LADIES’ GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 228, 27 September 1941, Page 6

LADIES’ GOLF

Brilliant Play By Miss P. Bell CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL Probably not since the days when the English champion, Miss Pam Barton, and her companiops played superlative golf under ideal conditions at Belmont, have spectators on those links been treated to golf of the standard produced yesterday afternoon by Miss P. Bell, who defeated Mrs. G. W. Hollis! (formerly Miss Oliver Kay) in the final of the Wanganui ladies' provincial championship.

Conditions were not conducive to good golf, as there was a very strong wind from the north-west and heavj 7 rain showers in the morning had deadened the surface of the greens. From the fifth hole onward, however, Miss Bell was at the top of her form, and when the match finished on the 14th. green she was one under fours for the last ten holes. It was probably her best display since the time she won the Wellington ladies’ provincial championship, defeating in succession three of New Zealand’s Tasman Cup team. Good judges yesterday agreed that Miss Bell’s golf in the afternoon was of the highest possible standard. It was all the more creditable as business prevents her from getting much practice.

Mrs. Hollis was definitely not in the form which, several years ago, enabled her to beat all-comers and maintain her reputation as New Zealand's leading player among the women. She has had limited opportunities for competitive golf since her marriage, but that she still retains some of her form was apparent from her defeat of last year’s champion. Mrs. Cook, 5 up and 4 to play, in the morning.

At the conclusion of play in the afternoon players and spectators gathered in the members’ lounge, where the trophies were presented by the president, Miss Montgomery Moore, who congratulated the winners and expressed appreciation of the support accorded the tournament by the many visitors. At the call of the club captain, Mrs. Coghill, cheers were given for the visitors, on whose behalf Mrs. Hollis replied in happy vein. How the Final Went The weather had cleared somewhat, though rain was threatening, when the finalists commenced their round, followed by a good “gallery” under the conditions. Mrs. Hollis won the toss and outdrove Miss Bell by 30 yards. Miss Bell chipped through to the back of the green and Mrs. Hollis was short, the hole being halved in fives. Both played indifferent seconds at the next, but Mrs. Hollis was short with a putt, enabling her opponent to halve the hole. At Dress Circle Miss Bell failed to reach the plateau with her second, and Mrs. Hollis was through on the bank. Miss Bell made a beautiful recovery for another half in fives.

Against the wind at the fourth both had good drives, followed by good seconds, but Miss Bell was short behind a bunker on the right with her third, Mrs. Hollis being short, but her approach putt was dead on the pin. Miss Bell chipped up wrong and she lost the hole, 5 to 6. leaving Mrs. Hollis in the lead. Still stronger gusts were blowing at the short fifth, where Mrs. Hollis played a provisional shot when her tee shot appeared to go into the trees on the right. She found the first ball and elected to play it out of a difficult lie, only to get into a bunker. She just got’ on with her third, but Miss Bell, nicely on, laid her approach putt dead and won in 3 to 5 to make the game square again. This hole marked the commencement of a brilliant procession of holes by Miss Bell, who was nicely on the green at the sixth, five yards from the pin. Mrs. Hollis chipped up dead after being short, but Miss Bell holes a beautiful 15ft. putt for a birdie o to become 1 up. At. the seventh, ieturning against the wind. Mrs. Hollis again outdrove her opponent, but she was short with her second, and Miss Bell's third was a few yards short. She narrowlv missed a putt, and when Mrs. Hollis nearly stymied herself the hole was halved in fives. Miss Bell placed her wood second on the eighth green 10 yards short of the pin. Mrs. Hollis was well pn, pin high, and another half resulted, this tint® in fours. At Land’s End Miss Bell had a fine straight drive, but Mrs. Hollis hooked over the fence out of bounds and her third was in a bunker. Miss Bell was just past the pin with her second, and when Mrs. Hollis exploded out of the bunker and missed a putt, she conceded the hole. _ Mi«s Bell, who had come out m 40, was now 2 up, and she became 3 up when she sank a 5-yard putt at the short tenth for a 2, after Mrs. Hollis had seen her approach putt lip the hole. For the first time in the match Miss Bell, with the assistance of the wind, outdrove Mrs. Hollis at the eleventh, but both semi-topped their seconds. Too strong a long putt by Mrs. Hollis caused her to lose the hole when Miss Bell holed a fourfooter to become 4 up. At the short twelfth Miss Bell recovered well from a bunker to be 4ft. from the pin, and Mrs. Hollis chipped up well, a half in 3 resulting. With the wind at the 13th. they had good drives to the top of the hill, but Mrs. Hollis sliced her second into the rough and her third was a trifle short, on the edge of a bunker. Miss Bell was straight all the way and approached dead. Mrs. Hollis missed with a long putt, giving Miss Bell a win in 5 to 6. She was now dormy 5. The end came at the 14th., where Mrs. Hollis half-topped her second and was in a bunker with her third. Miss Bell’s third was nicely on with her third and she approached dead. Mrs. Hollis exploded out too strongly and when her return putt lipped the hole she conceded the hole and the match. Miss Bell winning 6 up and 4 to play. Following are details of the results:

Wanganui Provincial Champion-ship.—Semi-finals:' Miss P. Bell won from Mrs. H. E. B. Newton, 2 up; Mrs. G. W. Hollis won from Mrs. R. Cook, 5 and 4. Final: Miss P. Bell won from Mrs. Hollis, 6 and 4.

Elimination Plate. Semi-finals: Mrs. J. C. Brown won from Mrs. Rota, 3 and 2; Mrs. Parsons won from Miss J. Currie, 3 and 2. Final: Mrs. Parsons won from Miss J. Currie, 3 and 2. Final: Mrs. Parsons won from Mrs. Brown, 1 up. Nukuriro Handicap. Semi-fin Ms: Miss Thomson won from Miss Clark;

Mrs. Signal won from Mrs. Ekstedt. Final: Mrs. Signal won from Miss Thomson. Belmont Handicap. Semi-finals: Mrs. Wills won from Mrs. Sommerville, 6 and 5: Mrs. Collins won from Mrs. Atehinson, 4 and 3. Final: Mrs. Wills won from Mrs. Collins. 2 and 1. Elimination Handicap No. 2. ■ — Semi-finals: Mrs. A. Hunter won from Mrs. Clark; Mrs. Bassett won from Mrs. Alp. Final: Mrs. Hunter won from Mrs. Bassett. Consolation Medal. —Mrs. Haggie, 94—15—79. Miss P. Bell won the special trophy donated by Miss Montgomery Moore for the best score in the qualifying rounds of the championships. MAKIRIKIRI GOLF CLUB. The following is the draw for the first round of the championships which commences to-day (Saturday) H. W. Hawke v. F. H. Jones, G. B. Anderson v. C. H. Walker, A. C. Walker v. J. McMaster, W. P. Newsham v. W. Kendrick, A. E. Delgety v. C. F. Hammond, H. J. Clemance v. D. Hiward, A. Tasker v. G. B. Moyle, L. Kilkolly v. L. A. McDonald.