GOLF.

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 18

GOLF.

(By

“Cleek.”)

The playing of the senior championship final of the Queen’s Park Club has been hanging fire for a long time and it is to be hoped an effort will be made to-day to settle the issue.

With the playing of the A grade championship final the* golfing season as far as the local clubs are concerned will have been completed. The next competition will be the Summer Cup competition and when the entries become due it is expected a large number will have announced their intention to take the field. Players can rest assured that the conditions at Otatara will be all that the heart of a golfer could desire. Otatara is at its best in the summer time and some excellent cards should be returned in this popular competition. In the German open golf championship there was not a solitary native-born player who got a place. The event was won by Percy Allis, an Englishman. Aubrey Boomer, a Frenchman, was second, T. A. Torrance, another Englishman, was third, while fourth place went to G. Pannal, of Ostend. Local knowledge was apparently no use to the German champions. The boys’ golf “international” between England and Scotland brought out some wonders this year. R. M. Alston was one of the most impressive youngsters. A marked feature of his play was the accuracy with which he hit his iron and mashie shots. Timmis, an English lad, gave an indication of his ability at the fifth hole at Coombe. The hole is 450 yards long, and all up-hill to a plateau-like green. Timmis was a little in the rough off his drive, but hitting a terrific second he finished stone dead and got a three. The most pronounced instance of precocity stands to the credit of John Ball, who, at the age of 15, finished sixth in the “Open” of 1878. His score for the 36 holes was 165, and he was only eight strokes behind the winner. Young Ball beat such famous professionals as Tom Morris and Willie Park, and it is considered very likely that had the amateur championship existed at that time he would have won it repeatedly. The innovation of charging "gates” for the amateur and open golf championships has proved a rare success in England and is’ an indication of the great interest taken in competitive golf these days. A profit of £625 was gained in the amateur at Muirfield, and £950 as a result of the “open” at St. Anne’s. How to spend the profits of these “gates” has aroused a good deal of discussion. One proposal favourably received was to select such masters as Braid, Verdon, and Taylor—giving them a roving commission to travel the British Isles in search of promising talent. It was proposed these ambassadors of golf should treat the youthful amateur and professional alike and concentrate for an appreciable time on the improvement of their game. There is a very earnest desire in England to regain their lost position as leaders in the golf world.

At Waikouaiti on Labour Day the annual competition for the Ballymoney Cup was carried through. The weather was ideal and there was a large and representative entry. The sporting little course was in very good order and the day’s golf was greatly enjoyed by all. The Cup was won by G. L. Cuthbertson (Oamaru) with a score of 74 from scratch. T. D. Adams, 80—4—76, was second. The four ball bogey in the * afternoon was won by H. Salmon and Dr. McMillan who finished 4 up, while G. L. Cuthbertson and H. Richards, 3 up, were second. As usual the competitors were hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs W. F. Edmond at afternoon tea, after which the prizes were presented and the visitors gave expression to their appreciation of the day’s golf and of Mr. and Mrs. Edmond and the Waikouaiti Golf Club.

The Miramar course was in great order for the New Zealand championship tournament, thanks to extraordinary luck with the weather. Three or four days before the opening day the outlook was anything but cheerful. A great deal of rain had fallen and the course was so soft that the cutters could not be put on. The grass was growing on greens and fairways and if not cut would obviously make conditions unfavourable for the opening of the championship. Just at the right time the weather cleared, the course dried rapidly, the mowers got to work, and in forty-eight hours Miramar was transformed. It presented a picture to delight any golfer’s heart. Fairways and greens were beautifully grassed and cut to perfection. It was a pleasure merely to walk over the course, and in the glorious weather which prevailed throughout the tournament the Committee responsible for the preparation of the course were amply rewarded for the time and labour they had lavished on the work. The Miramar Club is to be congratulated on the course provided for the championship, in respect both of the layout of the holes, which thoroughly tested the competitors, and of the condition of the fairways and greens.

