THOMSON'S TITLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19029, 1 June 1936, Page 11

THOMSON'S TITLE

BRITISH GOLF CROWN FERRIER'S GALLANT FIGHT CLOSE PLAY IN FINAL BRILLIANT STANDARD LONDON, May 30. In the British amateur golf final, H. Thomson, who won the Scottish and Irish tifles last year, defeated the Australian champion, J. Ferrier, two up. I A cold blustering wind, whipping the breakers of the Atlantic, chilled enthusiasts, who assembled early to witness the -final stniggle for the blue ribbon of amateur golf. Ferrier won the first hole in- four. Thomson taking three shots from the edge of the green. Thomson w.on the second four to five and took the lead at the third with a birdie three. The fourth was perfectly halved with fours and tho fifth was halved with fives. At the sixth. Ferrier holed a three-yarder, squaring the match. The next two were halved. Then Ferrier became one up a! the ninth, where Thomson missed a two-yard putt for a half. . The figures out were: Thomson. 5 4 3 4 5 4 4 35. - Ferrier. 4 5 5 4 5 3 4 3 4. Thomson took three putts at the tenth, leaving Ferrier two up. The eleventh was halved in three, Thomson just being on tho lip of the hole in two. At the twelfth the Australian played a delightful shot, running up lo the hole and winning a 'birdie three. becoming three up. Thomson played a glorious approach at. the 13fh, but Ferrier. from 20yds., ran .up almost dead and got a half. Ferrier drove out of bounds at the fourteenth and took another ball and a penally stroke distance. Thomson won the hole. RAIN AND HAIL A fierce rain and hail storm now swept in from the sea continuing for three holes. Thomson was now in fighting form. Playing the fifteenth magnificently he woii with a four, Ferrier taking three putts. Ferrier was now only one up. The Scottish crowd cheered Thomson s win at the sixteenth, squaring the match. Ferrier's tee shot went away out over the railway, leaving a difficult approach at tho dreaded road hole. His second was through the green across the road three vards from the wall. His third hit the side of the green and fell back', but be got up with the next. , Thomson, .seeing his opponent's ditfiJcultios, played with extreme caution, dribbling up his putt, holed a desperate six-yarder, but Thompson missed a short putt and the hole, which appeared hi the Scotsman's pocket, was halved in fives. Thomson missed another short putt at the eighteenth, which was halved in fours and the round ended square. The figures in were : Thomson: 53444 445 4. Ferrier: 4 3 3 4 7 5 5 5 4. SECOND ROUND OPENS The conditions were still unpleasant at the start of the second round. 'The crowds by now stretched from the tee to green' and dashed wildly forward alter each shot. The. stewards and a lew police wen; unable to control them. The match was resumed with three hakes in par figures. Thomson took the fourth and halved the fifth, in which liis approach hit a spectator in the l>a<-k and he missed a putt by about, a van . It, was now raining and 1 blowing hard, but (lie golf was marvellous and Die best ever seen in a final. A \ IST"IIALIAN 'S COUR AGfi Thomson was slightly superior at ci rtain stages, but Ferrier's courage ami coolness-- repeatedly saved him. From (he sixth to the ninth, Thomson delighted the crowd with magnificent golf. He ran down a 4vd. putt at the sixth for a birdie three, taking the lead.Ferrier missing a 3ft. putt. The seventh was halved. Thomson became two up as a result- nl a beautiful second at, the eighth, the ninth was halved. Tho figures out were: — Thomson :44445343 4.

Ferrier: 4 4 4 5 544 44. \fter halving the tenth, Ferrier was beautifully on the green with his tee shot at the eleventh and won the hole in three. The twelfth and thirteenth were halved. Thomson's brilliantly accurate approach gave him the fourteenth in four. Both missed putts at the fifteenth, which was halved in four. Thomson bunkered his tee shot, at the sixteenth, but recovered well and holed a 3yd. putt for a half and was then dormy two. Thomson playing for safety, was short with his second approaching the seventeenth. Ferrier, going out. courageously for shots, reached the green in two, winning the hole. MASTERLY MASHfE At the last hole. Thomson outdrove Ferrier by fully 15 yards and then settled the issue with a masterly mashie shot, which came to rest six inches from the hole amid cheers from the multitude. Ferrier's ball was six yards from the hole. He tried a putt and then rushed forward and heartily shook hands with his victor. The figures in were:—

, Thomson: 1, -1, 4,4, 1,4, 4, ;">, .".. Ferrier: 4, .'!, I, 4. ft, 4, 4. 4, 4. The match was the finest final ever play at St. Andrews for the amateur championship. The quality of the golf was unequalled and the dramatic finish unsurpassed. Thomson's father, who is a golf professional and who refused to watch the last few shots, was among the first to congratulate his son.

ferrier told the Associated Press: "That'sail right. It has'been a.great game. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My put ting let, me down.'' Thomson, cool and collected as if going out for the firsl round, said he was glad he had won the cup for Scotland after 10 years.