GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 247, 18 October 1937, Page 4

GOLF

WANGANUI TITLE AMON WINS CHAMPIONSHIP DOWNS CATHRO IN FINAL TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES The Wanganui provincial golf championship tournament was concluded at the Belmont links on Saturday under ideal weather conditions, there being bright sunshine and only a light southerly breeze. The final of the championship, played in the afternoon, resulted in a win for N. H. Amon, of the Rangitikei Club, who defeated last year’s winner, L. Cathro, 4 up and 2 to play. Better golf has been seen than that provided in the final stages of the tournament, and the large gallery, which swelled to generous proportions in the afternoon, must have been a little disappointed. The conditions were ideal, the fairways being in splendid order, but the greens proved just a trifle fiery for some players. For the first time in thirteen years Mr J. Aylmer was not able to officiate as starter for the tournament, owing to his absence in Wellington. However, a worthy substitute was found in Mr C. Dunbar, who gave every satisfaction, and was ably assisted by Mr W. Gordon.

Following the conclusion of the finals of the various competitions, players and spectators to the number of some 300, gathered at the clubhouse verandah, where the various trophies were presented to the respective winners by Miss Jack, daughter of the president, Mr J. B. Jack. In addressing the gathering Mr Jack paid a tribute to the sister clubs for theiy generous support of the tournament, and also statea that the occasion was unique in that at least a dozen of the games had gone beyond the 18th green. The president also referred to the success of the younger players in this tournament as well as in still more important events.

The semi-finals of the championship were played in the morning, N. 11. Amon eliminating R. F. Kitto, who had defeated B. M. Silk the previous day, and L. Cathro entering the final when he downed the Seafield champion, M. Casey. Both games were won by similar margins, 4 up and 3 to play, and thus the 15th saw both games finish. In the afternoon the game was still alive at the 15th, but Cathro was dormy three and the end came at the next., Cathro and Casey. Th.-» Seaficld champion, M. Casey, was unable to hold his pwn against L. Cathro’s greater experience in theii semi-final, and at no stage was he in front. They halved the first three holes in par figures, but Casey slipped at the next to be 1 down. He lost another hole at the 6th through indifferent approaching and putting. The Sth was another loss for the Seafield player, and Cathro turned for home 3 up, having done the outward journey in a par 37. Cathro became 4 up and Casey failed to roach the green at the 10th with his tee shot, but Casey got one back at the short 12th, where Cathro bunkered. A sensational birdie through holing a chip from well outside the green gave Cathro the 13th and the lead of 4 up again. Cathro had a putting lapse on the 14th green, but Casey pushed his tee shot at fhe 15th over the ridge, found the bunker with his second, failed to get out, and eventually lost 4 up and 3 to play. Amon and Kitto. Kitto’s putting lapses resulted in his being 2 down in the first two holes, but after halving the third he squared the match by taking the 4th in birdie figures and the short sth in a standard three. He lost the 7th when Amon was nicely on and carded a 4 to Kitto’s 5, the latter being off the line. The next two were halved and Amon turned for home 1 up. Kitto was bunkered at the short 10th and then overran to lose the hole. They halved the next three, Kitto missing a chance of a win when he duffed his drive at the 13th. Kitto struck bunker trouble at the 14th and became 3 down, Amon winning the 15th in an orthodox 3 when Kitto played a weak chip from the far edge of the green.

The Final Played. When Amon and Cathro set out for the final, a gallery of 300 followed the pair. Amon established an early lead, sinking a 15ft. putt at the first, where Cathro, in the rough with his drive, ran through into a bunker but exploded out nicely to within 4ft. Cathro had a very awkward lie for his second, which had travelled well with the wind. Amon was nicely on and won in 4 to 5, when Cathro’s putt went in and out. Amon took three approach shots to get up the hill at Dress Circle and Cathro reduced the lead temporarily, only to become 2 down again when he ran through the fourth green, played out of the short rough too strongly, and overran the putt. A pulled tee shot at the short sth left Cathro below the ridge. He was too strong with his chip and ran 20ft. past, but Amon missed a putt, and a half resulted. Amon struck bunker trouble at the 6th and Cathro sank a nice putt for a win.

Both slightly pushed out their drives at the long 7th, but Amon then hooked his second into the rough, Cathro being through on the back of the green. Amon chopped out well to within Bft. and sank the putt for a half. Cathro was far too strong out of a bunker at the Sth and a long putt ran in and out, with the result that Amon again became 2 up. At the 9th Amon was bunkered with his second and got into an adjoining bunker. His putt ran off and he conceded the hole, turning for home 1 up. Both were bunkered at the short 10th, Amon on the left and Cathro on the right. Amon missed an Bft. putt and they halved in 4’s. The 11th was played in orthodox figures, but Cathro, striking bunker trouble again at the 12th, lost in 3 to 4, and became 2 down. Cathro was on the edge of the strip adjoining the two bunkers on the right of the 13th green and, after playing a difficult shot, had the mortification to see the ball run right through the green. He was short with his return. Amon had been bunkered on the left and just got on the green, but he ran past with his putt and was half-stymied when Cathro’s

