SCINTILLATING GOLF BY SILK AT BELMONT

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 8

SCINTILLATING GOLF BY SILK AT BELMONT

COURSE RECORD BROKEN

QUALIFYING ROUNDS OF

CHAMPIONSHIP KEEN INTEREST DELAYED

Scintillating golf' was provided at Belmont yesterday by B. Al. Silk in the first qualifying round of the Wanganui open golf championship, with the result that the course record was smashed with a brilliant round of 67, six strokes under the standard scratch score for the course. It was the first time that 70 has been broken at Belmont under tournament conditions. Silk has held the Belmont record for years. On one occasion, in a bogey handicap, he recorded a 66. with everything holed, and on another occasion, in a match, he was round in 65. lie is on a handicap of plus one.

Silk’s was a great round. In taking 35 on the outward half, as against the standard scratch score of 37, Silk missed an 18-inch putt at the sixth and three-putted at the ninth, but in compensation for these lapses he sank useful putts at the seventh and eighth. On the homeward journey he had three birdies and an eagle 3 at the long 14th. In the second round, Silkcarded a 72, the only blemish being a 6 at the fourth, where he hooked his drive and then took three putts. In spite of this he was out in 36, one under the standard, and he came home in a par 36. His aggregate for the 36 holes was 139, nine strokes better than the next best, A. R. Kitto. The standard scratch score of 73 at Belmont is made up as follows: Out: 54443454 4—37 In: 35345354 4—36 Silk’s morning card was marked thus: Out: 44443533 5—35 In: 34443344 3—32 His second round card was: Out: 44463444 3—36 In: 35245444 5—36 W. E. Jones, a stylish player from Taumarunui, recorded the best round in the afternoon, a faultless 70. He was out in 36 and back in 34, and his card read: — Out: 43454543 4—36 In: 45344334 4—34 Jones was unable lo strike form in the morning and carded a 79, so his afternoon round showed an improvement of nine strokes. A. R. Kitto was round in 75 in the morning, but clipped a couple oi strokes off that for a 73 in the afternoon. He was well beaten on the outward journey in the morning by the new ball with which he was playing, but played brilliant golf coming home. Until he discovered the “life in the ball he was always through the greens and had to chip back. He had an eagle 3 at the 16th. but lost a stroke wnen he tuuri ... His card read;--Out: 46 4 44546 5—42 In: 34344334 5—33 Kitto's afternoon card read:— Out: 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 3 4—37 In: 36244454 4—36 K. S. Glendining, who was partnered with Kitto and T. Casey, took time to settle down. In the morning he went out in 41 but came home with a par 36, including an eagle 3 at the 16th. He showed an improvement of five strokes in the afternoon, playing scintillating golf coming in to finish off with a lour-footer on the home green for a 35. His morning card (77) read: — Out: 4554456 4 4—41 In: ’44345435 4—36 His 72 in the afternoon was made up thus: Out: 45442553 5—37 In: 35335354 4—35

G. P. Roberts (Hutt) was partnered with Silk and W. E. Jones. In the morning round he was out ol touch with most of his clubs but his putter saved him a number of strokes. However, he could not do better than 81. He improved after lunch and was in line for a fine card when he reached the home turn in 35. Coming in he slipped strokes at the 10th., 15th., and 16th. to return a card of 74, thus: Out: 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 5 3—35 In: 45345564 4—39 F. C. Hutchison played sound goli but his driving was not up to his usual standard. Still, his morning round of 77 was a sound effort and his card read:— Out: 55443544 4—38 In: 364553 5 4 4—39 Hutchison completed a good day’s work with a 75, shooting par figures coming in. His card read: Out: 44 4 44554 5—39 In: 34355345 4—36 Terry Casey carded a 79 in the morning and a 74 in the afternoon. He was unlucky not to have done better. His afternoon card was as follows: Out: 4 5 4 4 3 5 4 4 3—36 In: 4534 6 3 5 4 4—38 In spite of three-putting on live occasions, N. Amon carded a 78 in the morning, made up thus: Out: 5 5 3 5 3 5 4 4 6—40 In: 3 5 3 5 5 3 4 5 5—38 With a 75 he clipped three strokes off his score in the afternoon, his second card reading: Out: 4 5 3 5 3 5 3 4 4 -36 In; 4525 5 3 5 5 5—39 C. L. Cut Held, still under 20, was one of the earlier players and did well to card a 75, which would have been belter had he not played out oi a rabbit scrape at the fourth, which took him 7. He slipped live strokes in the afternoon round but still qualilied tenth with an aggregate of 155. His morning card read:— Out: 4 5 4 7 2 4 4 4 4—38 In: 3 4 355 3 4 5 5—37 H. B. Cave turned in a 77 in the morning and was in line for anothe: good card in the afternoon, but aftei I going out in 37 he struck trouble at the 14th., where he carded a 9.

