GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 25267, 23 April 1935, Page 8

GOLF

J. G. NICCOL CHAMPION j. h. McDougall wins PLATE F. E. HOLDGATE TAKES JUNIOR TITLE The Easter golf tournament at Otatara was concluded yesterday in glorious weather. In the final of the amateur championship of Southland J. G. Niccol (Queen’s Park), a former Timaru golfer who came recently to Invercargill, defeated J. S. Dick (Invercargill) four up and three to go over. 36 holes. The match was characterized by much steady play and some brilliant play. The final of the Southland Plate was played over 18 holes between J. H. McDougall (Otago) and H. W. Rogers (Invercargill), the former winning 4 and 2. The junior championship saw a neck-and-neck struggle between F. E. Holdgate (Invercargill) and T. Double (Queen’s Park) go to the 36th green before victory rested with the former. Not only was the issue contested to the last bole, but the golf was of a high standard with which A grade players might have been well pleased. For the field there was a four-ball bogey handicap in the morning and a single bogey handicap in the afternoon. For both events very large entries were received and the scoring was good. Details of the day’s play are as follows: — SOUTHLAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. The Morning Round. Dick commenced badly with his woods, and the dewy ground would not allow any run on the shots. The first hole was halved in par figures, and the second was halved in fives. Driving in fine style. Niccol secured his first advantage at Long Tom, holing out in five, while his opponent took six. At the fourth Niccol pulled his drive to the neighbouring fairway, and Dick, who had not yet got touch with his wooden clubs, drove indifferently. Niccol’s second shot placed the ball in a handy position, but Dick failed to get the green. Niccol putted surely to win the hole in four, Dick taking six. With his opponent two up Dick began to play more steadily. The fifth was halved in regulation fours, but a period in which the play was of a more ragged nature followed. At the sixth and the short seventh Niccol displayed accuracy with his tee shots. In both cases the pair took mqre than two putts and each hole was halved. The eighth and ninth were halved in sixes and fives respectively and the players turned for home with Niccol’s card reading 43 and Dick’s 46—Niccol two up. Niccol made no race of it at the tenth. His drive was slightly off the line, but his succeeding mashie shot placed him on the green in a handy position. One sure putt found the hole which he took in birdie three to Dick’s four. Dick won the next hole with a par four and then a head wind compelled both to use spoons for the distance of 175 yards at the Pancake. Neither succeeded in finding the green, but an accurate approach shot and a firm, bold putt gave Niccol the hole in three. Niccol’s more powerful drive put him within reach of the 13th green, but he pushed out his second shot. He made no mistake in his attempt to get out and a steady putt gave him a birdie four and the hole—Niccol four up. Dick’s mashie shot at the 14th landed close to the bunker, but it _ kicked towards tbe pin and left him lying in a handy position. Niccol also found the green and with two putts each they halved the hole in threes. A win in nar at the 15th reduced Dick’s deficit by one, but a weak putt robbed him of a win at the 16th. He drove and approached in sure fashion at the 17th and won with a par four. The 18th was halved in fives, and the round ended with Niccol 2 up. His score for the round was 81 and Dick’s 85. Afternoon Round. It was Niccol’s turn to make a bad start in the afternoon. Whereas Dick’s drive went straight down the fairway, that of his opponent was pulled. It cleared the hedge bounding the clubhouse enclosure, but left Niccol in a quite favourable position. In three strokes Niccol was on the green, while Dick was lying a little to the right. Niccol, however, treated himself to three putts and Dick’s five left him only one down. Dick struck trouble at the second, taking two shots to clear the rough. Niccol won in four. Two full-blooded shots gave Niccol a great advantage at Long Tom and he narrowly missed his birdie four,- but won in five to be three up. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh were halved and then at the eighth disaster overtook Dick. He pulled his drive into bad rough against the boundary fence, played out back towards the tee and needed two more to be pin-high to the right of the green. He did very well to get his six, but Niccol had hit two good ones down the fairway and followed them with a good approach. He had no difficulty in getting his five for a win—Niccol 4 up. Two good shots and a beautiful chip gave Niccol the ninth in four and at the turn he was five up. Dick holed a good putt to halve the 10th in fours. At the 11th his drive left him in a good line for the play, but his second was a shade strong. Niccol pulled his second into the hollow to the right of the green, but a careful shot cleared the trouble. He had just a little more than he could manage to get his four, while Dick made no mistake. The Pancake was halved in fours and Niccol won the 13th where another perfect chip gave him a birdie four—Niccol dormy five'. Dick hit a beautiful mashie at the Schoolhouse and holed his putt, winning the hole with a birdie two and leaving the position dormy four. At Dunn’s Road Niccol’s drive landed within two feet of the fence, but he extricated himself with a masterly shot to the green. Dick’s second to lha green was a beauty and he made a great effort to hole his third, the ba’.l just staying out. Niccol’s approach putt was short, but his next wicked in off Dick’s ball for the hole in four and the match 4 and 3. The cards read as follows: — Morning Round. Out. Niccol —5 5 5 4 4 5 4 6 5—43 Dick —5 5 6 6 4 5 4 6 5—46 In. Niccol —3 5 3 4 3 5 5 5 5—38—81 Dick —4 4 4 6 3 4 5 4 5—39 85 Afternoon Round. Out. Niccol—6 4 5 4 4 5 3 5 4—40 Dick —5 5644536 6—44 In. Niccol—4 5 4 4 3 4—24 —64 Dick —4 4 4 6 2 4—24—68 SOUTHLAND PLATE. The Semi-Finals. H. W. Rogers (Invercargill) beat A, Thom (Invercargill), 1 up. J. H. McDougall (Otago) beat C. G. Davey (Wyndham), 1 up. I Final. McDougall beat Rogers, 4 and 2. The first and second holes were halved.in regulation figures, but at the

