COMMENTS ON THE PLAY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1935, Page 6

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY

TWO CRITICAL PUTTS GIBSON’S FINE DRIVING. HIGH STANDARD OF GOLF. (By “Stance.”) Two missed putts on the 16th and 17th greens at the critical stage of the game played a big part in the defeat of E. Abbott by L. T. Gibson in the final of the Central Taranaki amateur championship at Eltham yesterday. Until that stage the pair had been exceptionally evenly matched. Gibson had been in the lead early, but Abbott had squared the game at the eighth and led one up at the llth - , i f The outstanding feature of the play was Gibson’s wonderful tee shots. For a lad-of his poundage his drives were marvellous, and he was passing Abbott all the time. Though the standard of play was not up to that of the semifinals it was always good, and there were no really poorly played holes. Playing against Gibson in the semifinal, G. M. Chong was hooking his irons badly, and with Gibson playing great golf the New Plymouth player had no chance of recovering. Gibson opened with a ten-footer for a two at the first but was short with his seconds at the next two, allowing Chong to halve both. Two fine fours at the next two and a great birdie three at the sixth saw him secure three wins to be four up. The next two were halved, but Gibson* was short from the tee at the ninth, where Chong with a perfect three reduced the deficit to three. Gibson had come out in 35. On the return journey the first two holes were halved in correct figures, and thep Gibson ran down a 15-footer for a birdie three and a win at the 12th. When Chong three-putted at the short 13th Gibson was dormy, and a half at the next saw the end. Gibson was two under fours for the 14 holes. ABBOTT DEFEATS STEWART. In the other half of the draw E. L. Abbott had to produce good golf to account for J. Stewart. He chipped too strongly at the first, and Stewart with a neat three drew first blood, but Abbott squared matters by taking the next with a good four. Perfect golf saw the next three halved, but Abbott was short with his second at the sixth and Stewart was one up again. Abbott looked likely to even matters at the next, where he placed a pretty second a yard from the flag, but Stewart ran down a long one for a half. Stewart was astray with his third at the long eighth, and the game was square again. Good threes at the ninth saw both reash the turn in 35. Abbott took the lead for the first time when he won the 10th, but an indifferent drive saw him lose the next. Stewart was astray with his tee shot at the 12th, and Abbott, making no errors, was one-up again. The short 13th was halved in threes, but Stewart chipped too strongly at the next and Abbott sank a four-footer for a win. A magnificent second to the green at Cosy Comer saw Abbott collect another and place himself dormy. Stewart played a grand second to within about seven feet of the flag at the 16th and had the. putt to keep the game alive, but the ball just slipped past, leaving Abbott thq winner. THE FINAL CONTEST. The final between Gibson and Abbott opened in a surprising manner. Gibson pushed his tee shot out badly, but played a masterly pitch'to win the hole after Abbott had failed to chip dead. Abbott’s drive at the next was weak, but he played a grand second, only, to be short with his chip, and Gibson with a good four was two up. Gibson was about 12 feet from the flag with his second at the third, but Abbott sensationally holed achip for a three, and Gibson failing with his putt, the margin was reduced to one. Both holeci ticklish putts for their threes at the fourth but were astray with their seconds at the next Gibson looked likely to win the sixth, but Abbott once more came to light with a great putt for the half. He squared the game at the next, where he ran up his approach close to the flag and holed his putt for a birdie-three. Gibson rather surprisingly duffed two shots at the long eighth, and Abbot, making no errors, took the hole with a five and was in the lead for the first time. Both failed to find the green from the tee at the ninth, which was halved in fours. Commencing the homeward journey Gibson appeared likely to lose the 10th, where he was short with his second, but a beautiful chip retrieved, the situation and he squared the game at the next with another good chip and a good putt. The 12th went to Abbott with a perfect four, Gibson having gone through with his second and failed to chip dead. The short 13th was eventful. Gibson was in an awkward place on the bank on the right, while Abbott was off the green to the left. The chips were wide of the mark, but both tipped the hole with long -putts for threes. Abbott was badly short with his second at the 14th, and Gibson squared the game again with a well played four. Two solid shots by both found them short of the green at Cosy Comer, and a half in fives resulted after both had rimmed the cup for fours. All square and three to go, the stage appeared set for the game to go to the last green, especially when both were on the 16th green with their second shots, but Abbott’s approach putt was too merry and missed the return, leaving Gibson one up. Abbott’s second was the better at the 17th, but Gibson ran up well and holed a four-footer for a four. Abbott'had one slightly shorter to keep the game alive, but the ball failed to drop and the game was over. Mr. L. T. Quin was referee.