Apart from Silk’s record card, most sensational performance in the morning was the round of 70 recorded by young Leo Whetton. He carded an eagle 3 at the first to make his score thus: — Out: 3 5 3 4 3 5 4 4 4—35 In; 3535 4 4 5 3 3—35 In the afternoon he failed to maintain his form and his 83 was in decided contrast. t Weather conditions were excellent and the fairways and greens were in great order for the “field” of 86 contestants. Leading scorers in the qualifying rounds were:—

STROKE HANDICAPS No. 1 Stroke Handicap resultcii; Leo Whetton, 70—5—65; K. James, 90—24—66; C. L. Cutfield, 75—9—66; B. M. Silk, 67—plus I—6B. No. 2 Stroke Handicap resulted:— R. Kendall, 83—18—65; D. Murchie, 82—16—66.

The first round in match play for the championship will be played this morning and the second round this afternoon. The semi-finals are set down for to-morrow morning and the final of the’championship, as well as the other finals, will be played tomorrow afternoon. Following is the draw for to-day:—

TERAWHITI HANDICAP 7.30 a.m., S. Powdrell v. O. Olliver. 7.34, J. N. Earle v. L. M. Gieson.

7.39, G. O’Halloran v. O. Coupland. 7.43, H. W. Collier v. R. D. Spencer 7.48, K. G. Mills v. D. T. Allen.

7.52, F. Freeman v. M. Broderick. 7.57, M. Barkman v. H. H. Collins. 8.1, E. D. Cameron v. J. E. Marshall.

SEAVIEW HANDICAP 8.5, K. James v. N. Freeman. 8.9, W. G. Johnstone v. B. Mclntyre 8.14, R. F. Scott v. E. Cordingley. 8.19, R. J. Gordon v. E. Ogier.

8.23, H. E. Hynes V. W. Kendrick. 8.28, D. Murchie v. A. T. Hunter. 5.32, D. Howden v. K. B. Lockett. 8.37, L. H. Aitken v. K. G. Salmond.

BALGOVVNIE HANDICAP 8.42, K. Brooks v. R. S. Ward. 8.46, I. Saunders v .R. Kendall. 8.51, A. McKenzie v. R. Osman. 8.55, H. Cox v. H. Brodie. 9.00, S. Crichton v. R. S. Mcßae. 9.4, R. Carew v. W. Dyer. 9.9, A. Kellick v. F. J. Currie. 9.13,. D. Murgatroyd v. C. Dasniield.

WANGANUI CHAMPIONSHIP 9.18, B. M. Silk v. W. G. Fisher. 9.22, Leo Whetton v. G. Roberts. 9.27, F. C. Hutchison v. W. P. Reilly 9.31, K. Glendining v. B. Davidson. 9.36, W. E. Jones v. H. B. Cave. 9.40, T. Casey v. J. B. Tunnell. 9.45, N. Amon v. C. L. Cutfield. 9 50, A. R. Kitto v. I. Manley.

BELMONT HANDK’AP 9.54, E. Moss v. W. H. Dillicar. 9.59, L. A. Wilson v. J. T. Rowe. 10.3, B. Bidwell v. E. W. Donovan. 10.8, P. Whiteman v. W. K. Creighton 10.12, J Wilson v. A. D. Barber. 10.17, J. F. Collins v. B. E. Marshall. 10.21, D. C. Collins v. J. N. Barber. 10.26, Laurie Whetton v. H. Symes.

WANGANUI CHAMPIONSHIP L>. M. Silk 67—72—139 A. R. Kitto 75—73—148 W. E. Jones 79-70—149 K. S. Glendining 77—72—149 F. C. Hutchison . 77—75—152 T. Casey 79—74—153 N. 11. Amon 7S-75—153 Leo Whetton 70—83—153 G. P. Roberts .. . SI—74—155 C. L. Cutlield . 75—SO—155 J. B. Tunnell . . . 74—81—155 W. B. Reilly 79—77—156 B. Davidson 78- 78—156 11. B. Cave 77—80—157 I. Manley 81—78—159 W. G. Fisher . .. 79—80—159 BELMONT HANDICAP E. Moss 78—81—159 Laurie Whetton ... 78-81-159 J. Wilson 81—79—160 P. Whiteman . 84—77—161 B. Bidwill 80—81—161 J. F. "Collins 78—83—161 D. C. Collins 83—79—162 L. A. Wilson SO—82-162 J. T. Rowe 81-82—163 J. N. Barber 78-85 -163 B. E. Marshall 81—84—165 E. W. Donovan . 86—80—166 W. K. Creighton . 84-82—166 A. D. Barber 82—84—166 H. Symes 81—85—165 W. fl. Dillicar 89—78-167 BALGOWNIE HANDICAP K. Brooks . 86—81—167 B. D. Murgatroyd 82—85—167 S. Crichton . 78—89—167 H. T. Cox 86-82—168 J. McKenzie 84—81—163 R. Carew 84-86—170 A. Kellick 89—82—171 I. Saunders 82—89—171 R. Kendall 89—83—172 F. T. Currie 86—86—172 W. Dyer 83—89—172 R. Osman 85-88-173 II. Brodie 88—86—174 R. S. McRae 87—87—174 C. Dashfield 85—89—174 R. S. Ward .. 91—84—175