GOLF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20851, 6 October 1937, Page 12

GOLF

NATIONAL MEETING BRILLIANT PLAY BY AMATEURS UNOFFICIAL RECORD BY HORNABROOK By Telegraph—Press Association HAMILTON, October 5. Among several interesting features of to-day’s first and second rounds of the amateur and profession golf championships of New Zealand were the unofficial course record of J. P. Hornabrook by returning 68 and the excellent score of the young Seafield player, R. F. Kitto, whose figures 69, equalled the course record held conjointly by Sloan Morpeth, B. G. Thomson and R. H. Glading. A gusty westerly wind made for unpleasant and rather difficult conditions in the forenoon, but the weather improved later.

J. P. Hornabrook, T. H. Horton, A. R. Kitto, R. F. Kitto, B. M. Silk, J. R Hobbs, W. G. Horne and H. W. Hattersley remain to contest the third round of the amateur title to-morrow, while the remaining professionals are Moss, Smith junr., Douglas and Shaw.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

First Round

J. L. Black beat H. A. Black, 1 up at the 19th.

A. R. Kitto beat J. Young, 6 and 5. A. Sime beat F. McDonald, 4 and 2. R. Kitto beat P. Smith, 5 and 3. B. Silk beat H. Longstaff, 4 and 3. R. Holland beat J. Logan, 4 and 3. I. Ewen beat A. R. Blank, 4 and 2. J. Hobbs beat G. Roberts, 3 and 2. W. Horne beat S. Cooper, 3 and 1. B. Menzies beat P. Peacock, 1 up at the 19th.

K. Ross beat M. Moore by default. H. W. Hattersley beat R. Glading, 4 and 3. J. P. Hornabrook beat J. Mortland, 1 up. B. G. Thomson beat K. Ward, 5 and 4. A. Duncan beat H. Dale, 4 and 2. T. Horton beat H. Brinsden. 4 and 3. Second Round J. P. Hornabrook beat B. G. Thomson 6 and 5. T. H. Horton beat D. S. Duncan 4 and 2. A. R. Kitto beat J. L. Black 3 and 2. R. F. Kitto beat A. G. Sime 3 and 2. B. M. Silk beat R. G. Holland 4 and 3. H. W. Hattersley beat K. Ross 2 up. W. G. Horne beat B. H. Menzies 3 and 2. H. R. Hobbs beat I. A. Ewen 3 and 2. PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP First Round E. J. Moss beat N. Fuller, 3 and 2. A. E. Guy beat G. Ritchie, 4 and 3. B J. Smith, jun., beat J. A. Clements, 4 and 3. J. Weir beat J. Mclntosh, 4 and 2. E. Douglas beat A. Dyke, 1 up. T. O. Galloway beat F. Branch, 5 and 4. N. Eell beat C. C. Clements, 3 and 1. A. J. Shaw beat J. Lambie, 2 and 1. Second Round E. J. Moss beat A. E. Guy 2 up. B. J. Smith junr. beat J. Weir 5 and 3. E. S. Douglas beat T. S. Galloway 1 up. A. J. Shaw beat N. Bell 1 up. Hornabrook Goes Round in 68

Going around the course in a manner never before witnessed at St. Andrews, the favourite for the amateur title, J. P. Hornabrook. the new open champion, continued on after beating his opponent B. G. Thomson six and five in the second round to create an unofficial course record of 68. It W’as the second great round of the day. It outclassed the earlier performance of R. S. Kitto. Although not a long hitter from the tees, Hornabrook gained good length by accurate direction, but his record came mainly as a result of accuracy with his irons to the pin. In despite of the fact that three putts were taken at the seventeenth and an 18-inch putt was missed at the ninth, Hornabrook still was able to better the record. This indicates just how brilliant his golf really was. Hornabrook’s first mistake came at the eighth, where he went over the bank to the bunker and took five for the hole. At other holes his play was first class, except for two lapses in putting and his score included two eagles and five birdies. There were five bogeys, and strokes were dropped at six holes. Hornabrook’s card read:— Out—3 34344455 35 In—4 43324454 33 Total 68 Sime Loses to Kitto R. F. Kitto. Seafield Handicap 2 player, who unofficially equalled the course record in the first round, again played excellent golf in the second, when he eliminated A. G. Sime three and two. Sime was in the same position as P. G. F. Smith in the morning, as although he returned a fine card it was not good enough to win. Sime came home with eight fours and a five. Kitto was out in 36 and finished the last nine with an eagle three for 35. Sime went out in 38 and came home in 37. To-morrow Kitto will meet his brother A. R. Kitto in the third round.

