FROM FAIRWAY AND ROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 10

FROM FAIRWAY AND ROUGH

CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PROGRESS

CONWAY PLAYING STEADILY.

COURSE RECORD AT WAITARA.

(By

“Stance.”)

It was a wise move on the part of the committee at Waiwakaiho on Saturday to use the placing rule for the first qualifying round of the New Plymouth Golf Club championship. This not only eliminated the luck of the lie, but also allowed players a reasonable chance of getting a decent shot out of the impossible rough at the 13th and 15th holes. It was argued by some that it was not right to allow a player well off the line in the rough to take advantage of the rule, but as has been pointed out in these columns before, leading authorities such as Dr. Mackenzie and others hold very strongly that rough has no place on a bunkered course. Much more strict supervision of the starting will be necessary this Saturday, as last week a four of long handicap players was allowed to leave the first tee about third or fourth, with the result that those behind had a hectic time waiting. In three holes one player had to stand cooling his heels in all 20 minutes before being able to play his second shots. One three who can usually go round in under two hours and a-half took exactly one hour longer to complete the 18 holes. Strict supervision can eliminate incidents such as these, and in fairness to all, this should’ be done in all future matches.

Conway commenced by sinking a ticklish putt for a four at the first, followed with a beautiful four at the second and then rammed down a 15-footer for a three at the third. He seemed sure to get a four at the fourth, but took three putts. His second was a little astray at the next, but he was back to level fours with a good three at the Dell. He followed with a five and four, but went through his tee shot at the ninth and could get only a four, thus reaching the turn in 38, equal to the scratch score. Conway commenced the home journey by missing a short putt for a five at' the 10th, but obtained par figures at' the next two. Tire 11th cost him five and he only just failed to sink a 10footer for a two at Moses. He finished with 4,5, 4 and 5 for 39 and 77 for the, full round. His golf was marked by all its usual steadiness and his putting was much better than it was earlier in the season.

Quin’s Round, F. E. Quin started, with three' 'fine fours, but like Conway took three putts, on the fourth. Another four at the fifth followed and he was again equalto-four when he obtained his three at the sixth.' The seventh cost him five, but a fine, four at the eighth and a three at-Road-side saw him reach the turn in 36, two' strokes better than Conway. He was: down in five at the long 10th but re-; quired a similar number at the next through failing to lay his Chip dead. He. dropped another stroke at the short-12th: but was still ahead one than Con-, way. The 13th proved his unlucky hole.His second was < slightly to the right of the green and endeavouring to chip dead he duffed the shot. He then proceeded to put his fourth through the. green and ended with a seven. He obtained a good three at Moses, but drop-' ped another stroke at the 15th, when hischip again failed him. He finished re-, solutely with 4, 4 and 5 for a 78, one stroke behind his rival. A. S. Hasell went out in 40, but played very steadily coming home and on the 17th tee had a four and a five for 78, but he put his tee shot into the tree enclosure and a six appeared on his card. Three putts on the last green made his total 81.

A 15 handicap player in C. H. Strombom was responsible for a wonderfully good effort in returning an 83, more especially after a disastrous seven at the second hole, where he had to play his third off the tee.

Among the juniors K. P. Tompkins holds an almost unassailable lead. His round of 85 represented some good golf, his putting especially being very sound. He was out in 42 with a seven at the fourth, where he visited a tree enclosure, and home in 43, his only really bad hole being the short 12th, where he took four to get on to the green and six before he was down.

Fitzroy Championship. Owing to the inability of two prominent members to be present last Saturday it was decided to play only one qualifying round in the Fitzroy senior championship, and this will take place this Saturday. The juniors, however, will play the full 36 holes. The scoring in the first round was quite good. G. Pullen with 92 is leading, with H. S. Wagstaff next. Pullen’s powerful driving gives him a big advantage in this class. Wagstaff was playing very steadily on Saturday arid should have -been two or three strokes better- as he took six on the easy short third. In the senior medal H. E. Jacka again carried off the honours, but he had only one stroke to spare from J. R. Sutherland, whose 80 gross shows that he is going to prove hard to beat in the championship. In view of the fact that the championships are already in progress the handicapper is not making any readjustments until the qualifying rounds have been completed. Course Record.

Throughout the season A. G. Wills has been playing such consistent golf that he fully deserved the splendid round of 75 he scored last week. This is both an official and unofficial course record. It is easily the best card that has been returned in a metal match at Waitara and is one better than the best ever done on. the course. It will certainly not escape the attention of the handicapper. Stratford Contest.

D. G. Morris is evidently playing at the top of his form at Stratford, as he made no race of the battle foi- the head of the qualifying i-ounds for- the championship during the week-end, being eight strokes clear- of the field at the conclusion of the 36 holes, with a total of 163. This contest will now enter upon the match play stage, and in this type of game Morris will find N. P. Green a determined battler who never admits defeat until the last putt 'has been sunk.