The matches in the New Zealand amateur championship at Miramar illustrated the variations whjch are the peculiar characteristic of the game, even where players of the first class are concerned. For instance B. V. Wright, the Timaru youth who undoubtedly has a golfing future before him, produced his best game against Hector Morrison, amateur champion of New South Wales. Wright played fine golf throughout the match and it was a feather in his cap to beat Morrison, even though Morrison was not at his best. But Wright was nob the same player in his next match, in which his opponent was T. H. Horton. He did not reel off par figures with the same consistency and was obviously not so sure of his shots, either from the tee or through the green. On the other hand Horton played his best game against Wright, and on the following day, when he met Arthur Duncan, was several strokes worse for each half. Rana Wagg, the young Hutt player, played fine golf against Kapi Tareha up to the thirty-fourth hole, where the match stood all square. Then he completely duffed his tee shot at the thirty-fifth, and repeated the performance at the thirtysixth like any novice. The mechanism of the golf shot is a delicate and tricky thing, and even with the best some little thing is liable to go wrong at any time. From start to finish of the tournament the most consistent player was Arthur Duncan, the ultimate winner of the amateur championship. The two features of the New Zealand championship tournament at Miramar were the victory of Arthur Dunean in the amateur championship and the failure of Dr. Ross to win the open championship when he had- it in his grasp. Duncan’s win was universally popular. By common agreement the best player the game has yet produced in the Dominion, Duncan won his first amateur championship as long ago as 1899 and now ranks among the veterans of golf in New Zealand. This year, as it happened, the tournament found him in better health than he has enjoyed for some years, and his game is so sound that despite the difference in age he outplayed his younger opponents and won the championship for the tenth time. In winning Duncan wiped off some old scores. J. L. Black, the Hutt player, had beaten him once or twice in inter-club fixtures but had to strike his colours to the veteran in the championship T. H. Horton, the Masterton crack, had a runaway victory over Duncan in the final of the amateur championship at Shirley last year. The Duncan he met in the semifinal at Miramar this year was more like the real Duncan and Horton was decisively eliminated- Human nature beinx what it