Hattersley Extended by Koss

Excellent play over the last few holes on the part of K. Ross extended the Australian, H. W. Hattersley, who finished two up at the eighteenth. The winner was three up at the turn, and holes were halved to the fourteenth, which Ross took. He also was successful at the fifteenth, while the sixteenth and seventeenth were halved, leaving Hattersley to take the eighteenth. Except for a great return journey by Ross, there was nothing sensational about the play. Hattersley did not maintain the excellent form he displayed this morning. Golf of a high standard was played in the match between W. G. Horne and B. H. Menzies, but the Hutt scratch player always just had the edge on his opponent and won the game on the sixteenth green.

Guy Cracks Up

Cracking up with his big drive at a time when he was leading one up with four holes to play, A. E. Guy was elimi-

nated from the professional championship in the second round by E. J. Moss, who played consistent golf and left nothing to chance. It was at the sixteenth that the young professional first topped his drive, which had before been perfect. The same lapse occurred at the seventeenth, and after that Moss took the game two up at the eighteenth. Both players were out in 37, after each had encountered trouble at the bunkers at two holes. At the sixth Guy sunk his third stroke. At the twelfth Moss negotiated a stymie in brilliant manner to win the hole, but a birdie two at the fourteenth gave Guy a lead of one hole. At that stage, however, it was a breakdown at the tee that lost an otherwise even match, for Guy was hitting the ball in a manner which he has neVer excelled and putting in pretty form. Smith in Semi-Final Basil J. Smith junr. continued his winning way in the second round. He came home in two under fours to w’in five and three over J. Weir. Smith is improving with every game, and he is confident of playing E. J. Moss, whom he meets in the semi-finals to-morrow, to a fighting finish. A Great Tussle Partners in foursomes for many years and two great golfers, A. J. Shaw and Norrie Bell had a great tussle which ended at the eighteenth green with Shaw the victor, one up. The game provided the most interesting match play of the tournament, and Shaw finished with an excellent medal score of 71 after taking six at the fifteenth. Shaw squared the match at the second hole with eagle three, and after that all the holes to the turn were halved in par figures. Shaw went out in 35 and Bell in 36. All the holes to the fifteenth were halved, but Bell then secured a lead with a five to Shaw’s six. Shaw made a great recovery and won the match with a birdie four at the last. The draw for the third rounds of the amateur and professional championships is as follows:

