7 and 6. "Miss M'Cormick (Auckland) beat Miss Cotterill (Christchurch). 2 and 1. Mrs Dodgshun (Otago) beat Miss Cullins (Auckland). 3 and 1. Mrs Fraser (England) beat Miss Acheson (Ne'son), 5 and 4. Miss Barnett (Miramar) beat Mrs Preston (Avondale). 1 up. Miss Gaisford (Marton) beat Miss M. Stevens (Otago), 3 and 1. Miss Ka.v (Otago) beat Miss Cracroft Wilson (Christchurch), 9 and 7. Miss Payton (Rotorua) beat Miss Richardson (Wellington), 3 and 1. Mrs Alill (Miramar) won by default from Miss Upton (Auckland). Miss Rathbone (Auckland) beat Mrs Foreman (Miramar). 6 and 5. Miss Beadel (Christchurch) beat Mrs Godby (Christchurch). 3 and 1. Mrs Weston (Wellington) beat Miss Rutherford (Hawarden). 3 and 1. Airs Collinson (Manawatu) beat Mrs R. L. W:lson (Titirangi). 4 and 3. -Miss Pharazyn (Napier) beat Mrs Pumphrey (Chrstchureh). 3 and 1. Miss Chrystall (Christchurch) beat Miss Moore (Hokitika), 5 and 4. Mrs Kerr (Timaru) beat Miss Snodgrass (Rotorua), 4 and 3. Most of the results were clear cut wins, but there were some that were very closely contested, and had, even at this stage, a big effect upon the championship, r oremost of these was the game between Mrs Dodgshun and Aliss Culling. Miss Culling has been doing well in Auckland and was favoured by some for the chaniponship this year. She started well. playing pretty golf after the first hole, and was bogey for the last seven holes on the outward journey, being two up on her opponent at the turn. At the tenth she fell off a little, and thereafter Mrs Dodgshun, playing some remarkably good golf at times, held her comfortably all the way and ran out a winner at tlie seventeeth green. The issue was in doubt till the sixteenth, where Aliss Culling was trapped in a bunker, and took seven. leaving Airs Dod gshun dor my two.

Aliss Al. Stevens, a good player from Otago, who has done well on Shirley on more than one occasion before, met her match is Aliss Ga'sford. the young Rotorua player, who struck great form over the last stages of the journey, and came in a winner on the seventeenth green. Both ladies played attractive golf, Aliss Gaisford’s all-round strength telling. Aliss Stevens failed with some of lier putts, especially at the seventeenth. Airs Kerr, of Timaru, an ex-champion, who has not found her form for a year or two, was off her driving, the department where she is usually strong, but her short game stood the test and give her a victory over Alisg Snodgrass, who was missing on the greens. The most remarkable golf of the morning was played by Miss O. Kay, the voung Ihinedin player, who has annexed the Canterbury championship on Shirley several times, and who on form looks a winner for the present contest. She won nine of the 11 holes in her match against Miss Cracroft Wilson. Her card read: — Out: 4,4, 2,5, 4,5, 4,5, 4 37 Bogey: 5, 4. 3,5, 4,5, 4,4, 3—37 In: 5, 4. Bogey: 5, 4. Miss O. Stevens, who is not considered as good a player as Aliss Al. Stevens, has nevertheless been playing good golf this tourney, and her win over Aliss Upham by 7 and 6 was secured by fine allround play.

Miss Chrystall, the strongest of the local contenders and the present holder of the tithe, had little difficulty in securing a win over Miss Moore. Miss Chrystall, for the first few holes, had trouble in judging the strength of the greens,

which had improved bo much in speed since yesterday. She was off her iron soui d res t of her game was Mrs Collinson, another strong contender The English player. Mrs Fraser, whose handicap at Sunnydale is 4, struck Miss Acheson out ot form and beat Imr 5 and ’ ■“R,® raser was slicing hei tee shots somewhat, and she too had difficulty with the faster greens. She i s getting back to toim with every game, and might take a lot of beating in the later rounds. In the Bogey Handicap, played this afternoon there was a tie in the senior division between Miss Cracroft Wilson > an <licap 7) and Mrs Kingscote (handicap »), all square. The junior division was won bv Miss Loughnan (handicap 10) 2 up. All these players are members of the Christchurch

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. COAIPTON AND BOOMER LEFT IN. PARIS, September 25. In the French open goif championship, 72 holes, Compston and Aubrey Boomer tied with 283. BOOMER BEATS COMPSTON. PARIS, September 26. In the play-off in the French open championship Boomer (141) defeated Compston (142). ST. CLAIR CLUB. A large field started in the medal handicap at Corstorphine on Saturday when the conditions were good except for a troublesome southerly wind. A net 13 by F. Sherriff was the winning card. The best scores returned were as follows:—F. Sherriff. 89 (16), 73 net; Dr C. C. Anderson, 92 (18), 74; C. b’. Wight. 76 (1 ), 75; E. C. Charters, 100 (24), 76; J. W. Mardon, 101 (24), 77; C. W. Routledge, 102 (24), 78; W. D. Al’Carthy, 91 (13), 78; G. S. Kirby, 102 (24), 78; L. E. Routledge, 96 (18), 78. The knock-out competition which was commenced last mouth on the Balmaeewen links with 64 competitors is now nearing completion. in the unplayed match of the fourth round between J. R. Laidlaw and J. A. Dunning the former emerged the victor by three up and one to play. The semi-final matches were played on Saturday afternoon. N. G. Hay, who was in receipt of two strokes from C. T. Irvine, won by .four and three. J. R. Laidlaw had to concede 13 strokes to J. H. pilkison, and although Laidlaw had an 'excellent round of 73 he found the handicap too great. The match went to the last gieen. where Gilkison finished two up. The final between Hay and Gilkison wili be played next week.

