MRS WILLIAMS WINS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16553, 12 October 1921, Page 10

MRS WILLIAMS WINS.

AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. A GREAT GAME. (From Our Correspondent.) WELLINGTON,. October 11. The final of the New Zealand ladies’ golf championship was played to-dav on the Kerctaunga links in a downpour of rain, the finalists being Mrs Guy Williams (Masterton) and Miss Muriel Payton (Auckland). The course was of thirtysi;: holes. Miss Payton is a strong young player of great promise. She gave a very confident display against. Mrs Williams (Australian champion), who has been playing the most perfect golf right through the tournament. Mrs Williams’s golf appears to have improved enormously. Her wooden shots are so perfect as to become almost monotonous to watch, while her putting is worthy of note, being accurate and consistent. Mrs Guy Williams is truly a golfer of great nerve. THE PLAY. The final was commenced in drizzling rain this morning. The course was heavy, and consequently was favourable to Mrs Williams, who won the first three holes, 4-5, 4-6 and 3-4. At the fourth hole she was laid a dead stymie, and the hole was halved in five. Mrs Williams three up Miss Payton won the next hole in three, just missing a two. The sixth was halved in five. The seventh went to Mrs. Williams with a five to Miss Payton’s seven. The eighth was halved in six. Mrs Williams gave tip the ninth hole, driving into the creek and at the turn was two up. At the tenth hole Miss Payton played a beautiful approach, and the hole was halved in four. At the eleventh hole Miss Payton was laid a dead stymie, and lost the hole 5 6 Mrs Williams three up. Miss Payton recovered at the twelfth, and reduced the lead, winning the hole. The thirteenth hole was halved in five. The fourteenth was Miss Payton’s, with a lovely approach, in 3. Mrs Williams 1 up. The fifteenth hole, to tile Terrace green, was won by Miss Payton, 3-4. AIJ square. Superior driving gave Mrs Williams the sixteenth hole and the lead, but at the seventeenth Miss Payton recovered wonderfully out of a bunker, and won in 4. The last hole. *hp eighteenth. 405 yards, found Mrs Williams better on the drive and approach, and she won the hole in I, firnrhing the first round of the course. ‘-Trs Williams was the more powerful driver, but was out-putted at the later stages. The afternoon round began at 1.30 o'clock in steady rain. Mrs Williams missed a short putt for the first hole, but halved in five. She won the second in four and the third in three, making her three up. The fourth, fifth and sixth were halved. Mrs Williams made a bad shot at the seventh hole, which she lost, but she gained the eighth, and turning for home Mrs Williams was leading by three. The eleventh hole was halved, and Miss Payton, playing excellently, won the next three holes, the game being all square at the conclusion of the fourteenth hole. There was no alteration at the fifteenth, but Miss Payton lost, a good chance at the sixteenth. Mr? Williams being dormie. Mrs Williams should have won the seventeenth but she missed an easy putt. All square again. After an excellent exhibition of golf Airs Williams won the championship at the thirtyseventh hole. NOTES ON THE GAME. A large crowd of golfing enthusiasts watched the final of the ladies’ golf championship, despite the weather. Physically there could hardly have been greater difference between the two finalists, Mrs Guy Williams being tall and strong, while Miss* Payton is short and slight. As was expected the heavy course favoured Airs Williams, whose driving for the greater part carried her many yards beyond her opponent’s shot, but Alias Payton, by means of some remarkable recoveries in approaching and putting, made up this handicap. After being three down at the turn in the first eighteen holes Aliss Payton succeeded in getting all square at the fifteenth hole and again at the seventeenth and at the eighteenth. At the end of the first round she was only one down, and at no stage during the morning play was Alias Payton more than three down. At the seventeenth hole, when one down, she bunkered, but played a superb lifting shot to the green and holed in four to Mrs Williams’s five, making the scores all square. Airs Muliams won the next in four to Miss Payton’s five, with a four-foot putt, and so was one up when the second round was commenced. Aliss Payton deserves all credit for a plucky and strong fight. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The presentation of prizes was made by her Excellency Lady Jellicoe, in the presence of a large gathering. Lady Jellieoe mentioned that it was the first occasion that the ladies’ championship had exceeded tliirty-six holes. TOURNAMENT NOTES AND FINAL RESULTS. After the presentation of prizes Mrs Guy Williams, on behalf of the lady golfers of New Zealand, presented a wellfilled purse to Airs Alellsop, the retiring honorary secretary of the Ladies’ Golf Union. Airs Orbell, on behalf of the visiting golfers, presented to Miss Kennedy, Aliss Ward and Aliss Erig, the acting-secre-taries of the Wellington Golf Club, small tokens in appreciation of their kindness and courtsey to all visiting players. A beautiful afternoon tea was given by the Wellington Golf Club, which was attended by their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral. Lord Jellicoe, anil Lady Jellicoe, Airs Williams sitting on Lord J ellicoe’s right and Aliss Payton on his left. The win from the tie for- the Ladies’ Golf Union Bowl between Mrs Dodgshun and Miss Payton fel} to Airs Dodgshun, owing to Aliss Payton scratching. The play-off for the Rattray Cup tie was won by Airs Weston from Aliss Helmore. The second bogev handicap was won by Miss Mantell in the first division and by Miss Macfarlane in the second division. Tho four-ball bogey match was won by Airs Orbell and Mrs Dodgshun, 3 up, a good performance in the pouring rain.