Amateur J. P. Hornabrook v. T. H. Horton. A. R. Kitto v. R. F. Kitto. Silk v. Hobbs. Horne v. Hattersley. Professional Moss v. Smith junr. Douglas v. Shaw. Hornabrook Lucky J. P. Hornabrook, who is defending the amateur title, experienced a repetition of the opposition he received from L. J. Bryant, a Hamilton player, in the first round at New Plymouth last year when he met J. P. Mortland this morning. Whereas Bryant took the champion to the nineteenth, Mortland to-day finished 1 down at the eighteenth. Mortland played a fighting game throughout and after being two down at the twelfth he took the thirteenth and maintained the position of one down to the end. An indication of the difference in the luck of the two men was that Hornabrook was in the rough on six occasions and every time experienced ideal lies, whereas his partner was off the fairway only twice and both times the ball was in a difficult position. A bad start lost Mortland the first hole. Hie tee shot found the river and he completed the hole in five. Hornabrook was two up at the third which was halved. From that stage until the turn bogey figures were obtained by both players. Driving from the ninth Hornabrook went down the river bank, and with his second entered the rough but chipped on to the green, finishing the hole for a magnificent four. Mortland missed his putt and was out in five, finishing the outward journey in 40 against Hornabrook’s 38. Hornabrook maintained his lead until the twelfth, but Mortland took the thirteenth in four strokes, which included a chip and a putt against his opponent’s chip and two putts. The fourteenth and fifteenth were halved in bogey figures, and the sixteenth was halved in birdie fours. With the seventeenth also halved, Mortland made a wonderful bid to even at the eighteenth. After hooking from tfoe tee his second shot passed over a tree and came to rest near the first green. His fifth shot, which was only a five yard putt, lipped the hole and he holed out in six. Hornabrook drove first to the right of the bunker, but a poor second entered the bunker only five yards away. He was on the green in four to hole out in six. Brinsden Eliminated Honours in the Rotorua and Napier tournaments recently were apparently no assurance for H. D. Brinsden, the outstanding Auckland player of this season. Matched against the veteran, T. Horton, his chances should have been bright, but Trinsden definitely was off his game at the big tournament this week, and with trouble confronting him at almost every green he was eliminated by Horton, who has won the title twice previously. The South Auckland title holder, B. G. Thomson, is playing at the top of his form at present, and in the first round he had little difficulty in eliminating the youthful K. C. Ward.

Kitto Equals Course Record

With a background of knowledge of use of the golf club since the age of seven, but merely four years in club play, combined with confidence in his own ability, the 19-year-old Seafield champion, R. F. Kitto, leaped to the position of one of the finest amateur golfers in the Dominion to-day when, playing in his second New Zealand championship tournament, he unofficially equalled the course record at St. Andrews with a brilliant round of 69. The feat cannot be recognised as it was not accomplished in stroke play, but after winning his first round match in the Amateur Championship against Pax G. F. Smith, the young Auckland star, with a score of five and three, Kitto completed the course to finish in the remarkable figures of 69, which are five strokes below the standard scratch score. A farmer by occupation, Kitto has played on a private course at his home in Brunswick since childhood. He is one of a golfing family. His round to-day was mainly a result of almost consummate putting, but his other work, too, was brilliant. The record is jointly held by Sloane Morpeth, B. G. Thomson and R. H. Glading. Kitto’s card read: —

Overcoming the formidable opposition of the promising young professional, N. H. Fuller, E. J. Moss indicated to-day that he will be one of the leading contenders for the Professional Championship. His victory three and two, was never in doubt, but Moss did not play his best golf. However, the strain was never really on, and had it been necessary he could probably

have done better with his irons on the fairway. His tee work was good, while on the green he was in good form. Fuller has played good golf throughout the tournament, but his form has not been so good as was generally anticipated.

Smith Beats Clements

Leading all the way. B. J. Smith junr. finished four up with three to play when he met J. A. Clements this morning. When the first two holes were completed Smith was two up, and the next two were halved in bogey figures. A beautiful approach shot by Smith at the fifth was not taken full advantage of when he lipped the hole. He took the seventh with a three and at the turn was three up. The return journey saw Smith increase his lead, and at the eleventh he was five up, having holed the tenth in three and the eleventh in four. He was stymied at the twelfth for four, and lost the fourteenth when he failed to hole a fairly easy putt, but took the fifteenth after his second shot fell nine feet short of the flag. Clements, who had been fighting back hard, lost his chance when he was bunkered at this hole.

That tremendous drive that has become associated with the name of A. E. Guy was a little rough to-day, with a result that the likeliest of the young professionals did not perform brilliantly in the first round of the championship. However, he defeated G. W. Ritchie, commanding the game throughout after losing the first hole. Guy went out in 38. His game was fairly sound throughout with the exception of lapses at three greens where he needed three putts to find the cup. Even Pegging Even pegging throughout marked the match between E. S. Douglas and A. Dyke. On the outward journey Douglas was 2 up and was playing the steadier golf. However, coming home Dyke held the ultimate winner well in check, and at the fourteenth he was one up. A series of halves ended at the seventeenth, when Douglas holed for a birdie three with a chip shot off the green, this making the honours even. Dyke was bunkered at the eighteenth, which was won by Douglas.

