KIRK-WINDEYER CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 9

KIRK-WINDEYER CUP

INTERNATIONAL GOLF AUSTRALI4 AND N.Z. HONOURS EVEN IK FOURSOMES [ Per Press Association. | AUCKLAND. April 6. With one success to each of the New Zealand ami ?’ South Wales teams, honours.we: t the end of the first day’s p’ contest for the Kirk-Windcyi . 11. Horton and B. V. Wright . -aland) beat \V. R. Dobson and P. i’. Hughes (New South Wales) 1 up. while C. C. Ruwal 1 and H. M. Cutler (Now South Walts’) defeated B. Al. Silk and J. P. Homabrook (New Zealand) 2 up. The weather was beautifully fine and warm. There was a large attendance of the public, more particularly in the afternoon. The majority rJ the spectator? followed No. I match in the morning but the “gallery” was more evenlydivided aftor lunch. E. L. Apporly, the New South Wale? captain, stood down but he will participate in the singles to-morrow. The course was a little faster than it had been when the players practised upon it earlier in the week, and all eight failed at times to gauge the changed conditions. Almost without exception the stan dard of play was disappointing. Th) • is revealed by the figures as the average of the round wa? about 80, or Bevan strokes worse than the scratch score for the course, a true indication of the golf played. The chief weakness of the New Zealand team’s was their putting and the lack of confidence which the pairs appeared to have in each other. Both Horton and Wright putted lamentably at times, for which little excuse could be found, seeing that the greens were in such perfect condition. Silk and Hornabrook were not a happy combination, playing throughout with little cohesion. Both made far too many mistakes at critical times for participants in a test match . This war particularly the case at the fifteenth hole in the afternoon, when Silk displayed bad judgment and it can truly be said that the result of the match hinged on tho playing of this hob Wright drove well throughout, but he was indecisive on the greens. Horton was not up to his usual standard, developing a dangerous hook with his tec shots which at times gave Iris partners a difficult line to the hole. Dobson quite unaccountably failed in his greatest strength, high shots to tho green, cutting them into waiting bunkers on four or five occasions. Hughes was very shaky at the start and it was only Towards tho end of the first round and later in the afternoon that he really settled down to give a glimpse of his capabilities. Silk’s long game was most unreliable, many of his drives and second shots being badly hit, but he made amends several times by sinking useful putts, one at the thirteenth or fully 30 foot being a brilliant effort. Hornabrok drove fairly well and mado some good recoveries from bad shots by his partner, but he was’woak on the greens. The quality of the golf played by both Ruwald and Cutler scarcely deserved the result obtained. Too many drives were pulled and hazard? were encountered much too frequently, but fortunately for the pair their opponents were unable to take advantage of these mistakes. However, the finish ing effort of the Australians cannot be overlooked, as they won two of the lawt three holes and halved the final ono. Th« fact that each side had won one match, with the visitors leading by the narrow margin of 0r.6 hole, in the event of a final tie lends greater interest to the singles matches, which will be decided to-morrow. Judging by the attendance to day there is every likelihood of a record crowd for an Auckland golf match being present to-mor row. The Governor-General will bo among the spectators and ho will present tho Kirk-Windeyor Cup to the winning team at the conclusion of play. Changes in Both Teams. With the exception of tho first two players changes have boon made in both golf teams for the singles matches. Apporly, tho New South Wales captain, replaces Cutler and will play in third position, in opposition to Hornabrook. Menzies comes into the New Zealand team in fourth place and he will meet Ruwald. The inclusion of tho Auckland Club member will be popular with local followers of the game. Mcnzios and Ruwald will leave the first tec at 9.45 a.m. and the order or play of other pairs will bo Hornabrook v. Apporly, Wright v. Hughes, Horton v. Dobson.