GOLF NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 4

GOLF NOTES

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I'he day for which a great many golfers in the Dominion have been waiting for months is almost here. The New Zealand national golf championships will commence at the Shirley links to-morrow. A good lield is engaged, and the leading players of the I Dominion will be among those contesting the open championship, which will be decided on the four rounds of stroke play to-morrow and Friday. Included is the holder of the championship, A. J. Shaw, whose play at Wanganui for several weeks prior to his departure for the Hutt tournament indicated that ho is as well fitted as ever for his big ■ task.

Wanganui enthusiasts will watch with interest the progress of B. M. Silk in the amateur championship, for this promising young player would only need a little of the proverbial luck of the game to find a high niche in the national tournament. It will be remembered that twelve months ago, when the venue of the championship tournament was Hokowhitu, Silk shared sixth place in the open championship with the Tongariro professional, Galloway, while his aggregate of 308 for the four rounds was better than that of any other amateur but the veteran D. C. Collins, of Wairarapa. That was a feat of which the youthful player might well be proud, and if he can improve on his previous displays when ho takes his place in the field for the Open tomorrow and Friday he should go close to heading the amateurs in the big championship. ***** Silk is not always seen to advantage in match play, and it is for this reason that one must not be too sanguine of his chances of emerging from the amateur championship contest with the coveted honour. Last year the Wanganui youth got as far as the second round, at which stage he was eliminated by the veteran, A. IX 8. Duncan, who, by the way, is selected as being likely to play a prominent part in this year’s championship. On that occasion Silk went under 7 and 6 to his more experienced opponent after sticking close to Duncan in the morning but weakening in the atfernoon round. Perhaps the luck of the automatic draw may operate more in favour of Silk this year, and it may be that he will be found contesting the final stages.

Two Wanganui players who will be missing from the contestants this year are Cathro and Reilly, neither of whom could see his way clear to make the trip. Those who remember Cathro’s splendid displays of the past two seasons, each of which carried him into the semi-finals, will regret that the Castlecliff and Wanganui champion could not be a contestant again. In the second round last year Cathro simply annihilated such an experienced player as Dr. Boss, proving himself the personification of steadiness and accuracy. Play with the cream of New Zealand’s golfers has added to Cathro’s poise and self-confidence. It is noted that, on occasions, Cathro’s putting is not quite up to standard, but that can be improved.

In the case of Eeilly, it appeared likely that the ex-Wanganui player would show improvement on his form of last year, when he was not eliminated until the third round of the championship was reached, Harold Black beating him 4 and 3. As Harold Black went on to win the title there was a good deal of merit in Beilly’s form, and it’s a pity that he will be missing to-morrow.

In addition to Silk, Wanganui will be represented in the Open and the Amateur by J. Goss and J. M. Hussey. The first-named suffered defeat in the Hutt tournament, being eliminated in the semi-finals, but he is playing in something like his old form again and can be relied on to improve on his last year’s aggregate of 324, which was only one stroke behind that of H. A. Black. When it comes to match play Goss is hard to beat, for he has had many years’ experience.

While on the subject of the Amateur championship, it is interesting to recall the situation which arose in the final last year at Hokowhitu, when the issue rested between H. A. Black and his brother, J. L. Black, the first-named eventually proving the winner. Cathro, H. A. Black, Horton and J. L. Black had reached the semi-finals, and the two brothers disposed of their respective opponents with identical margins, each winning 2 and 1. Cathro finished the morning round 1 up, and was still leading by that margin at the 23rd, but the match was squared at the 24th, and then H. A. Black took the lead, running out the winner. With J. L. Black’s defeat of Horton the - unique situation arose of two brothers fighting out the final, and it was generally expected that J. L. would prove the winner. He had been a trier for the title for many years, having reached the semi-finals on eight occasions in ten years, while this made the fourth time that he had been one of the finalists. The unexpected happened, however, and Harold Black won in an uninteresting final, 6up and 4to play. It was the first occasion on which he had beaten his brother in the final of a club or any other championship. It will be interesting to see how the two brothers fare this year. In the field for the national championship the North Island is well represented, and Wellington particularly so, though there are several good golfers, including D. O. Whyte, who will not be there, comments “Chipshot” in the Evening Post. On his present form A. D. 8. Duncan looks like the winner of the Amateur. He has already proved that Shirley is a course that suits him, and certainly never played better than now. T. 11. Horton showed a lapse of requested to make a point to keep this date free in order that a happy evening may be spent before the club breaks up for the warmer months, and the harriers disperse to their various summer sports. The Technical High School boy, L. Robinson, who ran with the harriers last Saturday week to obtain extra training for the school crosscountry championship, evidently gained what he required, for he came home first in that event. It is to be hoped that he will join up with the club on leaving school and continue his good work.

