GOLF AT. WAIWAKAIHO

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

GOLF AT. WAIWAKAIHO

EASTER TOURNAMENT OPENS TO-DAY

PROMINENT PLAYERS TAKING PART

(By

“Stance.”)

THE course of the New Plymouth Golf Club at Waiwakaiho will

be the mecca of all the leading niblick wielders of Taranaki to-day, when the club’s annual Easter tournament, with its attendant Taranaki amateur championship, will commence with the playing of the qualifying rounds. Though the days when this event attracted many of the leading players from all over the island are only memories of the past the fixture is always a popular one and with the tremendous advance of golf in the province always attracts a big field.

The field that will face the starter on Saturday morning is a good one and up to standard. Any player to carry off the title will have to be able to reproduce consistently good golf throughout the three days. Eight or ten years ago it was a comparatively easy task to 'forecast the four who would fight out the issue on the Tuesday, but to-day that state of affairs has changed. Where there were then only a few players with handicaps of five or less to-day there are scores. Every player, no matter how low his mark may be, may have to bow to the rush of improving youngsters. Last year the first day of the match play saw the downfall of two fine experienced players, A. E. Conway and A. E. Ekstedt, at the hands of two of these youngsters, and the same is sure to be the case in the future. )

The reigning champion, G. M. Chong, will be on hand to defend- his title. He is always a hard man to beat at Waiwakaiho, as his consistent record in this event >will show! A wonderfully powerful iron player and a consistent putter, he is going to go close to scoring his third win.

However, his task is going to be anything but an easy one, as the presence of no fewer than 20 players with handicaps of six or less shows. Past holders of the title, H. P. Dale, A. S. Hasell and L. T. Quin, are well proved match players who are entitled- to respect even in the best of company. Dale made a fine showing in the New Zealand championships at Wanganui last October,- when he won his way into the last eight in the amateur championships and then succumbed to the eventual winner, Bryan Silk, only on the last green in the quarter final. His ■ tremendous length off the tees and his fine putting touch make Dale a worthy opponent for even the best in the land.

Three fine players, A. E. Conway, F. E. Quin and H. P. Wills, have yet to sue- ( ceed in this event, though they have ) ’ been close on more than one occasion. Conway, perhaps the finest shot maker -r ir the Dominion, would be the popular selection if only he could manage to persuade his putter to act as a putter should act. Quin is a fine putter and yfc has wonderful control over his mashie shots, while there is no finer match player in the province than Hugh Wills. E. L. Abbott is also always a strong contender who was unlucky not to have won in 1931.

D. V. Sutherland, who won the Tara- A; naki champion of champions title at .-“J Hawera last November, is expected to play a prominent part There is no player who has practised more thoroughly and assiduously than Sutherland, and his play is very consistent. Though his\ health has not been the best during the A:; last few months N. P. Green is a doughty opponent for anyone and he might bring about the downfall of even ’

the’ besj. ( From outside the province come two' ~ ' players of class in the Wanganui pair B. Howarth and F. C. Hutchison, The ) former, who is the present holder of the Wanganui provincial title, has more than - , once proved himself to be a worthy op- . ponent for the amateur champion BryaA Silk, while Hutchison has always played ’ an important part in all. the big events A at Belmont. Howarth is new to Waiwakaiho but his club-mate knows ■ the ' A'J? course well. - ' '. V s With the above material there would appear every prospect of some great golf during the Easter week-end, fully up to -. A the standard of other years, and the pair !' who will line up for the final contest on ■<■ ■(' Tuesday afternoon will not get there’ without some stem contests. ’ ;