third Rogers slipped a stroke and _ a sound five gave McDougall a win. He went on his way with par figures to win the fourth in four, halve the fifth in four, win the sixth in four and break the monotony with a birdie two at the Dardanelles for another win. The eighth was halved in fives and then Rogers got his first win with a good four at the ninth, the match turning McDougall three up. His score for the nine holes was 38 and Rogers’ 41. The tenth and eleventh were haved in fives and the Pancake in threes. A mistake by McDougall at the 13th let Rogers in with a steady five, reducing his deficit to two. A half in threes at the Schoolhouse followed, but par fours at Dunn’s Road and the Nest were good enough to give McDougall two successive wins and the match 4 and 2. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Final. F. E. Holdgate (Invercargill) began shakily against T. Double (Queens Park), the first hole costing him seven and the second five. Double winning both. Holdgate got one back with a sixth at the seventh, but Double retaliated with a four at the fourth. Holdgate then had a run, winning the fifth in four, the sixth in five and the seventh in three to stand one up. After a half at the eighth in fives, Holdgate won the ninth in four and turned two up. The tenth was halved in fives, and then Double got one back with a sound four at the eleventh. The Pancake was halved in par threes and a five at the Rushes made Holdgate two up again. Double then won the Schoolhouse in three and after halving Dunn’s Road in five, won the Nest in the same figure to square the match. Fives halved the 17th, but Holdgate won the 18th in five to go to lunch one up. The cards were:— Out. Holdgate 75654535 4 —44 Double 54745655 6—47 In. Holdgate 55354565 5—43 —87 Double 5 4 3 6 3 5 5 5 6 —42—89 A five was good enough to give Holdgate a win at the first hole in the second round, but Double got it back with a good four at the second. Long Tom was halved in sixes. Then Double won the fourth in four and the fifth with a birdie three and instead of being one down was one up. The sixth was halved in fives and the Dardanelles in threes. Holdgate was in trouble at the eighth and a six won comfortably for Double, making him two up. Holdgate was down in four at the ninth for a win and the match turned with Double one up. It was shot for shot at the tenth and eleventh, both holes being halved in par fours. Then Holdgate squared with a birdie two at the Pancake, and went one up again with a steady five at the Rushes. He did not play the Schoolhouse well, however. Double winning the hole in four. The match was again square. Dunn’s Road was halved in fives and then Holdgate got his nose in front again with a par four at the Nest. Double missed a sitter for a win at the 17th, giving Holdgate a win in five. Again Double had the better of it to the 18th green, being almost on with his second, while Holdgate was still short with his third. Holdgate’s fourth put him 15ft past the pin. Double was short with his approach, but laid his fourth dead. Holdgate now had to hole the 15-footer to halve the hole and win the match and he slammed and bolted the door with a firm putt to the back? of the tin. The cards were: — Out. Holdgate 55665538 4—47 Double 64643536 6 —43 In. Holdgate 442-5 5545 5—39—86 Double 4 4 4 6 4 5 5 5 5—42 —85 FOUR BALL BOGEY HANDICAP. Penrose (11) and Mitson (9) (St. Clair) 9 up Thompson (18) and Webb (18) (Queen’s Park) 8 up Strettell and Trevella (Invercargill) 1 U P NO. 2 BOGEY HANDICAP. A Grade. C. Rhodes (11) 1 up W. Mangan (8) 1 U P W. Buchan (8) all square Rhodes won on the count-back. B Grade. L. Stubbs (18) . 4 up J. M. Daly (16) 3 up C. R. Wilson 2 up W. Austin 2 up PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. After play for the day had been’finished the competitors gathered in the club-house where the president of the Invercargill Club, Mr A. E. Smith, expressed pleasure at seeing so many visitors from other parts of the Dominion participating in the tournament. He trusted that they had enjoyed themselves. Mr Smith congratulated the winners and spoke a word of encouragement to the losers. He then presented the prizes.. On behalf of other clubs complimentary references to the management of the tournament a’nd the Otatara course were made by Messrs J. H. McDougall (Otago Club), L. R. Gilmour (Hutt Club). W. Cleland (Avondale Club) and W. Satterthwajte (St. Clair Club). Cheers for the visitors terminated the proceedings. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIP DR. ROSS’S SEVENTH WIN. The first two rounds of match play for the Otago amateur golf championship were decided on the Balmacewen links in perfect golfing weather on Saturday, the bright sunshine and almost complete absence of wind making playing conditions particularly pleasant. The greens and fairways were in excellent order, and this fact contributed largely towards the high standard of play maintained throughout the day (reports the Otago Daily Times)., The principal feature of the day s play was the defeat of J. R. Laidlaw, last year’s winner of the championship, and D. C. Bennie, the holder of the Dunedin championship, by R. E. Hayward, who played good golf in both rounds. Laidlaw was not at his best, but even so his elimination by the margin of 4 up and 3 to play was surprising. Bennie, who had played an excellent morning round to beat W. G. Wight by 5 and 4, went down to the hard-hitting Hayward by one hole m the second round. Another surprise was the defeat of J. A. Scouler by T. C. Tyrell, a young player of decided promise. in the first round. The game, which went to the nineteenth green, was very close, both players giving a good exhibition of golf. The semi-finals were played yesterday morning in anything but ideal conditions for steady performances, a strong and chilly northerly, which increased at times to gale-like gusts, frequently upsetting the judgment and even the equilibrium of the contestants. Dr. K. Ross and T. B. Ferguson, who defeated R. E. Hayward and B. V. Wright respectively, weathered the blow best, and contested the final in the afternoon. After duffing his first drive Ross went on to play accurate golf under trying conditions. He won the first three holes, and, except for a brief period when the lead was reduced to 2 up, he held this margin all the way, eventually winning by 5 up and 4 to play. Hayward, who encountered I a fair amount of trouble, made some | great recoveries. Ferguson and Wright

