GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 21127, 5 July 1930, Page 18

GOLF

(By

“Cleek.”)

LEADING FIXTURES. July 10 etc. — American Open Championat Carnoustie. , August 25— England v. Scotland, Boys’ International match, at Fulwell. September 9 —Australian Championships at Oakleigh, Melbourne. September 10—12.—Girls’ Championship at Stoke Poges. September 16-23— Ladies’ Championships at Heretaunga. September 22 etc. — American Amateur Championship at Merion Cricket Club, Philadelphia. October 24—-November I —New Zealand Championships, Palmerston North.

Stroke handicap on tile Park to-day. Medal match will be played at Otatara this afternoon.

Ayson Shield now reposes in the ladies’ pavilion at the Park. American open championship commences at Interlachen, Michigan on Thursday next. The last Holloway Shield match played no the Park to-date was won by R. T. Barnett, who defeated J. C. Kirkland one up.

First qualifying round Queen’s Park Club’s championship will be concluded today. Second round on Wednesday and Saturday next.

A bogey foursomes match has been set down for decision at Otatara next Saturday. Players will be required to arrange their own partners and fours. The second round of the ladies’ bogey eclectic match for Mrs Hall-Jones’ prize was played on Tuesday at Otatara, the winner of the trophy being found in Miss Henderson.

On Saturday, July 19, a team from the Invercargill Golf Club will travel to Dunedin to play a match with the St. Clair Club.

Players setting out to contest the L.G.U. match at Otatara on Thursday found themselves confronted by a very heavy course and the scores suffered accordingly. Miss Henderson won the senior division match and Miss Lawrence won the junior. At time of writing these notes the Queen’s Park course was in a very heavy state, casual water lying about on several portions. Should the weather not improve in the near future the committee would do well to adopt the teeing-up rule until better conditions prevail. The Invercargill Club is to lose a valuable member in the near future in the person of Mr T. R. Abercrombie who has been transferred on promotion to be manager of the National Bank at Riverton. “Aber” will, it is hoped, remain on the membership roll as a country member in which case he will not be entirely lost to his many friends at Otatara. The new Dunlop ball was given a sensational baptism at the recent Roehampton professional tournament, where it was not only played by the winner (Mark Seymour) and the runner-up (Fred Robson) but in the following individual rounds— R. Whitcombe (Record) 64, Gus. Faulkner 65, T. 11. Cotton 67, Fred Robson 67 and W. T. Twine 67. The course records were twice broken with the ball, which was played by twelve out of the sixteen who qualified, eleven out of the last twelve and all semi-finalists. The first of two annual matches for the Ayson Shield was played in the Park on Saturday and resulted in a comfortable win for the ladies. Of the nineteen games played, eleven were won by the ladies and six by the men, the remaining two games finishing all square. The ladies received a stroke at the fives and half a stroke at the remaining holes. Gratification was expressed by the captain of the Queen’s Park Club at the keenness with which the young players turned out to take part in the Ayson Shield match on Saturday. Without any communication every man turned up, while their lady opponents were every bit as keen. The second match will be played towards the end of the season.

While making full allowance for the unseasonable golfing weather of late, the Queen’s Park committee requests that the Holloway Shield matches be pushed ahead as quickly as possible. The championship qualifying rounds are now under way so every effort should be made to dispose of the Shield matches at an early date.

During the past few months informal bogey matches have been played at Otatara on ‘off” days, entrance fees going to the club’s general fund. It has now been decided to increase the number of these matches, one to be played on every playing day when no regulation club fixture is being decided and that the receipts be set aside as a nucleus of a fund for bunkering the course. It has been suggested that a special competition of this kind be played once each month with a somewhat larger entrance fee and, of course, with a better prize. Members who compete in these matches will have the satisfaction of knowing that the best part of their entrance fee will be devoted to an improvement in the course desired by all. A party of ten players from Riverton were guests at Otatara on Wednesday afternoon. Four-ball matches were played and a most enjoyable afternoon’s golf resulted in a win for the home team by four matches to one. Mr. Banks, the Riverton captain, showed really good form while Mr F. Rouse demonstrated that for consistent long driving he has few equals on the local links. Mr Doig, on behalf of the Invercargill Club, expressed the club’s appreciation of the visit and voiced the hope that a more regular interchange of visits could be arranged. Mr Banks, in reply, thanked the club members for their hospitality and stated that his club were looking forward to the return game at Riverton. This match has been fixed for July 30, and Wednesday players are asked to make a note of the date.

