GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1926, Page 14

GOLF.

(By

"Stance.”

Last .Saturday's medal match drew an entry of over thiry, and as was generally expected some exceptionally fine scores were returned. The veteran James Austin headed the list with a well played 83 which, with the aid of his handicap (14), gave the great nett card of 89. The Rev. J. D. Wilson also returned the fine card of 94-24-70, and can count himself very unlucky to bump into such a good score as that of the winner. W. C. Weston and R. T. MacQuade shared the honour of the best gross with 82s, The former was very unlucky as he hit hie first two balls out of bounds, just over-ran the fourth with his third and took an eight and missed two very easy putts coming in. Hiis card for the homeward journey read 3.4.3.4.3, 5.3.5.0, 36, a really fine performance. During the week two well known golfers, Messrs. Imlay Saunders, the president of the Wanganui Club, and Sam Hanna, the captain of the Auckland Club, were on the links and both expressed surprise as to ’their fine condition. Both players were enthusiastic as to the new eleventh which, they considered, constituted a very fine test of golf. ‘‘Th6 average golfer objects to going round with a beginner, but not for the reason usually assigned. He hates to play with a novice, not because of the latter’s poor game, but because of his own foozles which, he feels, the beginner will fail to understand and, excuse.” —•Barrie Payne? Walter Hagen won both the Eastern and Western Open Championships in the States this year, easily defeating strong fields each time. His score in the former was 275 for 72 holes, 13 strokes under parr. At one stage he did seven consecutive holes with a score of one under parr each time, a truly marvellous performance. picture a player reeling off our first seven holes with a score of 3.3.2.4.5.3.2.—it almost seems incredible. In the Western Open he distanced his nearest opponent Harry Cooper by nine strokes, with Sarazen, MacSinith and Hutchinson next, Hagen’s rounds read 75-08-66-70—279. All the leading professionals took part in both tournaments but the two crack amateurs, Bobby Jones and George Von Elm, were not competitors.