SILK BEATS GLADING IN NORTH ISLAND GOLF SEMI-FINAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1948, Page 6

SILK BEATS GLADING IN NORTH ISLAND GOLF SEMI-FINAL

Jeffrey's Defeat Of Kitto Wa Something Of A Surprise

(Press Association) HAMILTON, June 7 Playing brilliantly in the afternoon round of his match with R. 11. Glading in the semi-finals of the North Island amateur golf championships today, B. M. Silk (Wanganui) gave visitors to the St. Andrew’s links a magnificent exhibition and was successful in beating the New Zealand open champion 5 and 4 in a 36-hole match

In the other semi-final, T. J. Jeffery caused a surprise by beating A. R. Kitto (Wanganui) four and three after the latter had held a one up advantage, beginning at the last IS holes.

While Silk played superb golf, Glading was little inferior. Twenty , I and 30ft. putts were made to look ; easy by each of them and at the turn in the concluding round Silk was four I under par and his opponent two 1 I under par. At this stage Glading was ■ three down. An eagle 3 at the 20th.i j hole after the pair had scored bogey threes at the 19th. squared the match, ; 'but Silk lost little time in regaining: i the lead, Glading requiring five at (the 21st. after a bad recovery from I j the rough. At the previous hole Glad-; jing had holed a 30ft. putt. A visitl I to a bunker was paid by Glading at the ensuing hole, but although he l putted neatly for a birdie four, Silk 1 was not to be outdone and he holed i a long putt for an eagle. 1 This sent Silk to a 3 up lead at the j 23rd., while a putting error from an easy position cost Glading the next i hole and Silk reeled off another 1 birdie. A 30ft. putt by Glading' (thrilled the gallery at the 25th., Silk I missing his easy one to concede the (hole and reduce his leading margin! to 3 up. The notable feature about I I the 26th. was the missing of the easi- j est of putts by Silk. Glading was 2! down approaching the 27th. Sinking: a 30ft. putt at the 27th.. Silk turned 1 for home with a 3 up lead and when Glading went into a bunker at the 1 fiext, Silk won the hole to make it 4 up. Another 2ft. putt by Silk at the next hole made Glading 5 down. A classic second shot by Glading won him the 31st. hole, but Silk won the match at the next. Glading finding 1 a bunker at the shortest hole with his tee shot. Silk was in for a bogey Silk and Glading went on to complete the course, the former going l round in 69, five under par, and Glad-: ing in 74. JEFFERY-KITTO MATCH The most sensational incident in the Jeffrey-Kitto encounter occurred ; at the last green played, when both • sank putts from the edge of the green. Kitto had played his tee shot out of bounds and Jeffery took this j hole with three to his opponent’s I four. When they began the last round of their 36-hole match Kitto 1 was leading 1 up and he increased his lead at the 19th. hole with a bogey ' 3 to Jeffery’s 4. The next was halved in fives, but Jeffery took the 21st. with a birdie 3 to Kitto’s 4. A beautiful birdie 4 at the 22nd. plqced Kitto 2 up again. The next was halved in bogey figures, but Kitto required five at the 24th.,. Jeffery l being down in four. The match was squared at the 25th.. a birdie four! by Jeffery being scored at this hole. I At the next hole Jeffery took the I lead. Kitto again taking 5 and the. ensuing hole was halved in fours. | For the outward journey Jefferyrequired 37 and Kitto 39. The 28th. and 29th. holes were halved, but Jeffery took the next after both had executed beautiful tee shots and poor approaches. The next hole was halved in bogey figures, but at the short 32nd. Kitto had a bad lie and he took four to his opponent’s three, making him 3 down. The game ended at the next hole, Jeffery holing his long putt

for a birdie 3 and Kitto holing his for 4. Matches played today resulted: North Island Championship.—Semifinals: B. M. Silk beat R. H. Glading, 5 and 4; T. J. Jeffery beat A. R. Kitto, 4 and 3. Championship Flight.—Semi-finals: W. E. Jones beat H. P. Dale, 2 and 1; T. P. Jones beat J. C. Holden, 5 and 4. Final: W. E. Jones beat T. P. Jones. 2 and 1. St. Andrew’s Plate. —Semi-finals: J. Sterritt beat B. G. Thomson at the 20th.; L. B. Johnstone beat M Sing, 6 and 4. Final: L. B. Johnston beat J Sterritt, 2 up.