GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 21361, 6 April 1931, Page 8

GOLF

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES MASTERS AND A. THOM IN FINAL DICK MEETS MEREDITH The Southland amateur goU championship tournament was continued at Otatara on Saturday when the first rounds and semi finals of the senior and junior championships, a . bogey match and a medal match were played. Although for the greater part of the day the sUri shone a stiff breeze- made conditions trying. Nevertheless -some . excellent performances were recorded. In the Southland championship C. A. Masters, the holder, and A. Thom, the Queen’s Park champion, have won their way to the final. The junior championship finalists are J. S. Dick and G. B. Meredith, both of the Invercargill Club. The bogey match played in the morning w r as won' by C: A. Masters' who, in spite of his handicap of plus' 1, finished three up. The inedal match played in the afternoon was won by E. M. Russell, whose excellent round of 88 less the handicap of 19 gave him a net score of 69, which was 6 better than any other score. Play in the Championship. Masters was right on his game against Barnett, who had to be content with halving five holes and losing the rest, the holder winning 8 up at the eleventh. He played out the round for which he took 74 and first place in the bogey match. Pigou played good golf in his match against Stacey Walker. The Tuatapere man was having trouble with his tee shots and went under 5-up arid 4to play. Although Thom was expected ■ to beat Deal, it was not anticipated that the margin would be as great as 6 and 4. Whereas Thom was right on his game Deal was a bit off, the result being never in doubt. O’Dowda’s chances, after his excellent qualifying rounds, were favoured against Fordyce, but the latter’s greater match experience told and he won an interesting match 2 up. In the semi-final Masters had a decisive win from Pigou, the holder again being very consistent. Thom and Fordyce were playing much below the form they displayed in the morning. Thom was dormy one and managed to win the last hole to finish 2 up. The Juniors. Dick maintained the good form he showed in the qualifying rounds and defeated A. E. Smith 4 and 2. Earl created a surprise when he eliminated Cooke, the sole survivor of the St. Clair players. The Lumsden representative played good golf, but Cooke scarcely did himself justice. Meredith and Davies had a keen struggle, the former being 1 up after an exciting finish. J. Thom signalized his first participation in competitive golf by defeating Mcllarg 5 and 3. It was a very good performance on the part of the Queen’s Park player. Dick had an easy win against Earl in the semi-final, but Meredith and Thom had a great fight, the former finishing 1 up. The detailed results of the matches are as follows: — SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round. C. A. Masters beat P. B. Barnett (Wyndham) 8 up and 7 to play. N. G. Pigou beat S. Walker (Tuatapere) 5 up and 4 to play. A. Thom (Queen’s Park) beat J. R. Deal (Queen’s Park) 6 up and 4 to play. W. Fordyce (Queen’s Park) beat M. O’Dowda 2 up. Semi-Finals. Masters beat Pigou 6 up and 5 to play. Thom beat Fordyce 2 up. The final, which is over 36 holes, will be played to-day. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round. J. S. Dick beat A. E. Smith 4 up and 2 to play. A. J. Earl (Lumsden) ’ beat S. G. Cooke (St. Clair) 3 up arid 2 to play. G. B. Meredith beat C. J. Davies 1 up. J. Thom (Queen’s Park) beat G. J. McHarg' 5 up and 3 to play. Semi-Finals. Dick beat Earl 7 up and 5 to play. . Meredith' beat Thom 1 up. The final, over 36 holes, will be played to-day. BOGEY MATCH. The bogey match played in the morning resulted as follows: C. A. Masters (plus 1) 3 up. O. G. Gilmour (Queen’s Park) (18) 2 up. J. Thom (Queen’s Park) (15)-1 up. D. Cochrane (8) all sat-are. W. A. Service (22) 1 down. MEDAL MATCH.... The best cards in the" medal match played in-the afternoon were: E. M. Russell 88 —19—69 C. G. Davey 87—12 —75 W. A. Service 98—22—76 S. Walker 88—10 —78 BOGEY MATCHES TO-DAY. This morning a four-ball bogey match will be played arid this afternoon a single bogey. Post entries will be accepted for both.