putt ran round the edge of the can. Amon sank the putt, however, and became 3 up. Both were on the green at Encampment in 3, and a half in s’s resulted. Amon’s hooked tee shot at the short 15th hit the boundary fence and bounded back on to the fairway, within four feet of the fence but nearly pin high. Cathro was nicely on but. was short with his approach putt and a half in 3’s resulted. The end came at the 16th, where Cathro was bunkered with his second and Amon laid his long putt dead. Cathro missed a putt and picked up. Results are as follow: Wanganui Provincial Championship. Semi-final. N. H. Amon won from R. F. Kitto, 4 and 3. L. Cathro won from M. Casey, 4 and 3. Final. N. H. Amon won from L. Cathro, 4 and 2. Belmont Handicap. Semi-finals. G. Saunders won from I. D. Parsons, 2 up. J. I. Macneil won from M. G. King, 6 and 5. Final. J. I. Macneil won from G. Saunders, 1 up. Balgownic Handicap. Semi-finals. K. G. Handley won from P. Saunders at the 22nd. B. C. Haggitt won from M. Meuli at the 19th. Final. B. C. Haggitt won from K. G. Handley, 4 and 2. Seaview Handicap. Semi-finals. 11. 11. Christie won from 11. V. Hobbins, 1 up. T. Howie won from D. H. Mackav 2 and 1. Final. *H. H. Christie won from T. Howie, 5 and 4. Terawhiti Handicap. Semi-finals. J. N. Anderson won from D. L. Blyth, 3 and 1. G. E. Cutileld won from R. Moore, 3 and 2. Final. J. N. Anderson won from G. E. Cutlield at the 19th. No. 3 Stroke Match. First Division. J. M. Hussey 71 J. N. Anderson 71 Anderson won the play-off.

Second Division. E. Ziesler 64 Four-hall Bogey. C. N. Armstrong and H. G. Carver, 5 up. D. C. Collins and E. 11. Bernau, 5 up. A. B. Currie and B. A. Currie, 5 up. On the count back A. B. Currie and B. A. Currie won. H. W. Collier won the visitors’ consolation trophy. WANGANUI LADIES’ CLUB STABLE’ ORD BOGEY TO-MORROW AND WEDNESDAY A Stableford Bogey is to be played by the Wanganui Ladies' Golf Club to-morrow and Wednesday. Following is the draw:—• For To morrow Miss B. Babbage and Miss H. Scott. Miss Burling and Miss L. Watkins. Miss B. Wilson and Mrs. Jones. Miss M. Brinkman and Miss J. Strouts. Miss S. Duncan and Miss J. Wilson. Mrs. Gilberd and Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Horne and Miss Marshall. Miss Howie and Miss M. A. Moore. Miss E. Brown and Miss M. Peck. Miss Matthews and Miss StrodePenny. Mrs. A. Millward and Miss B. Horsley. Miss M. Merewether and Mrs. Christie. Mrs. McLean and Mrs. McCombe. Miss S. Ross and Miss J. Donald. Mrs. J. J. Taylor and Miss C. Hine. Miss J. Benefield and Mrs. H. O. Taylor. Miss I. Shearer and Mrs. Brinkman. Miss J. O’Neill and scorer. To-morrow all players are requested to be off the first tee by 12.30 p.m. For Wednesday Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Haldane. Mrs. Handley and scorer. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Lawford. Miss Currie and Mrs. Newton. Miss Duncan and Miss Saunders. Mrs. Gilbert and Miss Quin. Mrs. Grace and Mrs. A. Hunter. Mrs. Hammond and Mrs. Cook. Mrs. Coghill and Mrs. Bassett. Miss Openshaw and Mrs. Richardson. Miss J. Fullerton-Smith and Mrs. Gibbons. Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. M. Hunter. Mrs. Seivers apd Mrs. Smith. Miss N. Russell and Mrs. Gardner. Miss D. Collier and Miss M. Blyth. Miss T. Collier and Miss T. Taylor. Mrs. Carver and Mrs. Harvey.” Mrs. Cutfield and Mrs. Silk.

Mrs. Hobbins and Mrs. A. Hatrick. Mrs. Keesing and Mrs. D. Wilson. Mrs. Izard and Mrs. Robertson. Miss H. Robinson and Mrs. J. Millward. Miss V/. Norman and Miss D. Handley. Mrs. Newman and Mrs. Ryall. Miss K. Hoar and Mrs. Barton. Mrs. Ashford and Mrs. O’Neill. Miss Morgan and Mrs. Campbell. Miss N. Hales and Mrs. Gilligan. Mrs. D. Smith and Mrs. Linwood. Miss Montgomery Moore and Mrs. Thomas. Miss P. Strachan and Mills I. Mullens.' Miss H. Collins and Miss M. Saunders.

WANGANUI CLUB SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP The final of the Wanganui Goll Club’s senior championship was played at Belmont over the week-end, B. M. Silk winning from F. C. Hutchison, 6 and 5, over 36 holes. At the end of the first eighteen holes the finalists were all square. SEAFIELD CLUB JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLDSBURY WINS FINAL In the final round of the Seafield Golf Club’s junior championship B. Goldsbury obtained a decisive win ever W. Swanger. Goldsbury, who has greatly improved his game during the season, played practically middleweight golf, his score for thd first 18 holes being equivalent to 84. The play-off for the captain's trophy in which L. Gray, L. H. Parkes and R. B. Carr tied for first place, was won by Carr with a net score of 67. The club’s eclectic competition for the season has been won by A. R. Kitto, with the fine eclectic of 58, R. F. Kitto being runner-up with 65. A. R. Kitto’s tally comprises 6 bogeys, 8 birdies and 4 eagles. Labour Day Tournament

Entries for the club’s annual open Labour Day tournament dose with the secretary, Mr C.. S. Brown, on Wednesday, October 20. Two qualifying rounds will be played on Saturday, October 23. On Labour Day (Monday) and Tuesday, the tournament will be continued, the players being divided into flights of 16 on their gross qualifying rounds. Bogey, Stableford and medal competitions will also be carried out. Both greens and fairways are in excellent order and large entries are anticipated.