GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15353, 29 September 1923, Page 5

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

PROFESSIONAL TITLE. MOSS THE WINNER. I BROOKS 4 DOWN AND 2. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WANGANUI, Friday. The Belmont Links were bathed in warm sun to-day when the final of the professional golf ' championship and tl]c semi finals of the amateur championship were played. In the former K. J. Moss (Auckland), who has been playing most consistently, proved too good for Arthur Brooks (Lower Ilult), the New Zealand Open champion, by 4 up and 2 to play. In amateur championship Arthur Duncan, holder of the title, outplayed Imlay Saunders (Wanganui) by 7 up and 6 to play, and J. Goss (Wanganui) once again proved what an able player he is by accounting for’J. L. Black (Lower Hutt) by 5 up and 3 to go. Professional Championship. The brilliant rounds which Arthur . Brooks and E. J. Moss have been put- ’ ting up caused great interest to centre In their meeting in the final for the professional championship. A big gallery followed the pair as they set oft on the morning round, when conditions were ideal. Both hit spanking drives eft the first tee. Moss failed to be up with his iron second, but Brooks did even worse, as he whipped his hands too much into his iron shot and sliced the ball away over the road out of bounds, almost at right angles to the line of play. He ran through the green with his third, and failed to find the cup with his fourth. Moss laid his approach dead, and drew first blood in 4 to 5. Moss had the better line oft the second tee, but Brooks recovered with a magnificent brassie second, which reached the bottom of the hill below the green. Moss hooked his second off the line, but played a judicious pitch to the side of the hill, and

the ball ran down on to the green,

i Brooks pitched a high mashie shot on 1 to the green, but the ball ran through and hung up in the grass on the bank four yards above the green. The Open champion took his mashie and played a dainty little shot, which was in all the way, holing out for a sensational 4 at a 500yds hole. Moss made a determined effort to hole an 'lßft putt, but just failed, and they were all square again. The Auoklander again had the better direction off the third tee, but both were near the green with their seconds. Faulty work by both with the putter saw a half in 5. Both plumped their tee shots within 4yds of the pin off the high fourth tee. Moss failed to sink his putt, and almost

stymied Brooks, who ran down a brilliant putt for a 2. They smacked long thrives of equal length off the next tee, but Moss pulled his iron second to the left of the guarding bunker. Brooks was on the edge of the green with bis jigger second, but faulty putting enabled Moss to secure a half in They

were hitting them far and sure off the tees, and both got great length oft the sixth tee. Moss just failed to be up with his brassie second, while Brooks was a trifle strong with an iron. Moss was making no mistakes with his short work, and laid his third on the lip of the hole. The Open champion was short with a mashie chip and the hole went to the Aucklander in 4 to 5, making them all square again. They halved the Quarry in 4’s, Brooks just missing a putt for 3. Moss - smacked a good one off the eighth tee, but Brooks pulled his badly out of bounds. He drove a good one the second time, but the Aucklander gave him no chapce to recover, as he planted his second nicely on the green and went on to take the hole in bogey 4 to 6. Both played faulty tee shots at the ninth (174yds), neither finding the elevated green. They pitched on with their seconds, and both lipped the cup for 3, a half in 4 resulting. Coming In.

Brooks got the better drive going to Long Tom, but neither got up with their seconds. They were a trifle merry with their approaches, and had to be content with a half in bogey 5. The eleventh was also halved in bogey 3. Brooks was showing a tendency to hook his drives. At the noxt hole Moss was on the centre of the green with two nice shots, and took the hole in 4 to 5. Both played well out to tho right at Encampment, and after . seconds had been played they were both round about the green. Good putting saw a half in 4, one under bogey. • Both also beat the Colonel at

French Pass, where 3’s went down on the card. Both carried Bunker's Hill with their drives, Moss having the better line apd lie. Brooks pushed his brassie second out too far, and took three to reach the green. Neither managed to And the cup at the first alttempt, and a half in bogey 5 was recorded. Brooks hit a screaming drive going to the sixteenth, being fully 50 yards ahead of Moss. The latter played a fine iron second to the green, and

Brooks pitched his on with a mashie. Both missed sft putts and another half in bogey 5 went down. They cracked two splendid drives off the seventeenth tee, fair and true down the centre of the fairway. Moss played a beautiful high mashie pitch, which landed in the centre of the green. Brooks essayed a pitch and run ap-

proach, but was too strong by 20yds,

He laid up nicely with his third, but the Aucklander clinched the argument by running down a 20ft putt for a brilliant 3, thus .drawing 3 up. The home hole was lhalved in 40. Moss went out in 38, 'and ran home in 3G, i giving him a brilliant 74 for the round. His card read:—Out, 4,5, 5,3, 5,4, 4,4, 4—38; in, 5,3, 4,4, 3,5, 5,3, 4— 36. Brooks took 40 going out and 39 to come in. The Last Eighteen.