form at the Hutt, and J. Hornabrook was no better. Bad form is never likely to cling to this pair long, however, and both should do well at Shirley. Collins has shown some very fine play lately, and with J. C. Bidwill, is quite capable of doing the Wairarapa credit. On his form, J. L. Black, with a recent Te Aroha record to his credit, should go further than H. A. Black, whose recovery of form since he discarded the steel shafts, though appreciable, has been too spasmodic to serve at a national meeting. First-rate opponents, however, always seem to bring out the best golfer in both these players. Morgan Duncan, J. L. Petley, and L. Buist are a trio of sound golfers who may get a lucky run. Of those best known elsewhere than in Wellington, E. M. Macfarlane, on his own course, which he knows so well that if his feet were placed for him he coulcP almost play it blindfold, is the chief obstacle to the North Island contingent. Knotted in the fury of the finish of his drive, Marfarlane looks anything but a golfer, but past years have proved that he is seldom off the line, judges his iron distances uncannily well, uses a sure mashie, and putts very disconcertingly for his opponent. Blank is a Christchurch player who never seems to reproduce his best form in the national meetings, but he is to be reckoned with in match play. A. G. Sime is sure to win several of his matches. B. M. Silk and B. V. Wright are likely to show up well of the younger brigade.

The Open is generally accepted as being a certainty” for the holder of the title, Shaw, and he would be a brave prophet indeed who would attempt to select anyone else to lead the field over the four rounds. Last year Shaw held a commanding lead of 15 strokes after the first two rounds had been played, doing a 69 and a 68. All that was required of him in the third and fourth rounds was two steady rounds, which he produced to retain the title he had won a year earlier at Belmont. At the same time he established an Australasian record, his aggregate of 284 beating Kirkwood’s 290. In face of the fact that his aggregate was 18 strokes better than that of Rutter and Mclntosh, the two professionals, and D. C. Collins, the leading amateur, who all tied with 302, it is unlikely that he will be deposed if he reproduces anything like his winning form of the past two seasons.

It was in the match play which followed the Open that Shaw was defeated by the brilliant Rutter in the contest for the Professional title, and as Rutter went on to beat Mclntosh in the final and secure the championship, it would appear likely that Rutter will be well in the running again this year. At any rate, it may be expected that Shaw, Rutter and Mclntosh will lead in the professional aggregate this year. Soafield Shots

Seafield Club members spent a very enjoyable time playing host to the Waverley and Rangitikei visitors, who were loud in their praise of the links and the excellent greens. It is evident that the interchange of visits is much appreciated. Club matches are well up to date, all things considered, though it may be found necessary to use the scratching pencil on the names of a few dilatory ones. They will have only themselves to blame if this course is found necessary by the committee. The approaches to the majority of the greens are carrying a growth of grass, which is being well cut in preparation for the big tournament, and will provide a splendid surface for players. It should not be overlooked that entries for the tournament close next Wednesday.

Castlecliff ChipsThe Nathan Cup match against the Patea challengers on Saturday proved one of the most closely contested that ha been staged at tl e Castlecliff links since the trophy was secured by the Castlecliff Club close, on thaeo years ago. A putt for a half on the last green decided the issue and enabled the holders to share the honours with Patea and retain the trophy. Next Saturday another Nathan Cup match will be played, this time against the second challenge of the Wanganui Club, and as it is understood that a strong team is being sent from Belmont a tough tussle is expected. As a result of last Saturday’s round T. Ruane has played himself into th? Nathan Cup team, while his handicap has been reduced considerably. A trophy for the runner-up in the senior championship has been donated by Mr. Walter Gibson, of Castlecliff. Castlecliff,Ladies. A considerable amount of interest was displayed by members of the Castlecliff Ladies’ Golf Club in the progress of Mrs. Cook in the New Zealand ladies’ tournament at Rotorua. In suffering defeat at the hands of a champion like Miss O. Kay, Mrs. Cook was not disgraced. In the Senior Division Miss L. Broadhead won the L.G.U. Medal and in the | Junior Division Mrs. Bristol was the i winner. The standard of play has been very high this year. Reductions in handicaps are the rule, eight players having earned their first L.G.U. handicap and throe juniors having become seniors. The junior championship proved a close match, Mrs. J. Dean defeat!ig Mrs. C. C. Smith in the final. Mish E. Wilson has again reduced her hamJcap. She has been most consistent curing the season, and if she could get the practice the would be a firstcLs3 player. Mrs. A. W. Brown was the winner of the Benner Cup, with Miss Paton the runner up. It is most encouraging to see two young players doing so well and it should not be long before th?y earn their handicaps. The latest junior to join the senior ranks is Mrs. J. Dean, to whom much credit is due as she has tried hard throughout the season to attain this goal. . Some astonishing scores were recorded in a 36 holes competition in Eng’and for golfers left with the use of only one arm, as a result of war wounds. The contest was played at Moore Park, and won by A. W. Edwards (of the Penn Club, Wolverhampton) with rounds of 70 and 72. Edwards, who won the Sir lan Hamilton trophy, lost his right arm at Cambrai in 1917, and did not begin golf until after the war. His handicap was 24. P. M. Weaver was second with an aggregate of 153. A. Wilson, the wellknown Chelsea and Scotland footballer, was third with a total of 156 (handicap 16).