Bell Defeats Clements

A sensation came in the first round when the title holder, C. C. Clements, was put into the gallery for the rest of the series by Norrie Bell, the North Shore professional, who flashed back to form after his mediocre displays in the open. His defeat, however, was no reflection on the title holder, but rather a brilliant achievement by Bell, for the golf was great throughout and many of the holes were won in eagle figures. Clements’s golf was not good over the first nine holes, but he came back to it well when his opponents’ lead was too big a hurdle. It was Clements’s shot to the pin that let him down, and his mashie niblick did not push far enough, repeatedly leaving him with difficult putts. Bell had the advantage of local knowledge, but his victory was really a result of a great improvement around the carpet and on the green itself. He played his best golf of the tournament so far. Bell started off with a birdie to w T in the first hole, but Clements won the next with an eagle three. Bogey figures halved the third, but Bell holed in an eagle to win the fourth. At the turn Bell was three up, after going out in 37, one under scratch. Bogey figures enabled the pair to halve the next four holes. Bell won at the seventeenth after a great game.

DOMINION WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

SEMI-FINALISTS FOUND By Telegraph—Press association NAPIER, October 5 The New Zealand Women’s Golf Championship was continued at the Waiohiki links this morning, in glorious weather. Under perfect conditions the quarter-finals in the championship were played, excellent form being shown by the contestanta in each match. As a result of the play, two Australians, Miss E. M. Hutton and Mrs Sloan Morpeth were eliminated by Mrs G. Hollis and Miss P. Helean respectively. Miss S. Tolhurst, the remaining Australian, had a comfortable win, and goes into the semi-final. There were large galleries of spectators who watched the matches with keen interest. Miss Horwell Eliminated Miss J. Betts started of scratchily in her match with Miss Jean Horwell, to be three down after six holes had been played. The seventh was halved in par three, and then Miss Betts turned on par figures at the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth, to win all of these five holes, and from three down she became two up. Miss Horwell won the thirteenth in par four, and the short fourteenth was halved in threes. Then Miss Betts took the next two holes in par figures, to win the match three up and two. Miss Horwell, who has been playing exceedingly well during the tournament, seemed to lose touch in the middle of the game. However, it would have taken very good figures to have held Miss Betts after the sixth hole.

Mrs Hollis Wins Her Game

The match between Mns G. Hollis and Miss E. M. Hutton attracted the most interest. Miss Hutton took the first hole by sinking a fifteen foot putt in par four. Mrs Hollis, after a good drive, sliced her second, and holed out in five. A succession of halves then followed until the eighth was reached. Here Miss Hutton played a poor tee shot, but recovered well, and hit a great brassie shot, which finished in a bunker alongside the green. She chipped out, but failed to hole out in five, Mrs Hollis squaring the game with a well played five. Miss Hutton took the fifth in birdie four, to be one up at the turn. The tenth was halved in four, and Mrs Hollis again squared the match at the next hole, winning by a five to a six. The twelfth was halved in fours, and Mtb Hollis took the lead at the thirteenth with a well-played four. She secured a three at the next, to be two up. However, she lost the next, but at the sixteenth she holed a chip shot from off the green to place her dormie two. The seventeenth was halved in well-played threes, giving Mrs Hollis the match, two up and one.

Both played very good golf, Miss Hutton being unfortunate in making occasional mistakes to let her opponent in on the second nine holes. Mrs Hollis’s figures for the 17 holes plaj’ed were 73.