A larger crowd followed them when they started off on the afternoon round. Both hooked their tee shots badly at the nineteenth, Moss getting into the sand just beyond the bunker to the left of the fairway, and only, managing to get a short second. Br.ooks from a bad lie in the long grass in a hollow, hit a splendid mid-iron shot to the edge of the green. Moss was short with his mashie approach, and the hole went to Brooks in 4 to 5, leaving Moss 2 up again. Both got long drives and good seconds going to Dress Circle (500yds), and both were

on in 3, Brooks’ approach landing on the hillside and running down onto the green within 4ft of the pin. The Open champion lost a good opportunity here by missing a Aft putt for a win. Brooks pushed his drive out, and got n bad lie, sending his second over a

high bank to the left of the green. Moss was through Hie green with his second. Brooks pitched too far with his third, and Hie Aucklander was short from a bad lie. A half in G rather marred the card. From the high twenty-second tee Brooks plumped his ball into the pot bunker o n the left, while Moss landed handily on Iho green. Brooks twice attempted to pitch out and then picked up, placing Moss 3 up again. Moss got a good one off the twenty-third tee, but Brooks booked his badly into long marram

grass on the ridge to the left of the fairway, and lost hi.-, ball. The Open champion thus presented his opponent with two holes in succession. This placed the Aucklander 5 up. Brooks had the advantage off the twentyfourth tee, and was better off still when Moss pushed his brassie second out wide to the right. Brooks was on the edge of the green with an iron second and went on to take the hole in 4 to 5. Both were on in two at the Quarry, hut better short work by Moss saw him sink at 12ft pntt for a win in 4 to 5. Brooks missed a 6ft putt for a half. After long tee shots Moss was through the green with his second, while Brooks was nicely on, and he won the hole in 4 to 5. Brooks duffed his iron tee shot badly at the twenty-seventh, while Moss was also short. The Open champion had a bad downhill lie with his ball below a tuft of grass. He attempted to stab it on to the green with a mid-iron, but did not hit it hard enough, and just reached the edge of the green. Moss made a dainty little mashie approach and drew 4 up in 3 to 5. Both got spanking drives going to Long Tom. Moss hit a beautiful brassie second, while his opponent duffed his from a cupped lie. He used a spoon here where an iron would have been safer. Moss made no mistakes, and drew 5 up in 5 to 6. They halved the short twenty-ninth in 3, but Brooks badly duffed his drive at Alma, his ball only going 40yds. He played an iron shot to the top of the hill, but then badly hooked a spoon shot. Moss was playing sterling golf, and placed himself dormy 6 by winning the hole in 4 to 6. Brooks took the thirty-first in a brilliant 4 to 5, laying his second on the green. A surprise followed at French Pass, where Brooks drove out of bounds, and Moss placed his on the edge of the green. Very feeble putting by Moss saw his opponent take the hole in 4 to 5, the Aucklander missing a foot putt. Brooks also won Bunkers Hill, where Brooks took three and Moss four putts. It almost looked as if Moss did not want to end it. The end came at the' thirty-fourth, where Moss played a second on the green, and laying his approach putt dead took the hole in 4 to 5, and thus won the professional championship by 4 up and 2 to play. Amateur Championship.

J. L. Black (Lower Hutt) and J. Goss (Wanganui) provided the best match of the day. They had a very even fight in the morning round. The Hutt man ran out in 39 to Goss’ 41, and was 1 up at the turn. They played steady golf over the home journey, and by taking the sixteenth in 4 to 5, and the seventeenth in 3 to 4 Goss squared the game. At the last hole (375yds) Goss landed his second on the green add ran down a brilliant putt past a half stymie for 3. Goss got into a bunker with his second at the eighteenth, and Black drew i up in 4 to 5. Black did the round in 77 to 80 by Goss. The latter squared the game at the nineteenth in the afternoon, by taking the nineteenth in 4 to 6. Black toqped his second and got into all kinds of trouble. Black got a sensational 4 at the twentieth (500 yards), where he holed his approach from the bank above the green. Good golf was seen at the next. Good drives went away, and Black landed his second within Bft of the pin, and Goss went one better by laying his approach dead, calling up applause from the big gallery which was Intently following the play. They halved the twenty-second in 3, and the twentythird in 5. Goss was playing sterling golf now, and forged ahead by winning the twenty-fourth in 4 to 6, and the Quarry in 4 to 5. Black managed to secure a half at Land’s End in 4, but the Wanganui man placed himself 3 up by notching the twenty-seventh in 3 to 4. Goss wont out in the afternoon in 36 to Black's 42.

