GOLF CHAMPIONS.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17695, 20 September 1929, Page 5

GOLF CHAMPIONS.

CONTEST AT WANGANUI.

OPENS ON SEPTEMBER 27

NOTES ON PLAYERS.

Throughout New Zealand golfing interest is now centred on the Dominion championships which commence at Wanganui on September 27 and conclude with the final for the amateur title on October 5. The first two days of the tournament will see the classic 72 holes stroke struggle for the open title, and the leading 36 amateurs in this test will then proceed by match play over 36 holes to fight for the amateur crown. With entries totalling 100, 17 of which have been received from professionals, the elimination by ballot or handicap of some of the amateurs will be necessary to bring the field down to the requisite 72 competitors.

The Belmont links are in excellent order for the meeting, improvements to the lay-out having been made by the green committee during the past year in accordance with recommendations made by the Auckland professional, E. S. Douglas. Any mention of the condition of the links would be incomplete without reference to the hard work and technical knowledge of the Belmont professional, F. Branch, in bringing them up to their present state of perfection.

The most notable absentee from the tournament will be Dr K. Ross, of Dunedin. He will be the only member of the Kirk-Windeyer Cup team which recently visited Australia who will not be competing. - The Open (Championship.

Concurrently with the stroke play for the open will be played the qualifying rounds for the amateur. Fresh from his triumphs in Australia, New Zealand's open champion, Sloan Morpeth,'will defend his title. His most noteworthy performances on the links, including his victory in the Victorian amateur against the most classic field ever assembled together in Australia, is of too recent date to be forgotten. In the Australian open Morpeth had his off-day, which considerably reduced his aggregate score, though he was leading at one stage, and in the Commonwealth test for the amateur title he was unlucky to go down to M. J. Ryan in the final. Great stroke player as he is, however, it seems that Morpeth has been consistently brilliant and successful in man-to-man match play than in stroke play.

His chances in the amateur seem particularly rosy, while he also stands out as the most prominent amateur in the game. The Professionals.

Of the professionals, both A. J. Shaw and J. D. Mcintosh have benefited by their recent Australian experience, and both should give good accounts of themselves in the'. Open. Shaw won the open at,Mirarhar three years ago, and last year was "unnerup to Morpeth, while Mcintosh was third, in addition to winning the professional title. They are both of the Scottish school of golfers, and are sound players,, capable of making full use of all their clubs. E. S. Douglas should do well. He did not show up to advantage in the championships a year ago at Dunedin, but then had only been in the Dominion but a few weeks, a long sea voyage from Britain not being conducive to championship golf. Norrie Bell, who recently turned "pro" and is attached to St. Andrew's at "Hamilton, is reported to have had some good rounds of late. E. J. Moss will be competing this yean Owing to ill-health he did not compete last year. He won the. open at Hamilton two years ago. and his chances cannot be ignored. The iMiiramar professional, R. C. Butters, is always well up in the open. Last year he was .fourth, and his chances will have to be reckoned with, for he is one who is likely to make an effective challenge for the title.

What Will Win the Open

Last year the open was won with an aggregate of 303. The previous year it was somewhat better, 300, and in 1927, at Miramar, the title was