GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15185, 10 March 1923, Page 17 (Supplement)

GOLF.

(By. “Niblicfc.”)

Nine holes of the course at St. Andrew’s were open for play this afternoon, when a large number of golfers were seen out. The work of preparing the full Journey is now going on, and this •will be completed by Easter. William Park says Jock Hutchison, in a candid and courageous communi - cation, ‘regards George Duncan as the world's greatest player to-day. Attached to this observation was an addendum lo the effect that owing to the good offices of Duncan (presumably in America) Hutchison was himself playing better golf than he had ever done. William Park states that Duncan cannot be compared with the great triumvirate (Vardon, Braid and Taylor) on the question of performances, though he comes in as the player with the most brilliant performances ever known. The open championship of California was played on sth and 6th January, and was, as usual, decided by four stroke rounds. It brought together all the American “stars,” Including Walter Hagen (British open champion), Gene Sarazen (champion of U.S.A.) k Jock Hutchison and others, and J. H. Kirkwood carried the banner of British golf. The tournament was-staged'on the course of the San Francisco Golf and Country Club, and at the end of the first day Eddie Loos (New York) led the field with rounds of 75 and 72. Waller Hagen was second with 149. Macdonald Smith,, the local professional, was third with 150. Kirkwood began badly with an 80, but put on a brilliant 72 for the second round, and was five strokes behind the leader, his aggregate being 152. Tile national open champion, Gene Sarazen, and Jock Hutchison had aggregates of 154. On the second day Kirkwood began indifferently, and 40 forlhe outward nine did not look too hopeful. Then he began t o do things and came in in 33, establishing a new record for the second half and finishing in 73. Macdonald Smith was round in 77, and took first place from Loos, but Kirkwood was only one stroke behind. Starting out on the fourth round Kirkwood continued to play dazzling golf and was out in 34 (establishing a new record for the first half). It looked as if he was going to run away with the championship, as Smith was now five strokes behind him. However, Kirkwood then slackened, took 40 for the inward half, and Macdonald Smith came again and played the last nine in 35. The respective rounds were Kirkwood 74, Smith 75, and in the aggregates for the four rounds both were equal with 299—Kirkwood’s figures being: 80, 72, 73, 1&. The leaders were: —J. IT. Kirkwqod, 299; M. Smith, 299; Eddie Loos, 301; Walter Hagen, 301; Jockllutchison, 303; Gene Sarazen, 304. Kiirkwood and Smith played off for the championship on the San Francisco course (a stiff tost of golf) in a strong wind. Kirkwood finished the eighteen holes in 77 to Smith’s 79. The Australian champion thus got his first win in an open tournament in America, and he got it in first-class company.