GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17841, 14 October 1929, Page 2

GOLF.

HAMILTON CLUB.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. A WIN FOR J. L. BLACK. Some excellent golf was witnessed in the final for the Hamilton Golf Club’s senior championship, which was played over a 36-hole course at St. Andrews during the week-end. The result was a victory for J. L. Black, 11 up and 10 to play. Notwithstanding the wideness of this margin Wynne played quite good golf, but he struck Black (runner-up for the New Zealand amateur championship) in the latter’s best scoring vbin, and did well to hold him as long as he did. Moreover, the margin would not have been so wide had Wynne been getting comparatively short putts down as well as he can do sometimes. There was little wrong with his long game, and his approach work with mashie or putter was as good as his opponent’s, but-he wasn't holing the short ones. Black was right on his game. He was getting splendid length and direction from the tees, and with any other full shots, whilst on the green he was deadly. The quality of his play may be gauged from the fact that he was 10 up on Wynne after the morning round, having gone out in 36 and home in 37—73 gross (which included a 6 at the seventh) to Wynne's 85. For the 8 holes in the afternoon Black was three over 4’s and Wynne four over 4’«. The latter was putting a good deal better in the second round.

How They Played. Black opened the ball sensationally by holing a 15-foot curly one for a two at the first, whilst he took the second in a birdie 4 to Wynne’s 5. At the third Black slipped a stroke through failing to get his second up Ihe bank from the second fairway, Wynne taking the hole in 4 to 5. The fourth went to Black in a perfect birdie 4 to Wynne’s 5, and .Black sank an 8-footer at the fifth for another birdie 3, putting him 3 up. A half in fours was recorded at the sixth, and the seventh was halved in sixes, Black having been laid a half stymie by his opponent. At the eighth Black holed out from the edge of the green for another birdie 3, and he won the ninth in 5 to 6, Wynne’s approach having run through the green and over the bank. The tenth and eleventh went to Black in 3 and 4 to Wynne's 4 and 5, whilst the twelfth was halved in fours.

Wynne took the 13th with two perfect, wood shots and two putts in a birdie 4 to Black’s 5, but his putt hung on the lip at the fourteenth and Black took the hole in 3-4. Black took three putts on the 15th, but won It in bogey 5 to Wynne’s 6. Black also won the 16th In 4 to 5. After a magnificent drive at the 17th Black played a weak second and third, but laid his fourth dead and was down in 5. Wynne just missed his putt and the hole was halved in fives. Black got a birdie 4 to Wynne’s 5 at the 18th, and the morning round finished with Black 10 up on his opponent. The Afternoon Round. Neither player was brilliant at the 19th, where a half in four went on the card. At the 20th, however, .Black, who was just off the green with his second, and 9 feet too strong with his third, put down a brilliant putt to take the hole in 4 to Wynne’s 5, putting the former 11 up. The 21st was halved in standard fours. Both played the 22nd well, but Wynne’s fourth had Black dead stymied and the latter playing up put his opponent down and lost the hole in 5-4. Black 10 up. The 23rd was halved in standard 4’s, and the 24th was halved in s’s, both having found bunkers with their seconds.

At the 25th (the long seventh) Wynne’s third was through, and Black’s in a wretched lie just short of the bunker to the left. The latter played a beauty to within 4 feet of the pin and he holed the putt to halve the hole in s’s. ./At the 26th both got good drives and seconds, Wynne being just short, and Black nearly through the green. The latter/however, was down in two more, and took the hole in four to Wynne’s five, and with it the match, 11 up and 10 to play. Next Saturday’s Competition.

The competition for next Saturday at St. Andrews will be a four-ball, best-ball match, seniors to partner juniors. A senior is a player with a handicap of 15 or under. Players must arrange their own partners and opponents. CHRISTCHURCH CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY MACFARLANE. CHRSTCHURCH, Saturday. In the Christchurch Golf Club's championship final E. M. Macfarlane beat E. Pumphrey 5 and 3.