AN EXCITING MATCH INVERCARGILL CLUB’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. TRYING WEATHER CONDITIONS. Conditions, underfoot and overhead, could hardly have been worse for the playing of the Invercargill Golf Club’s senior championship final at Otatara last week-end. The two old rivals, C. A. Masters and J. A. Mangan, were expected to provide their usual tnrilling finish and in this they did not disappoint the hardy “gallery” that accompanied them. As stated before, the conditions were atrocious and considering that Masters had been on the sick list and Mangan was recovering from an attack of influenza, the standard of golf was very fair. At one stage Mangan was dormy 3, but Masters staged a wonderful recovery, taking the next two holes, to eventually acknowledge defeat on the 36 green. His putt at the 35 th provided the tit-bit of the match—a 12ft putt down a slight slope on a wind-swept green to keep himself in the match. He took his time and studied the line well and the ball never looked like missing. It was a great effort. Mangan, as was to be expected, took his win most modestly. He played steady golf near and on the greens and it was this which gave him victory. His driving seemed to have improved—he seemed to be driving about 20 yards better than last year—while his irons were as accurate as ever. His fine match temperament was still in evidence, and stood him in good stead in a trying match under difficult conditions. Masters frittered away his chances on and round the greens. His indisposition was probably to blame for this, as weather conditions usually make little difference to his chips and putts —in fact he prefers a holding green. He holed only one longish putt in the two rounds and he must have missed a dozen under oft—usually sitters for him. His chips in the afternoon were far below his usual standard. The driving was consistently good on both sides, while both did some nice work through the fairways The Match Described. Both got fair drives at the first, but Mangan hooked his second into the rough, while Masters put a nice brassie 10yds short of the green. Mangan then incurred a penalty, his third dropping into the ditch. He laid his fifth dead but Masters took the hole with a five. At the Elbow both had nice tee shots, Masters finding the rough over the hill. A nice iron put Mangan a couple of yards through the green while Masters’ niblick found the left edge. Masters putted past the pin but Mandan with a delightful chip found the tin for a birdie three.—All square. Long Tom: Good drives again, followed by nice seconds. Mangan’s mashie finished on the rise at the back of the green. Masters’ niblick—a perfect shot —was only 6 feet from the pin. A nice chip gave Mangan a chance for a 5 and he made no mistake. Masters took 2 putts for a half in s’s. The Ridge: Both had good drives but Mangan’s iron from a doubtful lie found the face of the hill, while Masters put a nice mashie on the right edge of the green, to win with a nice 4. —Masters 1 up. Club House: Both hit screamers and got down in bogey 4’s, Mangan holiug a sft putt for the half. Tepuki: Masters’ drive was pushed out on the Ridge fairway just over the ditch. Mangan was straight, but he pulled his brassie to the rough 30yds short of the green. Masters, from a hanging lie, failed to pick his second up cleanly and was 50yds short, but he placed his next on the green near the pin, while Mangan from a bad lie pust got the edge. Mangan took 3 putts, Masters winning with a 5. —Masters

2 up. Dardanelles: Masters’ tee shot was syds short; Mangan’s pin high just off the right edge. Masters’ chip left him a 6ft putt which he missed, but Mangan laid his chip dead for a three.—Masters 1 up. Eastward Ho: Mangan had the better drive which he followed with a nice brassie to the right of the green. Masters failed to connect with his second —his brassie work was not up to the mark for a few holes—and his niblick left him short. Mangan’s chipped' to 15ft from the pin but took 3 putts and Masters got a lucky half in 6.

East Neuk: Mangan put a nice tee shot just short of the green on the left. Masters pushed his out to Taipo fairway, but a perfect niblick left him 4ft from the pin. Mangan duffed hi.s chip but made amends by holing a nice 12ft putt for a 3; Masters missed. —All square.

