GOLF BY MATCHLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1934, Page 10

GOLF BY MATCHLIGHT

LAST PLAYER TO QUALIFY. ROUND ENDS DRAMATICALLY. There was a dramatic and somewhat sensational conclusion to the first day’s play in the Auckland provincial golf championship tournament at the Titirangi Golf Club’s links on Saturday evening. As . the day drew on the competitors who had finished their second round, and the spectators who were at the clubhouse, began to take particular interest in the scoreboard.

It was getting dusk and there was every indication that players who had returned scores bf 162 would' have ja chance of getting into the top 16. There were several Of these totals, and it appeared that the players who had done best over the last 18 holes would be included.

Surprises were in store, however. F. W. Lucas and his partner finished in semi-darkness, and the card returned by the first-named gave him a total of 161, which enabled him to qualify. H. Plumley and his partner were at the 17th green when Lucas finished. They drove off and had to search carefully to find the balls in the hollow.

All iritei-est centred in Plumley, who required .81 to qualify, and to score this number he had to obtain a four at the 18th. His second shot found the bunker on the left approach to the green, and, with the aid of a lairly large group of excited onlookers, he was able to locate his ball.

The caddie took up his post by the flag and lit a match to give the player' some idea of direction. Plumley played his shot in the darkness and the ball came to rest 12ft. from the pin One more stroke to qualify. The excitement was now intense and matches were being struck freely by the player’s supporters and, others anxious to assist him. The caddie Sat directly in line behind the hole with a lighted match, and a man on either side pf him also held similar small'flames. “Fire for; the middle one,” urged a friend anxious to see the player get the vital stroke. Plumley was quite unperturbed. He took UP hijs stance, and long and prolonged ■ cheering lierglded the fact that he had putted successfully. It was a dramatic moment for both golfer and spectators and Plumley was very warmly congratulated.