THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1933, Page 5

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SIDELIGHTS ON THE PLAY; TITIRANGI A GREAT COURSE.

THE FAILURE OF SHAW.

(By

“Stance.”)

There is no doubt that the Titirangi course stands in a class alone in the Dominion when it comes to course architecture. The more that one plays dyer.it - the more one, is impressed by its great- ' ness. Each and every hole presents a different problem with the moving of. the flag. It has to be played differently. AHloose and indifferent shots reap their own reward; they cost the players an U extra stroke which it is almost impos- ■ ; sible to recover. A super shot would do it but only 'a super shot. The however, was not justified in making: ■ the out of bounds 'both stroke and distance penalty. This was distinctly unpopular with the visitors and in many, cases left , a very unfavourable impression.

The public interest was great and’the event will without doubt prove beneficial to the game at Auckland. It is an education to the average golfer to be able to watch the crack players in.ac- Z tion, and it is to be hoped they, will all’ be seen in action at Waiwakaiho‘next; year. The writer at different stages saw; all the chief players,-but came home' T convinced that as a shot-maker the -New Plymouth club champion A. E. Cohwajr has no peer in the Dominion. Through the green not even Shaw, Moss or Douglas has the same wonderful accuracy and control over the ball that Conway has.

From the commencement of the open championship Shaw was regarded as having a mortgage on the event, but observant players who had seen both he and Moss in action together during'the month previous informed “Stance” that Moss was hitting the ball much better than his rival, but that Shaw had been in wonderful putting form. That perhaps might have held on many courses, but at Titirangi a player to win an open championship must be hitting his diets properly. And so it proved, especially in the final round. Moss with that easy controlled swing of his was sending everything down the centre; he never looked like breaking down. Naturally he slipped a Stroke here and there, but who does not? Shaw did not appear to be the confident player he was at Palmers- - ton North and at Heretaunga. He has become used to being out in front al- ; most from thq outset but on this occa- > sion his rivals never let him get away.'-’ f They were all round him from the out- ; set and over the last eighteen hotes found himself in the hard position of having to make up strokes on players who were not slipping. His game did ’ not* stand , the test and he was relegated into third position at the finish. E. S., Douglas was hitting the ball in a confident manner. He is naturally, quick. No player in the field wasted less time over his shots. He pauses just a i/: moment to make sure of his direction and then before one realises what is happening the ball is on its way. Over the final //' round he was an early starter and few gave him a chance. He was not attended by the big galleries that were following Moss and Shaw, but over the last few. holes he had been joined by 50 admirers, and what they lacked in numbers they .. made up in enthusiasm. Every shot was / greeted with applause. ■■■'y The professional from Shirley, Harry 1 Blair, showed that despite his 48 years >■ ; he can still hit them as well as the best of them. He pl a- -- - ”as cf under j eighty and received few of the breaks of 1 the game. His second round was his best but his effort in the third of coming home in 36 after taking 40 for the. easier first half stamped him as a player of courage. Young Jack Weir, Moss’, assistant at Middlemore, playing in his first championship, created a big impression. He is a tall, rangy looking youth , with a beautifully smooth swing. He was J right in the thick of the fight up to the forty-fifth hole, when he started to fade out. Nevertheless he is the “goods” and his return will come. N. H. Fuller and A. Dykes are still', j improving. They were in the picture ■■ all the time. Dykes has made more pro-: . gress during the last twelve months than v* his rival and looks likely to be a serious ; contender for the open championship 5 next year. Lambie played wonderfully ; steady golf and would have been much > farther up but for the short holes. They caused him trouble in every round<ex-; f cept the third. . j The Taranaki Players. ' ’ *‘‘ H. P. Dale was a big disappointment, j His form prior to the opening was very iencouraging. He had two brilliant rounds on the Wednesday and with his experience of medal play in events of this ■ description in America he was considered to have a great chance. - But when the big test came he was never -gding smoothly. He had a great chance in the second. round .when he took; - one; putt on the first four greens, but he was unhappy when he found himself in any . - trouble. 7 .'"TEC ’ Leo Quin gave. signs of coming bacK to bis best form and with a • little would have returned two good rounds on the final day. ! He was hitting, a fine tee shot but his seconds were .inclined to/ be erratic. . E. L. Abbott was playing consistently good golf from, the time he arrived on the course and but for four bad holes in the first two days might have made a really good showing. He was responsible for some great shots in the foursomes , j with Dale, and it was due to . his efforts that they were so well up in that event. H- P. Wills could not manage the first nine holes but came home in good style each time. The tenth was his lucky hole. He obtained a birdie three both times. The first good putt was ible, but on the second round he holed. W. O’Callaghan was in trouble, on the greens and on at least two occasions required four putts before finding the cup.