Taipo was halved in bogey 3’s both being well on the green from the tee. The Knolls: Mangan pulled his drive to the rough in front of the shed, while Masters pushed a long shot to the rough on the right. Mangan made a good recovery from a very bad lie. Masters ventured a brassie which he duffed. Mangan’s third, a No. 2 iron, finished 15ft from the pin. Masters niblicked to the left of the green, pin high. A chip and a putt gave him a 5 for a half, Mangan’s first putt just missing the cup. —All square. Pancake: Mangan’s tee shot was syds through, Masters gaining an advantage with a nice shot to within 15ft of the pin. Mangan’s chip was well past the pin and Masters’ put lipped the hole and laid him a half-stymie which he failed to negotiate.— Masters 1 up. The Rushes: Both hit lovely drives to within 20yds of the ditch. Mangan’s brassie finished just short of the fence. Master’s ball had been played in mistake by a player who had sliced from the Longwoods tee. This player retrieved the ball, which, when droped rolled into the divot mark. Mangan requested that another drop be made. Masters half duffed his brassie, put his niblick 10yds through, but hud his chip dead for a 5. Mangan's mashie-nib-lick was nicely on and two putts gave him the half.

Schoolhouse was halved in 3’s, Masters taking 2 putts while Mangan chipped up dead from just off the left edge of the green. Dunnes Road: Both hit nice drives, Masters’ being pushed out a little. Beautiful mashies put both on the green—Masters inside. These mashies were two of the finest shots in the match. Mangan’s putt was feeble, being cut, and rolled away from the pin. Masters’ putt lipped the hole and laid Mangan a half stymie which he just failed to negotiate.—Masters 2 up. The Nest and Ixmgwoods were halved in 4 and 5 respectively, Masters missing a sft putt for the win at Longwoods. The Pines: Mangan played the hole in perfect style, following a splendid drive with a beauty to within 10ft of the pin. He just missed an “eagle” 3, but Masters missing a 6ft putt gave him a win in 4, to finish the morning round 1 down. Masters 78. Mangan 79. Sound golf but not brilliant. Considering that the tee shots had been consistently good, both might have been a few strokes better. Afternoon Round. Despite the boisterous weather the gallery had increased to quite a fair number, numerous members of the fair sex being among the spectators when the players set out. on the second round. Mangan started badly, for after having the better drive and the better second he missed an 18-inch putt to give Masters a win in 5. —Masters 2 up. Neither played The Elbow well, Mangan’s second being to the left of the green and Masters’ to the right. Masters had a 3ft putt dor a win, but the ball stopped on the lip. Long Tom was really well played. Both hit screaming drives and good seconds. Mangan put his third just through, while Masters’ niblick was pin high just off the left. His chip was 4ft past the pin. Mangan’s chip just missed the cup. Masters holed for a half in s’s. The Ridge: Both opened their shoulders to go well over the ditch, Masters in the rough to the right. Mangan mashied to the right edge of the green, but Masters’ second hit the top of the hill and rolled back. He rushed his third and duffed it but ran his next well up to the pin.

Mangan then provided a tit-bit for the gallery by holing out for a “birdie'’ 3. — Masters 1 up.. Club Hous?: Both again hit screamers. Mangan put his second nicely on but Masters fluffed his niblick, then ran his third through to the back of the green. Mangan’s approach putt was bad—4rt off the line—but he made amends by holing his next for a win in 4. Masters was unlucky, his putt from the edge went into the cup but kicked out again.—All square. Tepuki: Two great drives put both well over the ditch, 'then, despite a driving rain squall—the worst of the day—Mangan played his finest shot in the match, a slashing iron, to the edge of the green. Masters failed to connect with his iron, fluffed his niblick, was short with his chip and Mangan had a comfortable win with a very tine 4. Mangan 1 up for the first time in the match.

