GOLF TOURNEY

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 6

GOLF TOURNEY

LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP

FINAL WON BY MRS H. M. SMITH INTERESTING MATCH By defeating Mrs McCarthy 2 up in a close and exciting final yesterday, Mrs H. M. Smith won the first ladies’ golf championship of Southland to be played on the Otatara links and gained the distinction of being the first player to have her name inscribed on the handsome cup presented for the event by the Southland Amateur Sports Trust. The match was a fitting conclusion to a very successful tournament. Conditions were not so favourable yesterday as on the first two days, a strong wind proving troublesome; but the finalists did not allow this to disconcert them, the golf being of a very fair standard. Mrs McCarthy began more confidently than Mrs Smith and led 3 up at the fourth hole. Gradually Mrs Smith came on to her game and by the thirteenth she had squared the match. She won the next, to lead for the first time, but, nothing daunted, Mrs McCarthy evened at the fifteenth. Mrs Smith forged ahead again and was dormy one; and by winning the eighteenth she clinched the match. Mrs McCarthy did the first nine holes in 54 and the second in 50. It took Mrs Smith 56 strokes to accomplish the first half, but her golf improved so much coming back that her score was 46. In view of the conditions these figures represent good golf. At the conclusion of play Mi - T. Meredith, chairman of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, presented the cup to the winner. Cheers were given both for Mrs Smith and Mrs McCarthy. It is worthy of mention that on four occasions Mrs Smith has been runnerup for the Invercargill Club championship, this making her victory yesterday all the more popular. A four-ball bogey match played in the morning resulted in a win for Mrs Walter Bews and Miss M. Todd, 2 down, with Mrs T. M. Macdonald and Miss Haggitt second, 3 down. THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The details of the championship matches played yesterday are as follows:— Semi-finals. Mrs P. J. McCarthy defeated Miss Pilcher, 3 and 2. Mrs H. M. Smith defeated Miss Henderson, 1 up. Final. Mrs Smith beat Mrs McCarthy, 2 up. Both had good drives at the start, but foozled their seconds. Mrs McCarthy was on the green in four, but another weak shot by Mrs Smith had her in trouble, the hole going to Mrs McCarthy who took 6 to her opponent’s 7. Mrs Smith duffed her tee shot at the Elbow, Mrs McCarthy’s drive being a good one. The latter was on the green in three to get which distance Mrs Smith took two more strokes. It was Mrs McCarthy’s hole in 5 and she led 2 up. At Long Tom Mrs Smith had the better drive and she held an advantage until her fourth shot went astray. Both were on the green in 6 and both narrowly missed sinking long putts, the hole then being halved in B’s. Again Mrs Smith had the better drive, but again she lost the advantage. It looked as if the hole would be halved, but Mrs McCarthy holed a long putt for a win in 5 against Mrs Smith’s 6. Mrs McCarthy 3 up. The Outlook was halved in s’s. Mrs Smith’s tee shot was the better, but she foozled her second. Mrs McCarthy’s length was not great, but her direction was excellent. Both despatched good drives at Te Puke, but Mrs McCarthy was unlucky enough to get in a sunken drain. She recovered well and was on level terms when with her fourth she laid the ball on the edge of the green. The hole was halved in 6’s. Mrs McCarthy 3 up. The seventh hole saw Mrs Smith on the green in two, whereas Mrs McCarthy’s approach ran through the green. Holing out in 4 Mrs Smith reduced her deficit to’ 2 down. At Eastward Ho Mrs Smith had an excellent drive of 200 yards. Mrs McCarthy pushed her drive on to the knolls to the right and played an indifferent second. Mrs Smith did not connect properly with her second and was slightly through with her third. Mrs McCarthy was two strokes more in getting on terms and lost the hole 5—7. Mrs McCarthy 1 up. At the Manukas both had fair drives and played shot for shot to the green. Mrs McCarthy was a couple of yards nearer the pin with her fourth and Mrs Smith was too strong with her approach putt, Mrs McCarthy winning the hole in 6, to lead 2 up at the turn. At Taipo Mrs Smith hit a great drive, but she let slip her advantage through a poor second. Mrs McCarthy, however, topped her third and Mrs Smith holed out in 5, a stroke better than her opponent. Mrs McCarthy 1 up. The eleventh hole was played right into the teeth of the wind and meant hard slogging all the way. It took Mrs McCarthy 5 to get to the green, and Mrs Smith 6. Maintaining this advantage Mrs McCarthy won the hole in 7 to Mrs Smith’s 8. Mrs McCarthy 2 up. Mrs Smith reached to the green with her tee shot at the Pancake, but Mrs McCarthy was short. Mrs Smith won with 3 to 4. A good first and a good third put Mrs Smith on the green at the Rushes. Mrs McCarthy was just short with her fourth. Mrs Smith’s approach putt was a bit strong and she missed the return for a 5. Mrs McCarthy failed to put down her sixth and Mrs Smith squared the match. By winning the fourteenth in 3 to Mrs McCarthy’s 4 Mrs Smith took the lead for the first time in the match. Mrs Smith’s tee shot was on the green, but her opponent’s, though pin high, was a chain to the left. In spite of a great putt Mrs McCarthy had to concede the hole. At Dunn’s Road each kept on level terms to the green which was reached in three, but a short approach putt cost Mrs Smith the hole. She took 6 to Mrs McCarthy’s 5. All square. At the Nest Mrs Smith was on the green with her second, Mrs McCarthy’s second having been stopped by a hillock just short of the green. Mrs Smith holed out in 4 and led 1 up. The seventeenth was halved in s’s, both laying their thirds on the edge of the green. Mrs Smith l. The crucial eighteenth saw both hit good drives and keep on terms until Mrs Smith’s third stayed ten yards in front of the green whereas Mrs McCarthy’s was sliced to rest twenty yards out to the right with a rather awkward approach. Mrs Smith’s fourth was within three yards of the pin, Mrs McCarthy being on the far edge of the green. Knowing that a half was no good to her she went boldly for the hole, but overran it, Mrs Smith holing out in 6,t0 win the match 2 up. Both players were warmly congratulated by the large gallery, Mrs Smith being carried shoulder high by admirers.