GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 3

GOLF.

J. H. KIR]EWOOD AT PATEA,' A GREAT EXHIBITION. RECORD FOR THE COURSE. J. H. Kirkwood, the Australasian open golf champion, visited Patea yesterday, and played au exhibition match, playing the best ball of D. H. Butcher, a leading Taranaki golfer, and C. F, Pulley, the champion of the Patea Ciub. Kirkwood's game was a revelation to those present. The Club was unfortunate in so far that the wet weather which prevailed during the morning and practically throughcut the first round, not only interfered considerably with the attendance, but also made matters unpleasant for those wto did attend. The contest, however, was followed with the keenest Interest. The match was won by Kirltwood by 2 up and 1. A strlkßng feature of his play was the accuracy of his drives. The wet weather had made the ground heavy, but despite this he completed the first round in 37, and the second In 35, making a total for the 18 holes of 72, or 8 up on bogey. Butcher Te» turned 80, and Pulley 81. Kirkwood won the third, fifth', eleventh, and fifteenth; Pulley won', the eighth and tenth, and the balance were halved. The scores were as follows:

FIRST ROUND. Kirkwood ... 34444544 5—37 Butcher ~..-44555544 5—41 Pulley 34545643 6—40 SECOND BOUND. Kirkwood ..33445433 6—35 Butcher ... 3 5 4 4 5 5 3 3 6—39 Pulley ..... 25546544 6—41 Bogey Is ... 44545543 6—40 Kirkwood's score, of 72 easily constitutes a record for the Patea linkp, the previous record of 77 Wving been part up by Pulley, on Saturday last. During the afternoon, Kirkwood also gave nn exhibition of fancy putting, and though 're putting green was not in the best of condition, the way in which he holed out from seemingly Impossible positions, was almost uncanny. .He also gave a number of shots which showed his wonderful command over the ball, including,, slices and hooks, push shots, high balls, iow balls, etc., but perhaps the feat that excited most admiration was driving a ball teed on the glass of a watch face, and also standing three balls on end and driving the centre one without touching the o'Acrs. Kirkwood came to New Plymouth by the mail train last night. AT NEW PLYMOUTH TO-DAY. i TWO EXHIBITION MATCHES. : Kirkwood will play on the New Plymouth Club's links at Waiwakaiho all day to-day. The course Is in splendid order, and given fine weather Taranaki golfers wijl be provided with a day's play of exceptional merit. Kirkwood is the* most brilliant golfer in these parts to.day. Fresh from winning the cpeii championship of Australasia, he came I to New Zealand, and at Hamilton last week won the open championship of New Zealand, and when his tour of the Dominion is completed, he is going to England to take part In the principal tournaments there. This morning, commencing at 10 o'clock, Kirkwood will play ths best ball of A. - Bewley and A Smith, and in the afternoon, commencing at 2 p-m., he nil! play tire best ball of W. il Bobertshaw and G. Gudgeon, as H. D. I'utcher will not be here. At the conclusion of the afternoon's round, Kirkwood will give on exhibition of trick shots. , x 'Buses will leave Hookham's corner at i3O a.m. and 1.30 p.m. ' As the greens will he very soft after the rain, (members arc requested not to play on them until after the afternoon match has started. Patrons not having purchased tickets will be able to pay at the gate.

HAWEBA CLUB CHAMPIONBHIPS. The Hawera Club's senior championship between Elliott and Walker was very keenly contested, and the game was carried to the 86th hole before a decision was reached. Walker won the first "hole, but Elliott evened the score at the next, and, playing good, consistent golf, ended the round 1 up. Each took 45. The first three holes of tl:e second round saw Elliott increase his lead to 3 up, but his opponent evened thts up at the 16th., and the two rounds ended with players all square—Elliott 44, Walker 42. Elliott started his third round with a beautiful 3, and later on scored another perfect 3 at "Anzae." Walker went to pieces In this round, finding trouble at the 6th., and playing both the Btt and 9th badly. The round cost him 49 to Elliott's 43, and gave the latter a lead of 4 up The last round opened by Walker talcing the first In 4, to Ell'/tt's 5. He failed, however, to get'Jiis ball over the fence at "Moses," and Elliott won 3—4. The long hole Walker took comfortably in 6, and the next Elliott lost through sheer bad luck, and tlris reduced his lead to 2 up. Walker played the shorter ball at the return hole, but laid his approach dead, and Elliott, playing short, left himself with a difficult putt over rough ground, which failed to hole out. Elliott had the misfortune to And the edge of the roturh at the next, wtfch spoiled two strokes, and his opponent, with a straight 5, squared the game at the 33rd. At "The Crossing" both players holed out long putts for 3, and both got good tee shots from the 35th. Elliott's approach went slightly to the left and In a bad spot, and Walker, about ten yards short, but Bis third wa.s well up. Elliott's third was a little short, and his fourth overran the hole, which unluckily cost him 6 to Walker's 5. Both got good s's at the last hole against a strong wind, and this left the declSion, after a very close and most exciting finish, with Walker 1 up. Tie final round was—Elliott 48, Walker 39.

H. G. Brodie won the final of the junior championship, 36 holes, beating his opponent mo«t decisively by 10 up and 8. In the first round he was eight up,.and, going oh, he Increased his lead in the next nine holes by one and was therefore dormy nine. Of that round they halved tl:e second, fourth, fifth, and seventh, Brodie winning the first, third (where he holed a fourteen foot putt), and eighth, and Boyes the aix'h and ninth. Brodie did the first hole in the fourth round in five to his opponent's six, and thus won tire hole and the championship for 1920.—Star.