*A. .T. Shaw .. T. H. Horton 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Rd. Rd. Rd. Rd. T) 76 76 79 76 76 72—299 71—309 is. J. Moss .. 77 79 77—306 *E. S. Douglas 80 80 7 5 73—3os A. D. S. Duncan 80 81 75 73—309 S. Iforpeth . . *0. C. Clements 80 S3 71 70—310 77 81 77 75—310 “D. Al'Intosli 79 SO 74 71—311 jT. A. dements 78 SI 78 76—313 *1. S. Galloway 81 81 74 78—314 *F. Butter 80 83 76—314 *F. Branch .. 79 80 77 79—315 B. M. Silk .. 81 80 77 78—316 *N. Bell 85 81 76—317 B. M. Alacfarla ne 80 80 80 78—318 H. P. Dale .. 77 84 82 75—318 W . A. Keeling 84 83 77 76—320 Kapi Tareha 82 82 82 75—321 *R. C. Butters 83 81 78 80—322 "G. W. Ritchie 82 81 78 81—322 J. L. Black .. B. ,T. Smith, jun. 80 86 87 84 76 74 79—322 81—325 C. N. Armstrong 86 80 81 78—325 D. (J. Collins 80 86 78 81—325 11. A. Black . . 83 88 78 76—325 *J. R. Galloway 86 83 77 79—325 1j. Seifert, jun. 85 82 S3 76—326 A. G. Sime .. 82 83 83 78—326 •J. (loss .. 84 82 82 78 —326 D. O. \\ byte .. 84 82 80 80—326

A. E. Ekstedt .... 87 81 76 83—327 L. Cathro ., .. 80 90 78 79—327 *E. C. 1’ass .. .. 85 82 80 80—327 P. Grey .. .. 83 87 81 77—328 K. C. Vt ai d . . .. 83 84 81 80—328 R. Wagg .. .. 81 89 / 5 83—328 T. S. Park . . . 89 85 76 79—329 *J. Lambic .. .. 88 81 82 78—329 F. Huggins .. ., 79 87 78 86—330 J. Harold . . .. 89 84 82 76—331 J. Quin 95 88 74 74—331 N. Louisson . . . . 80 87 74 85—332 J. A. Mangan .. 88 91 /<> 78—332 A. E. Conway . . ,. 86 87 78 81—332 *L. Ross 85 85 84 78—332 N. JI. Fuller .. .. 84 86 82 81—333 A. R. Rlank .. .. 87 82 79 86—334 W. B. Reilly .. 85 84 83 82—334 L. Quin 86 88 81 80—335 A. N. Gonlding 85 86 82 83—336 F. S. Parkes . . . . 84 85 78 89—336 F. Quin 85 87 73 SI—336 0. A. Sevmour 88 88 80 80—336 C. H. Stephenson 84 89 83 81—337 E. J. I’umphrey 86 79 85 87—337 I. Saunders .. .. 85 90 79 85—339 *J. Watt 83 88 87 81—339 C. E. Hon den . . . . 89 88 82 80—339 W. Lints 83 89 85 83—340 J. M. Hussey .. .. 81 86 84 89—340 M. C. Fenwieke 81 86 84 89—340 E. W Perrv .... 95 86 78 81—340 G. Richmond 93 86 80 82—341 *A. H. Dykes .... 85 86 81 89—341 R. T. Tosswill .. 87 86 83 85—34 1 F. C. Fryer .. .. 89 92 80 81—342 F. C. Hutchison .. 86 88 83 85- 342 R. L. M’Niven 89 87 83 83—342 J. G. Dick . . . . 88 87 83 84—342 R. O. Gardner 85 86 89 82—342 S. Powdrell . . 87 94 81 81- 343 H. Hutchison . . . . 90 87 81 83—341 G. M. t hong .. .. 82 93 85 84—344 *15. J. Smith . . . . 85 84 99 86—345 H. W. M Farlane.. 81 98 80 87—346 J. P. Mortland 86 93 83 85—347 .1. S. Harrison .. 91 91 80 85—34 7 F. G. Heaven .. .. 92 89 .90—348 P. W eston 90 86 88 84 34S C. Holmes .. .. 8S 84 88 89—349 L. D. Hurst .. .. 85 87 92 85—349 G. N. I’harazyn 91 87 85 86- -349 *J. G. Watt . . . . 91 83 80 86—350 D. Meldrum . . .. 96 84 85 85—350 J. Mowat 89 91 88 84—352 J. J), l.awrence .. 87 99 82 84— 352 R. I). Harding 94 92 86 SO—352 W. O’Callaghan 91 94 86 83—354 R. Kissling .. . . 95 92 79 89—355 R. O. Chesney.. ., 89 93 95 82—359 W. T. I). Harman 93 88 88 91—366 R. 15. Anderson 93 93 87 90—363 J. P. Alclred .. .. 97 94 88 85- 361 A. A. Stewart. . . . 101 92 89 84 - 366 L. J. Le Cren.. .. 93 103 94 91—384