GOLF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 5

GOLF

TIMARU SENIOR TITLE E. A. SCOTT THE WINNER By beating G. A. Ussher 4 up and 2 to play at Highfield links, E. A. Scott retained the Timaru Golf Club’s senior championship title which he has held since 1931 and whicii he also held m 1922. The standard of play was not up to that seen in finals at Highfield m recent years, and both players were at times responsible for bad lapses. Scoot drove erratically while Ussher, wh^o had an advantage from the tees, frequently lost this by experimenting in approaching with a niblick. This type of approach is difficult when conditions are good and the stiff easterly wind yesterday was anything but helpful The course, following the overnight rain, was tricky and the fairway lies were close and did not favour the use of a wood. The greens were moderately fast. The players, especially Ussher, often made excursions into the rough and this invariably brought about the loss of a stroke owing to the long grass. In the morning round there was little between tlje players for Scott to finish 1 up, but in the afternoon the champion was steadier than his opponent and his experience stood him in good stead over the last few holes. The match was watched with interest by a large gallery. The Play Described. From good drives at North East neither player reached the green with his second, a half in 5 resulting. The

second hole was halved in bogey 4, but at the third Ussher assumed the lead by taking the hole in 5 to Scott’s 6. Scott retrieved at the fourth with a perfectly-played 3. Hillside, the fifth hole, was halved in 4, Ussher holing a long putt. Ussher again took the lead at The Knob with a 3 to Scott’s 4. The next two holes were halved in bogey figures, but Scott squared at the ninth in 4-5 as a result of Ussher’s second

being short. Scott won Seaview with a magnificent played eagle 3 and went on to secure a 2 up lead at the Dive, where Ussher had difficulty with his second which was close to the boundary fence. At The Poplars Ussher’s drive found the rough which cost him a stroke, and Scott added another hole to his lead in 5-6. At Port Arthur Scott played a perfect iron to within 2ft of the pin and became 4 up with

a birdie 2. Neither player was on the Terrace green in 2. but Ussher holed a good putt to win the hole in 4-5. At Plantation Ussher pitched his third to within a foot of the hole and reduced Scott’s lead to 2 up by holing a birdie 4. Midway was halved in 5 while The Gap went to Ussher in 4-5. The eighteenth was halved In well-played 5 s leaving Scott 1 up for the first half of the journey. The cards read: Scott— Out: 54634444 4—38. In: 34525655 5—40. Ussher — Out: 54544344 5—38. In: 5 5 6 4 4 4 5 4 5—42. Afternoon Round.

The first two holes of the afternoon journey were halved in bogey figures, but both men had eventful passages to Burnside green where they were each down in two over bogey. They each reached Bumpy green from the tee, Scott missing a 4ft putt for Ussher to take the hole and square the match. The players deviated from the course

to Hillside green, Ussher’s second being played from the rough at the top of the rise to gain little ground. Scott was well out of the bunker to the left of the fairway, but a good third by Ussher allowed him to halve in 5. A splendid 12ft putt by Scott, after both men were on The Knob green from the tee, gave him a birdie 2 against Ussher’s 3. Scott was on the next

green in 2, with Ussher still below the putting area after his drive had landed in the rough. He nearly holed his approach, Scott missing his putt for the hole to be halved in 4. The Chasm and Lindsays were halved in bogey 4’s. while Scott who reached Seaview green in 3, with his opponent still wide, took the hole in 5-6 to become 2 up. There was little between the tee shots at The Dive which was halved In bogey 3, but at The Poplars,

Ussher missed a 3ft putt which ran round the cup and allowed Scott who took the hole 6-7, to become 3 up. Ussher was short in his drive from Port Arthur tee, while Scott was on the outside of the green. Ussher’s second was still not up and he was down in 4. Scott’s approach was placed within handy putting distance and he had no difficulty to take the hole in 3 and further emphasise his claim to the title. Both men were through the Terrace green with their

seconds’, a half in 5 making Scott dormie 4. Ussher again found the rough with his drive at Plantation, while Scott was well placed to take a wood for his second which landed in the rough. Ussher was nicely on m 3. while Scott over-ran the green. Better ' work on the green gave Ussher the hole 5-6. Scott was well away from Midway tee. while Ussher found the bunker. His second brought him on the fairway with little ground gained, while his third was still wide of the putting area. Scott was on m 3, Ussher’s approach striking the cup to race past the hole. Scott’s putt assumed him of a 5, and when Ussher failed with a long putt, Scott took the match 4 up and 2 to play and the championship honours for 1934. The afternoon cards read:

ScottOut: 44645244 4—37. In: 5 3 6 3 5 6 5—33. Ussher — Out: 44635444 4—38, In: 6 3 7 4 5 5 6—36. Mr W. H. Walton was umpire. The following were the best scores returned in the Bogey Handicap played at Hlghfield on Saturday:— Hdcp. H. W. Monaghan .. .. 16 3 down J. Maekay 1 5 down I Marshall 8 5 down D. L. Grant 18 6 down F. L. Barker 6 7 down Rex Jones 6 7 down G M. Gamble 9 8 down In the Lindsay Medals competition, played in conjunction with the Bogey Handicap, the gold medal was won bv H. W. Monaghan, and J. Maekay and I. Marshall tied for the silver medal.

TIMARU LADIES’ CLUB The best scores returned in the October Medal Match were:— Seniors. Mrs W. A. Scott 84 6 78 Mrs Hawke84 5 79 Miss G. Campbell .. 98 16 82 Miss V. Campbell .. 100 18 82 Juniors. Mrs Greenfield 119 36 83 Mrs Perrier 105 19 86 Miss LeCren 109 23 86 The October Bogey Match was won by Mrs Johnston <14) 2 down, senior, nnd Miss Roberts (26) 5 down, Junior.