Coming home Black got one back at Tcrawliiti, but Goss evened up by taking Encampment in 4 to G, thus placing himself dormy 5. Blaok took French Pass in 4 to 5, but the end carno at Bunker’s Hill, where Goss recorded a brilliant 4, one under bogey, thus taking the match by 5 up and 3 to play. Goss had taken one over 4’s for the six boles played in the afternoon. He quite outplayed his opponent, and if he can maintain this form to-morrow he should seriously challenge Duncan for thq, title. Duncan Again. Arthur Duncan carried too many guns for Imlay Saunders (Wanganui). The latter has just recovered from a serious attack of influenza, and was by no means at his best. Duncan was 6 up at the end of the morning round, and went on to win by 7 up and 6 to play. Duncan did the morning round in 77 to Saunders' 83. The champion was not at his best, but as is his custom just played well enough to keep ahoad of his opponent. THIS MORNINGS PLAY. SOME SUPERB GOLF. GOSS IN THE - LEAD. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WANGANUI, Saturday. The amateur golf championship commenced this morning in a blaze of sunshine with not a breath of wind to interfere with the play. J. Goss (Wanganui) started off in brilliant fashion by taking the first two holes in 4’s to one more by Arthur' Duncan, who was putting badly, The Wanganui ihan was 1 one under bogey at each of these holes. Duncan took, the third in 4, one under bogey. They halved the short 4th in 3, and Goss went to pieces at the sth, hooking his second and overrunning the green with his third; the hole, costing him 7. Goss played superb golf at the next three holes', which he won in 4’s. Duncan again drove’ out of' bounds at the eighth, where he pulled three tee shots in succession over the fence In the final round of the open championship Goss went out in 38 to Duncan’s 40, and was 3 up on the holder of the title. Goss held his own on the run In, and was 4 up at the 13th. Duncan won the 14th and 17th, getting a beautiful 3 at the latter hole. Both were on in two at the 18th, Duncan being nearer the hole. Tho champion putted very feebly here, taking three putts and losing the hole. Goss came home in 38, giving him 7G for the round to Duncan’s 78.

Goss was three up on the morning round, and played like a champion, getting plenty of sting into his drives, handling his irons crisply and putting boldly. The heat seemed to affect Duncan, who was below his best form. The champion’s putting was very weak, his app?#ach putts rarely being up, while lie frequently failed to hole from three feet. The biggest morning gallery ever seen at the New Zealand championship tourney followed the players, and a record is expected Ihis afternoon. HAMILTON LADIES’ CLUB. ELLIS CUP FINAL. MRS SLACK WINS 1 UP. The Hamilton Ladies’ Golf Club tourney finished yesterday afternoon with the final of the. Ellis Cup between

Mrs Slack (Cambridge) and Miss Beil

(Wellington), and won by the former after a closely-contested match. Both the ladies played golf worthy of a final, and the result was in doubt till the 18th hole was reached. The game was remarkable because of an Incident at the 4th where Mrs Slack picked up her ball to wipe it, and was disqualified for that hole, breaking a local rule which does not allow picking up. After the match Mrs Dr. Douglas presented the prizes to the winners, .voicing, in a neat little speech, the pleasure of the club at having 'so many visitors, and delight with their praise of the St. Andrew’s links. The Play. At the first green Mrs Slack’s first was good, but slightly pushed, while Miss Bell was short. They were on the green with the seconds, Miss Beil being still short, and missing her putt, Mrs Slack holing in . Both tee shots were about even well up the fairway, Miss Bell pushing her second to the rough. Mrs Slack’s third was on the edge of the green, and both had about six foot putts, and, missing hers. Miss Bell laid Mrs Slack a difficult stymie, but she holed with a beautiful mashie shot, winning 6—5, Mrs Slack 2 up. Both drives were on the fairway, and Miss Bell’s approach was just on the green, while her opponents was within 9 feet of the pin. Miss Bell essayed a long putt, and over-ran the hole, which was halved in 4’s. At the 4th Mrs Slack pulled her tee shot slightly, but found the fairway, and Miss Bell’s was also on, while both were short with their 2nd. At the sth both recorded 4’s, and s’s were shown at the 6th. The long 7th was won by Mbs Slack in 6 —7, while the next was halved in s’s, as also was the 10th. At the lith Miss Bell made the game “all square,” but Mrs Slack won the 12th in 5—6. All square was recorded again at the 13th, while Miss Bell moved to the up at the 14th. The 15th was halved in s’s, while the sinking of a sft putt gave Mrs Slack the 16th. At the 17 th Mrs Slack's tec shot was good. She out-drove Miss Bell who just failed to reach the fairway, but Miss Bell made a poor shot out of a bad lie, while Mrs Slack was within three feet of the pin with her approach. Miss Bell's 4th was short, and the sth 18 inches off Mrs Slack winning the hole in good 4, making her dormy. At the 18th both drove well, but Mrs Slack’s 2nd was a glorious one, finding the green 12 inches from the pin. Taking 2 to hole to halve in 4’s she won the gamo 1 up. Their cards showed: —Mrs Slack: Out, 4,5, 4,4, 4,5, 6,5, 6; in, 0,6, 5,7, 4,5, 5,4, 4—BB. Miss Bell: Out, 5,6, 4,5, 4,5, 7,5, 4; in, 5,5, 6,5, 3,5, 6,6, 4—90.