GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17840, 12 October 1929, Page 20 (Supplement)

GOLF.

A WEEKLY BUDGET. HERE AND THERE HAPPENINGS. SEASON NEARING ITS END. (By “Nil)lick.") The conclusion of the South Auckland tournament last week may he regarded as the I'orerunner of this season's end for many local players, though it will not officially close until next month. As a matter of fact the course will remain open for play all summer, and certain enthusiasts wil carry on with fair regularity. Most, however, And other games more to their liking during the hotter summer months, and there has already been a decrease in the numbers out at St. Andrews on recent week-ends. One understands that from now on those who continue to play will be put on temporary tees and greens at certain holes to permit of further treatment and top-dressing of the permanent ones! South Auokland Tournament. Favoured <by beautiful weather, the South Auckland tournament proved very successful, though in point of numbers the entries were rather fewer than usual, no doubt because the dates clashed with those of the Dominion championship at Wanganui. A local member, who was present at the Wanganui gathering, was told there bv a prominent amateur that, had the South Auckland dates been in the following week, he and at least twenty others who were at Wanganui would have come on to Hamilton. However, there is little to be gained by crying over spilt milk, and even under the handicap of clashing dates the South Auckland gathering went through very well indeed. It was efficiently conducted by the secretary, Mr E. Clayton Greene, and matters progressed smoothly throughout. There were some exceedingly close games in both the championship and the St. Andrews match, notably in the semi-finals, in which three out of the four -games went to the 20th before a decision was 'reached. In the championship the Wynne—Morrice and Laver — Gillies matches went to the 20th for the first-named in each case to win, 1 up, while in the St. Andrews match H. Fisher (Hamilton) obtained a i up decision over R. Hamilton (Auckland) at the 20th. Two For Wynn®. One of the most consistent players of the Hamilton Club in W. Wynne carried off the Waikato and South Aucklu |:d -championships. The firstmentio ted event went to the player belonging to any. South Auckland Club with the best gross aggregate in lhe tw-\ qualifying rounds for the championship. W. S. Ralph (Auckland) and W. Morrice (Rotorua), were respectively two strokes and one stroke better than Wynne, but neither came within the qualification of membership in a- South Auckland Club. In the Championship semi-final the game between Morrice and Wynne was hammer and tack all the way, with the margin never more than one hole and the leader changing from time to time. Both -missed some chances, but had Wynne been putting as well a 3 ho usually* does the game should not have gone to the 20th. He had a real life when he put his tee shot in the river at the 19th, -but managed to halve the hole in four, his opponent having been lamentably weak with both his te e shot and approach. From a spectator’s point of view .the most sensational holes were the 9th and 10th. At the 9th Morrice's second finished nicely in the hollow, three feet from the pin, whilst Wynne’s was in the bunker beyond the green to the left His recovery from there was the ’shot of a life-time and came to rest a yard from the cup. Morrice missed *thc simple putt and the hole was halved. On the 10th, however, the Rotorua man got a bit of his own hack. His tee shot was bunkered, and he played it out right through the green to the far edge —and then holed out from there. Wynne was nicely on from the tee, hut could not beat a three, consequently what at one stage looked like a certain hole for him was halved. Wynne’s long game was good an hdis club mates were all very 'pleased to see him carry off the championship. H. Laver, of Te Aroha, who created a mild sensation by rather unexpectedly defeating H. T. Gillies in the semi-final, hardly carried enough guns for Wynne in the final though he stuck to his task well. \ -long curly putt be studied out and "got down at the 14th to win that hole from Wynne was one of the best the writer can recollect having seen. Black’s Turn Must Come. For a third time Sloan Monpeth has added the New Zealand Amateur chamTjionshrp to his list ot victories, and for a third time J. L. Black has filled the role of runner-up in that important event. ’ Black has also been runnerup in the New Zealand Open Championship Whilst all will heartili congratulate that fine player and fine sportsman, Sloan Mo'rpeth, upon this, iiis latest success, there can be little doubt that had the verdict -been in favour of Black the result would have been equally well received by golfers throughout the Dominion. Black, who lia-s just turned, or is about to turn, 30 year's of age, has been playing in Dominion championships for 10 years, and in this period there have been few occasions when he failed to figure as a finalist or semi-finalist. Though a veteran at golf ’he is still y-oung in years and with his playing ability and match fighting temperament his turn must come. When it does it will be welcomed throughout the country as well-earned toy a first-class player and one of the best of good fellows. Putting Puzzles. A Hamilton Club member, who was at Wanganui during the Open Championship play states that the gieens there had most of the contestants absolutely puzzled. Such men as R. G. Butters, considered about the best putter In the ranks of New Zealand professionals, and A. D. S. Duncan, the prominent amateur, admitted to the Hamilton man that they considered themselves lucky when three and four feet putts went down for them. The long ones apparently were not so difficult. It seems that, although the greens were in good order, the nature of the grass on them made the hall on occasion take a course unexpected by the striker, or It would reach th e hole and run round, with the result that after a few such experiences plavers confessed themselves as uncertain about what was likely to be the fate of the shorter putts. This hears out what the golfing public must have gathered fob themselves from press reports of the play, In which an extraordinary number of missed short putts figured. Incidentally the Hamilton man mentions that he believes is not a better iron player in New Zealand than the Auckland professional, F. Rutter, who is considered as good

with his iron -clubs as T. H. Horton, j which is high praise indeed. | Bad Luck For Bell. I N. Bell, the Hamilton professional, had the misfortune to ’be a passenger in a motor car which got into collision I with another whilst coming away i from the Belmont golf links at Wa- | nganui after the presentation cf New i Zealand tournament prizes there last; Saturday. Bell sustained a couple of j broken ribs, a strained knee, and I abrasions, but was able to return to i Hamilton on Monday. To top it off, j the train he was on got into collision j with the other express, and was de- j layed thereby for some hours. Bell’s ; many friends will wish him a speedy! and complete recovery. _ l