were very even going out, but Ferguson, who was the steadier on the greens, crept ahead coming home and won 2 and 1.. The final, played in a heavy northeast gale yesterday afternoon, resulted in a win for Dr. Ross, the other finalist, T. B. Ferguson, putting up a good fight to go down at the 17th green by 2 and 1. Dr. Ross, who has now won the provincial championship seven times, the first being in 1914, put up an excellent performance, showing remarkable steadiness under trying conditions. The following are the results:— First Round. B. V. Wright beat E. R. Simkin, 5 and 4. W. Clayton beat A. G. Sime, 2 up. S. E. Field beat J. A. Dunning, 1 up. « T. B. Ferguson beat D. S. McLean, 5 and 4. T. C. Tyrell beat J. A. Scouler, 1 up at the nineteenth. K. Ross beat J. A. McLennan ,2 and 1. D. C. Bennie beat W. G. Wight, 5 and 4. R. E. Hayward beat J. R. Laidlaw, 4 and 3. Second Round. Wright beat Clayton, 2 and 1. Ferguson beat Field, Z 1 up. Ross beat Tyrell, 2 and 1. Hayward beat Bennie, 1 up. Semi-finals. Ferguson beat Wright, 2 and 1. Ross beat Hayward, 5 and 4. Final. Ross beat Ferguson, 2 and 1. CANTERBURY TITLE BLANK THE WINNER. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, April 22. The Canterbury golf championship, decided by four rounds of medal play, was won by A. R. Blank with a score of 300. Others prominent were C. J. Ward 305, R. G. Arnould 307, J. Galloway 307, J. Millard 308. PLAY AT HERETAUNGA SECOND ROUND RESULTS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April 22. In the second round of the Wellington provincial golf championship at Heretaunga to-day Hornabrook beat Whyte, 5 and 3; Silk beat Cook, 2 and 1; J. L. Black beat Wagg, 1 up; Watson beat Barker, 4 and 2. AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND RESULTS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, April 22. The first two rounds of the Auckland provincial golf championship were played at Middlemore to-day. There were two surprises in the morning when H. Brinsden was defeated by H. Buckley, of Whangarei, and J. H. Young was defeated by another Titirangi player, Clifford. The best round of the morning was by B. G. Thompson, who finished one up on bogey. Results:—

First round.—Plumley beat McCrystal, 3 and 2; Buckley beat Brinsden, 3 and 2; Menzies beat Bars-Graham, 2 and 1; Clifford beat Young, 2 and 1; Edmonds (Hamilton) beat McLean, 3 and 1; Lusk beat George, 3 and 2; Mac Ewan beat Bailey (Whangarei), 6 and 5; Thompson beat Donald, 2 and 1.