Miss Tolhurst Survives

By defeating Mrs Wilson, Miss Tolhurst was the sole Australian to ei.ter the semi-finals. At the first hole Miss Tolhurst found a bunker, taking six to Mrs Wilson’s four. Both were short with their second shots at the second hole, and took five. The third was halved with par fives, and the fourth also, and the sixth. At the seventh, after duffing a drive into the rough. Mrs Wilson conceded the hole, squaring the match. Miss Tolhurst took the following three, the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth: The fourteenth was halved. Miss Tolhurst taking the fifteenth, to win four up and three.

An Exciting Duel.

After an exciting duel, Miss Helean defeated Mrs Morpeth at the nineteenth. Halving the first hole, Mrs Morpeth lost the second by one stroke. The match was squared at the third, and both failed to reach the green at the fourth. Miss Helean chipping beautifully to win the hole. At the fifth Miss Helean struck the trees with her drive, and took one more than her opponent to reach the green. Each took two putts to square the match. Putting indifferently, Miss Helean lost the sixth and the seventh, the following hole being halved. The ninth was Miss Helean’s. Mrs Morpeth taking the tenth. At the long eleventh, Miss Helean, after an indifferent drive, played a fine approach to within six feet of the pin to hole in three, winning the hole in a birdie four. Miss Helean ran through with her second at the difficult twelfth, and failing to get up with her approach, lost the hole five to four, making Mrs Morpeth two up. Miss Helean won the next hole by five to six, and also the fourteenth, when her opponent failed with an easy three-foot putt. This squared the .natch. With four holes to play. Mrs Morpeth again failed with her putts, and lost the next. Miss Helean had a chance of making the game dormie at the sixteenth, but she was short with a ten-foot putt, the hole being halved in par fives. Mrs Morpeth reached the green at the short sevententh. Miss Helean pulling her’s to the left. However, she approached to within six feet, and made no mistake with the putt for a half in three. With the match dormie one, both drove well at the eighteenth, but Miss Helean found a bunker with her second. Mns Morpeth was fortunate in bouncing over the bunker on to the green. Miss Helean played a beautiful chip out near the pin, but she lipped the hole with her putt back, Mrs Morpeth taking two, and squaring the match.

Miss Helean’s drive at the nineteenth was a little fine, and Mrs Morpeth was on the green with her second. Miss Helean’s second just finished four feet from the pin. Mrs Morpeth took two putts, ar.d Miss Helean sank her putt for the hole and the match.

The semi-final of the championship is to be played on Thursday. The results of the quarter-finals were:

Mrs G. Hollis beat Miss E. M. Hutton, 2 up and 1. Miss J. Betts beat Miss J. Horwell, 3 up and 2. Miss S. Tolhurst beat Mrs Wilson, 4 up and 3. Miss P. Helean beat Mrs S. Morpeth at the 19th.

In the semi-finals to be played on Thurso -lining Mrs G. Hollis plays Miss J. Betts, and Miss S. Tolhurst plays Miss P. Helean.

Donnelly Cup

After the fourth round of the championship had beep completed to-day the Donnelly Cup, an 18 hole medal handicap, was played. The match resulted in a win for Miss J. Brodie (13), Wellington, who returned a net score of 71. In the first division Miss O. Smith returned a score 82-10-72 to win the trophy for the best net score. In that division the trophy for the best gross score w’as won by Mrs G. Hollis, who returned a card of 81. Following were the best scores returned:—

Mellsop Cup

The Mellsop Cup, for the best aggregate gross score of three medal rounds was won by Mrs R. S. Fullerton-Smith 78-77-83; total 238. The best scores were:—

Jessie Reid Rose Bowl Mrs R. S. Fullerton-Smith (4) also won this event, which was for the best aggregate net score of three medal rounds, with a total of 226. Following were the best scores returned, the net scores only being given:— Mrs R. S. Fullerton-