I is, there must have been a certain amount of satisfaction to Duncan, who is the kindliest and most generous of opponents, in impressing upon players who had previously beaten him the fact that he is not yet a “back number.” With three open championships and ten amateur championships to his credit Duncan has a record that Js unique in national golf, and players throughout the Dominion will hope that the tale of his successes is not finished yet. As to Dr. Ross, the probability is that he is still wondering how he managed to take 45 for the last nine holes of the open championship. With two brilliant rounds of 74 Ross headed the field on the first day. His third round was 80, but he was still on top and when he played the first half of the last round in a faultless 35 it looked to be all over bar shouting. Probably if anybody had told Ross at that stage that he could not cover the last nine holes in 42 strokes Ross would have been prepared to stake his medical diploma on it. Yet he needed 45. Even then with three holes to go three /fives (simple fives for a player of his calibre) would have given him a win, but the figures that went down on the card were 5, 6 and 7. And all the strokes were lost on the greens. There was nothing wrong with his long game, but from ten or twelve yards from the hole he simply could not get into the cup in less than three strokes. Ross was unfortunate in that the player he was drawn with had given up and he had nothing to play up to, but even so his break-down was extraordinary. Of course the same thing has happened before. J. H. Kirkwood, for instance, had the British open won a few years ago and literally threw it away in the last few holes. Macdonald Smith did the same thing. The story of golf championships is full of such experiences, but that doesn’t make them any easier to explain or to bear. Had he won, Ross’s victory would have been enormously popular, but it was not to be. In fact Ross's luck was right out, for in the first round of the amateur championship J. C. Bidwell, who had just squeezed into the last qualifying place, played the game of his life and relegated Ross to the spectators’ gallery. It was hard, very hard, but Ross has plenty of golf ahead of him and golfers will wish him better luck next time. His 74’s were not equalled *in the championship and he won the Jellicoe Cup for the best round played. The last match of the season, a flag match, was played by members of the Invercargill Ladies’ Club on Thursday, the course being in a very heavy state. The match was won by Miss M. Gilkison, who finished in the 18th green with two strokes to spare and with a score entitling her to a reduction in handicap from 36 to 29. Thursday next has been set aside by the members of the Invercargill Ladies’ Club as the closing day of the 1926 season. Foursomes will be played in the morning and the usual driving, approaching and putting competitions will be held after luncheon. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. A HARD-FOUGHT FINAL. A gallery of over 200 followed Mrs Dodgshun and Mrs Kerr in the final of the Otago Ladies’ championship and they were treated to a thrilling contest, the issue being in doubt right up to the last green. Mis Kerr drove the first ball of die match but was outdistanced by Mrs Dodgshun, who hit a long ball against the wind. This performance was repeated with their second shots and then Mrs Kerr placed a beauty right alonside the pin, Mrs Dodgshun being on the green but short. Mrs Kerr failed to sink her putt and the hole was halved in bogey s’s. The second hole was taken in bogey 4 by Mrs Kerr and the third also went to the Timaru player in 4 to her opponent’s 5. Mrs Dodgshun laid her tee shot nicely on the green at the 4th and taking the regulation number of putts secured the hole to Mrs Kerr’s 4. Mrs Kerr got away a good drive and then a better second but was short with her third through a mis-hit. Mrs Dodgshun drove a long ball, topped her second and was too strong with her third. Faulty work near the green caused Mrs Kerr’s downfall and the hole was halved in 6’s —Mrs Kerr 1 up. The next was halved in bogey 4’s and the 7th in bogey s’s. The Bth. green found them level in strokes, Mrs Kerr having a 10 ft putt for a win in bogey 4. This she sank and went on the 9th tee two up. Both got away well with their drives but could not reach the green with their seconds. Mrs Kerr over-ran the hole with her third but Mrs Dodgshun was a yard from the cup. Both missed their putts and the hole was halved in s’s, the Timaru player turning for home two up. Mrs Dodgshun was on the edge of the green with her midiron at the 10th but her second was too strong and the hole was halved in 4. The 11th hole was won by Mrs Kerr with an excellent 6 against a strong cross wind. This hole is 470 yards—Mrs Kerr 3 up. The next hole went to Mrs Kerr in bogey 4. The next hole also went to the Timaru player who was now 5 up. Mrs Dodgshun was just off the green with her tee shot at the 14th while Mrs Kerr was to the right. Mrs Dodgshun ran up nicely, leaving herself a foot putt for a 3. This went down to Mrs Kerr’s bogey 4. Both were on the green in 3 at the next, Mrs Dodgshun requiring to sink a long putt. This over-ran the hole while Mrs Kerr’s putt was short. Mrs Dodgshun missed a short putt, Mrs Kerr in bogey s—Mrs Kerr 5 up. Both played good drives and seconds at the 16th. Mrs Kerr was too strong with her third while Mrs Dodgshun nearly holed out with. hers. She made no mistake with her putt and reduced her opponent’s lead to 4. The 17th was halved in .par 4’s and then the players drove off for the last hole of the morning round. Good drives, seconds, and thirds found them with putting distance and again the Otago player was first to find the cup. Mrs Kerr 3 up. Going out after lunch both players were unsettled and Mrs Kerr finally took the hole with a long putt in 6—Mrs Kerr 4 up. Another half was recorded at the 20th and then Mrs Dodgshun struck trouble and had to surrender the hole to Mrs Kerr who was down in 5. Mrs Dodgshun was on the edge of the green in one at the short 22nd and then took 4 to go out. Mrs Kerr also putted badly and the hole was halved. Mrs Kerr who had played too good strokes was weak in her approach and putt shots and Mrs Dodgshun who had made a brilliant recovery after getting into the boundary fence with her tee shot, took the hole in 5 to Mrs Kerr’s 6. Both had good drives at the 24th. Mrs Dodgshun was short with her second and again with her third, Mrs Kerr being through with her third. The hole was halved in 5. At the Glen Mrs Kerr played brilliantly against a head wind to reach the green in 2. Mrs Dodgshun’s second pitched on ajid ran past the pin. Her third, a long putt, failed to find the tin. Mrs Kerr sank a beautiful 20 ft putt to win in 3 Mrs Kerr 5 up. Mrs Dodgshun made no mistake at the next. She was pin high with her iron off the tee and the regulation number of putts gave her par 3. At the 29th Mrs Dodgshun topped both her tee and second shots. Mrs Kerr’s drive found the rough to the right but she made a good recovery and played an excellent third. Mrs Dodgshun was on in 5 but missed the putt and Mrs Kerr took the hole—Mrs Kerr 5 up. Both were on the green in two at the next, long'putts being required to find the hole. Mrs Dodgshun played safe and took the honour with 4. Mrs Kerr 4 up. Mrs Dodgshun had the longer drive at the ' 31st but her second was mishit and found the water channel. Mrs Kerr found trouble with her second and incurred a penalty. Her fourth and fifth were short. Mrs Dodgshun was on the green in 4 and down in Mrs Kerr 3 up. Two beautiful tee hots found both players on the green. Both putted badly under the strain and the hole was 1 halved in 4. Good drives were made from the 33rd tee. Mrs Kerr topped her second 1 but recovered well and found the green with her third. Mrs Dodgshun was also on in 3. She sang a 6 ft putt and took the hole ; in 4 to Mrs Kerr’s bogey 5. Mrs Kerr 2 up and 3 to play. Mrs Dodgshun got away 1 a good drive Mrs Kerr being short. She played a nice second and third and they 1 were level pegging as far as distance goes ‘ with Mrs Dodgshun one stroke to the good. ' M* Dodgshun was short in her approach and Mrs Kerr too strong. The regulation ‘ number of putts gave Mrs Dodgshun a win and they stepped on the 36th tee with ; Mrs Kerr donzde 1. Both pUjsers were

on in 2, with Mrs Kerr in the better position. Mrs Dodgshun’s approach putt was short and she missed her next. Mrs Kerr was down in 5 and the match ended with Mrs Kerr 1 up.