Masters quickly squared the match again with a 3 at Dardanelles, his chip lipping the hole. Mangan’s approach, played from the rough against the boundary fence, left him a long putt which he missed. Both again hit screamers at Eastward Ho, Masters following with a peach of a brassie which put him pin high a few yards to the right of the green. Mangan, from an awkward lie, did not connect cleanly with his second, and he put his approach syds through. Masters had an excellent chance for a 4 and a win but his chip was feeble and his 6ft putt just missed. Mangan’s chip was too strong but he holed a 7 footer for the half in 5. Masters’ drive at East Neuk was extraordinary, going right through the fence at the back of the green. He elected to play it and niblicked to the edge of the green. However he took 3 putts and Mangan, who had followed a pin high drive with a perfect chip, won with a “birdie” 3 which put him one up again. Misfortune befel Masters at the next hole, Taipo, where Mangan laid him a most perfect stymie, being practically on the lip.—Mangan 2 up. Neither got good drives at The Knolls, Mangan being too high, while Masters’ found the roueh on the left. Masters made a good recovery with an iron, but Mangan’s brassie was only fair. Masters was short with his third, but Mangan put a perfect approach 2ft from the pin—a nice shot. Masters chipped to within 3ft of the pin but missed the putt and Mangan won with a “birdie” 4. —Mangan 3 up.

The position was looking serious for Masters, and he did not improve it at The Pancake where he missed a 6ft putt for a win in 3.

The Rushes saw Masters waste another chance when he missed a 4ft putt for a “birdie” 4 and the win, after playing two nice woods and a good chip. Mangan made a great recovery, his second landing in a tussock. Only a perfect chip enabled him to get his 5 and the half. Mangan was just through the green at Schoolhouse from the tee, Masters only a few feet from the pin. Mangan chipped to within 2ft, and, when Masters missed with his putt, it looked like a half, but Mangan also missed to leave him 2 up and 4 to play. Both had fair drives at Dunnes Road, Masters pushing his out a little. Masters’ mashie fell just short of the bunker while Mangan was well, on the green. Master's chip was too strong and Mangan holed out in 4 to make him dormy- 3. The most- confident of Masters’ supporters had now lost all hope, but, quite undaunted, he staged a most wonderful recovery, following a good drive with a perfect approach l-o within sft of the pin. Mangan pushed his second to the right of the green and ran his mashie up the left side of the green to run back to the pin. The shot was nicely judged but was held up by a sodden patch 4ft from the pin. Both had to putt across heel marks, really difficult putts, and both missed, Masters winning with a 4 and leaving Mangan dormy 2. A heavy driving rain met the players when they stepped on to Longwoods tee, but despite this both got good drives. Mangan, from a very close lie, failed to connect cleanly with his second, finishing just short of the fence by the stile. He dropped without penalty and put a nice aproach 15ft from the pin. Masters connected nicely with his iron and was pin high to the left of the green. His approach was too strong, running 12ft past the pin and on putting form it looked as if the match was over, but golf is the most uncertain of games, and, after Mangan just failed to hole out, Masters carefully studying the line, despatched a perfect putt which found the cup and gave him a sporting chance for the match. A very gallant effort which the gallery were quick to appreciate. With Mangan dormy one, excitement was now intense, and the filthy weather completely forgotten. Mangan drove a nice ball from the last tee—not quite his best—but found a sticky lie on the edge of a divot hole. He did not connect cleanly with his iron, his shot being 40yds short, and Masters, who had hit a screamer to the top of the ridge, looked to have the hole in his pocket. His ball was buried and the drop gave him a good lie, which he failed to take advantage of, topping badly. Mangan played a sweet approach, a clean, bold shot which went just through. Masters, after much thought, decided to run his approach up. It was a risky shot on a sodden fairway, but, as Mangan seemed to have a certain five, and a half was no good to Masters, he was justified in taking the chance. His direction was perfect but he was not quite strong enough, his ball finishing on the top edge of the green. His putt, played in driving rain, was a shade strong and finished sft past the pin. Mangan chipped 3ft past, Masters missed his putt, and though Mangan also missed, the hole was halved ami Mangan had won a memorable match t up.

Choice of Golf Ball makes the game. The British Amateur Golf Championship was played with Spalding “Kro-flite” Golf Ball. Uniformity in manufacture means uniformity in flight. Spalding’s “Kro-flite” Golf Ball. Obtainable at all Sports Dealers.—Advt.