Innes Cup The district teams’ match for the Innes Cup, for the best aggregate for a team of four, was won by Canterbury A with ascore of 338. The best scores were: — Canterbury A Miss V. Fleming 83 Miss M. Beadel 83 Miss H. Buchanan 86 Mrs A. C. McKillop 86 Total 338 Taranaki Mrs G. Hollis 81 Mrs I. Rota 82 Miss K. O’Sullivan 87 Miss J. Meuli 96 Total 346 Hawke’s Bay C Miss O Smith 82 Mrs K. Tareha 86 Mrs P. C. Holmes 93 Mrs E. M. Cross 88 Total 349

Manawatu A Mrs R. S. Fullerton-Smith 83 Miss J. Duncan 84 Miss C. Wilson 89 Miss G. Seifert 95 Total 351 Hawke’s Bay B Mrs F. McFadgen 83 Miss M. Ormond 95 Mrs Crerar 90 Miss M. Jefferd 84 Total 352 Otago—Southland A Miss N. O'Kane .... B3 Miss Claire Smith 91 Mrs F. G. Hall-Jones 91 Mrs H. Dodgshun 87 Total 352

LADIES’ GOLF UNION

NEXT CHAMPIONSHIPS AT NEW PLYMOUTH By Telegraph—Press Association NAPIER, October 5. A decision to hold the next championship meeting at New Plymouth was made at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union. The delegates also decided that in future the venue of the championships would be chosen by the Executive Council, and, as at present, the championships will be held in the South Island every third year. The election of officers resulted:— Patroness, MrsH.C.Mellsop (Rotorua); president, Mrs T. D. M. Stout (Wellington); Executive Council, Mesdames J. C. Finlay (Auckland), G. Kelly (Hawke’s Bay), L. Seifert (Manawatu), E. G. Kerr (South Canterbury—North Otago), Mrs F. G. Hall-Jones (Otago— Southland), Miss L. Lucas (Nelson— West Coast—Marlborough).

PLEASANT POINT CLUB The Pleasant Point Golf Club held its official closing day on the Cralgewan links on Saturday. There was a good attendance of members. A mixed foursome was played over nine holes, the winners being Miss M. Davidson and N. Evans, with a net score of 30, four strokes under bogey. The president, Mr F. Simmons, extended a welcome to the visitors, and hoped the members had enjoyed their golf during the season. Before asking Mrs Simmons to present the prizes, he congratulated the winners of the various grades. The prizes were presented as follows:

Women—Senior championship, Miss C. Whitefield; junior championship, Miss J. Millar.

Men—Senior championship, W. Reid; intermediate championship, A. Simmons; junior championship, P. Parr; Jessie Miller challenge cup, F. Simmons.

Out—3 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 4—35 In—3 4433453 3—34 Total ' 69

Miss J. Brodie .. 84 13—71 Miss O. Smith .. 82 10—72 Mrs A. O. Wellwood .. .. 88 16—72 Mrs I. Rota .. 82 9—73 Miss K. O’Sullivan .. .. 87 14—73 Miss J. Smith .. 86 13—73 Miss N. O'Kane .. 83 9—74 Mrs W. McLennan .... .. 92 18—74 Miss M. Jefferd .. .. .. 84 9—75 Mrs G. Williams .. .. .. 85 10—75 Mrs C. S. Geddis .. .. .. 89 14—75

Mrs R. S. Fullerton--Smith 78 77 83—238 Miss V. Fleming . 82 78 83—243 Mrs G. Hollis .. . 86 77 81—244 Miss B. Kernot.. . 81 83 82—246 Miss M. Beadel .. .. ..80 84 83—247 Miss J. Duncan .. .. ..82 82 84—248

Smith (4) 74 73 79—226 Miss K. O’Sullivan (14) 73 81 73—227 Mrs C. S. Geddis (14) .. 79 76 75—230 Mrs K. Tareha (10) .. 79 75 76—230 Miss M. Beadel (5) .. .. 74 79 78—231 Mrs W. McLennan (18).. 79 79 74—232 Mrs A. O. Wellwood (16) 80 80 72—232 Miss J. Duncan (5) .. .. 77 77 79—233 Miss E. Harkness (13) .. 82 72 79—233 Mrs J. Hunter (15) .. .. 81 75 77—233