GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 21362, 7 April 1931, Page 8

GOLF

TOURNEY CONCLUDED C. A. MASTERS RETAINS TITLE J. S. DICK JUNIOR CHAMPION The Southland amateur ' championship tournament was’concluded at Otatara'yesterday in bright sunshine'and Under highly' favourable golfing conditions. As on the preceding days the course was in excellent order. (J. A. Masters retained the Amateur Sports Trust Cup by defeating' A; Thom, the Queen’s Park champion, in an ‘ interesting match in which good form was shown by both competitors. Masters, with a greatround of 74, was 5 up at the end of themorning’s play, but in the afternoon’Thom played splendidly and more than held his own, but he had to acknowledge -defeat at the fifteenth, Masters-then being'4 up with 3 to play. J. S. Dick, who throughout the tournament played most consistently, annexed the junior championship by defeating- G. B. Meredith 8 up and 7 to play. The game was more even than the score indicates, for until Meredith slumped near the finish both were playing well up to the standard seen in previous junior championships. Dick completed the second round for the excellent total of 82. A four-ball bogey match was won by the Tuatapere pair, Mangan' and Walker, and a single bogey match was won by D. Cochrane. At the conclusion of play the president of the Invercargill Golf Club, Mr Eustace Russell, presented the trophies won during the tournament. He expressed the committee’s appreciation of the large entries that had been received. The St. Clair players had again freely patronized the tournament, much to the committee’s gratification. There had also been an excellent entry from the Queen’s Park Club and several country clubs were represented. Mr Russell said he felt sure there would be a much closer relationship between the Invercargill and Queen’s Park Clubs in future. He warmly congratulated Mr A. Thom on being the runner-up for the championship and on playing such fine golf in the final. In Mr C. A. Masters he was opposed by a plus one player, a player of machine-like precision. To be beaten only 4 and 3 was a great performance. Mr Russell paid a high tribute to Mr Masters’ ability, referring particularly to his amazing feat in finishing 3 up on bogey from a plus one handicap. The president also warmily congratulated Mr J. 8. Dick on his success in the junior championship and prophesied a rosy future for I him in the golfing world. Cheers were given for the champions and the runners-up. The results of yesterday’s play were:— Southland. Championship. C. A. Masters (Invercargill) beat A. Thom (Queen’s Park) 4 up and 3 to play. Both men struck form at the outset, the first hole being halved in 4, which was one under bogey. The Elbow was also halved in 4. At Long Tom, Masters secured a 5 which was one better than Thom's. The next two holes were' halved in 4 and Te Puke was halved in 5. ' It was good golf. Masters made himself 2 up with a 3 at the Dardanelles, for which Thom took 4. Masters also won the eighth hole with 5, Thom taking 6. The ninth was halved in 5. . The Manukas was halved in 4 and the Knolls in 5. Thom, with a brilliant 2 at the Pancake, reduced the holder’s lead, but Masters won the next two holes with a 4 and a 3, one better in each case than Thom. Dunn’s Road was halved in 4. Then Masters made himself 3 up by taking the Rushes with a 4 against Thom’s 5,- which was bogey. Masters won the Schoolhouse with a 3, Thom taking 4. Dunn’s Road, was halved in 4. With a brilliant 3 at the Nest, Masters increased his lead to 5 up and went on to win the Longwoods in 4 against Thom’s 5. The Queen’s Park, player reduced his deficit to 5 down by winning the eighteenth hole in one under bogey. For the 18 holes Masters took. 74 and Thom 80. The afternoon round began as did the morning, with halves at the first two holes. Masters won Long Tom again with a 5. against Thom’s 6, but the Queen's Park player won the Ridge in 4, Masters taking 5. The Outlook was halved in 4 and Te Puke in 5. With a 3 at the Dardanelles Masters led 6 up, but Thom reduced the leeway by winning the Eastward Ho in 5. Taipo was halved in 5 and the Manukas in 5. Thom won the Knolls in 4, Masters taking 5. The next two holes were halved in 3 and 5 respectively. The. Schoolhouse went to Masters with a 3 and the match finished at the 15th hole, which was halved in 4. The 15 holes had taken each player 68 strokes. Junior Championship. J. S. Dick (Invercargill) beat G. B. Meredith (Invercargill) S up and 7 to play. The competitors began rather shakily, Meredith taking 6 and Dick 7 for the first hole. The next was halved, but Meredith made himself 2 up by winning the third in 5 to Dick’s 6. With a 4 at the Ridge and at Club House, Dick squared the maten. By taking the sixth with a 5 he took the lead, but Meredith drew level with a 3 at the Dardanelles. Eastward Ho was halved, but with a brilliant 4 at Taipo, Dick went into the lead. He won the next two holes with s’s, the Pancake was halved and Dick won the Rushes in 5 to Meredith’s 6. The Schoolhouse was halved in 3 and Dunn’s Road in 4. Dick made himself 5 up with a 4 at the Nest. He finished the morning’s play with this lead, the last two holes being halved. Dick took the first hole in the afternoon with a 5 to Meredith’s 6. The next was halved. Meredith, with a nicely played 5 at Long Tom, won the hole, Dick taking 6. The Ridge went to Dick, but Meredith Came to light with a 3 at Club House, this re ducing Dick’s lead to 5 up. Dick won Te Puke in 4, the next two were halved, then Meredith struck a bad patch, losing three holes in succession. This gave Dick the match 8 up and 7 to play. Continuing the round, Dick returned the excellent score of 82. Four-Ball Bogey. The four-ball bogey match played in the morning resulted as follows: — S. Walker and J. A.'Mangan (Tuatapere) 5 up. G. J. McHarg and D. Cochrane 4 up. R. T. Barnett (Queen’s Park) and P. B. Barnett (Wyndham) 4 up. J. Thom arid O. G. Gilmour (Queen’s Park) 4 up. 11. Senimens (Queen’s Park) and N. Pigou 4 up. Single Bogey. The single bogey played in the afternoon resulted: — D. Cochrane (6) 3 up. S. Walker (12) (Tuatapere) 1 up. W. A. Service (22) (Queen’s Park) 1 up.