GOLDEN GOLF YEAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21308, 30 March 1939, Page 5

GOLDEN GOLF YEAR

Dominion’s Record Programme

Big Money For Centennial Tournaments

As is only fitting in New Zealand's Centennial year, the Dominion in 1939 will present the most attractive golfing programme the country has ever seen. The New Zealand Golf Council has risen to the occasion well, and the £2OOO in prize money which has been allocated for the tournaments which are to be staged in Auckland. Christchurch and Wellington in October and November next, it is hoped, will attract some world-renowned professional golfers to these shores. The Auckland open tournament will be held on October 23 and 24, and this will be followed by an open tournament in Christchurch on November 2 and 3. Then will come the biggest tournament the New Zealand Golf Assocation has ever held. This will be the meeting on the Miramar links. Wellington, at which the New Zealand open, amateur, professional, and foursomes championships of the Dominion for 1939 will be decided from November 9 to November 17.

Everyone is hoping that a few of the leading professional golfers of Great Britain and the United States may be tempted to visit New Zealand for the Centennial celebrations. Such big purses are offered for important tournaments in those countries that the prize money offered in New Zealand this year will not seem big to them, but some of the better-known professionals may decide to visit New Zealand’s scenic attractions and, incidentally, attempt to lift the Dominion’s open golf title.

One great player we know will be a starter in the New Zealand open this year, and that will be the holder of the title, A. D. Locke, the brilliant young South African, who amazed the golfing world by his play in winning the Transvaal open a few weeks ago. Bobby Locke must be acknowledged to be as brilliant a golfer as there is

in the game to-day. He failed to win the British open last year, but later carried off the Irish open championship from a field which included Henry Cotton. Cotton has refused tc meet Locke this year in a special challenge match for £5OO. but the gauntlet has been taken up by A. H. Padgham, the British open champion. Locke will have another tilt for the British open this year, and his performances at that tournament will prove w’hether he is, as many critics declare, the best golfer in the world. Whether this be so. New Zealand was singularly fortunate in receiving a visit from this golfing prodigy last year, and is more fortunate in the fact that he is coming back this year tc defend his title.

We did not see the best of this great South African player last year. as. on his arrival in the Dominion, he contracted an attack of ptomaine poisoning. Notwithstanding this severe handicap. Locke succeeded in Dunedin in winning the New Zealand open title. It will be an entirely different B.bby Locke who will be seen in action this year. New Zealand Defenders On onlv two occasions has an overseas professional challenged for the New Zealand open golf title, and on both occasions he has taken the honour. In 1920. J, H. Kirkwood, the open champion of Australia, came to New Zealand and lifted the title in Hamilton, and last year Locke scored The fact that Locke took the title by only three strokes from the professionals B. J. Smith. ;iun.. Invercargill, and A. J. Shaw, Wellington, proved that New Zealand players are not so far behind the world's best. Will some New Zealand player this

year be able to say. “Hands off!” to Bobby Locke and any other overseas stars who may enter for the open? Alex. Murray, the unattached Auckland professional, who won the New Zealand open in Christchurch in 1935. and would have won it again in Hamilton in 1937 had he not disqualified himself by a technical breach of the rules, is at the top of his form just now. He won the open tournament in Rotorua a few weeks ago with fine scores foi the four rounds, and if he can reproduce this form at Miramar in November next, he might prove too good even for Bobby Locke. Murray, however likes a fast course. He was not too happy at New Plymouth in 1936. when he could come only seventeenth with rounds of 76, 79. 75. and 73. He was six strokes behind Bobby Locke in Dunedin last year with rounds of 77, 72. 72, 73. He is such a brilliant shotmaker. however, that he must be seriously reckoned with.

Can He Come Pack? An able golfer who will have a word to say before Locke again walks off with the New Zealand open title this year will be Andy Shaw. who. since 1926. has carried off the New Zealand open title seven times, and the professional championship on six occasions. Shaw was only three strokes behind Locke last year, his rounds bein; 72. 72. 77. 70. All that this player requires to put him at the top of the New Zealand golf tree again Is intensive practice, and this he has been unable to vet during the nest few rears. What of the Amateurs?

Though amateurs have won the New Zealand open golf title only six times in the nast. signs were not wanting in Dunedin last year that there are a band of young amateur, pressing forward in the Dominion who will have to he seriously reckoned -,lth in the future.

Of these. A. Gibbs, the Otago University nlaver. did best with rounds of 72. 73. 74. 73. which made him leading amateur, fow strokes behind Locke, and onlv one stroke behind Shaw and Basil Smith. Next came lan Ewen. Hutt, who was a stroke behind Gibbs, with rounds of 77. 68. 75. and 73. A stroke further back came V. B Reillv (then of Shandor but now of Hutt), and G. F Smirii (Akarana). These players are all golfers, and they handle their clubs so skilfully that they may ye’ have their names inscribed on the open cun be.sMe those other illustrious amateurs. Arthur Duncan (three times). E. M. Macfarlaiic. S Morpeth ai J. P Hornabrook.