THE NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume V, Issue 2, 1 November 1901, Page 86

THE NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

«HE New Zealand Amateur Golf Championship Meeting, held at the Cornwall Park Links in the first week of October, under the management of the Auckland Grolf Club, was in many ways a most notable

event. It was the first championship meeting ever played in New Zealand on public links, and it was the first tournament held on what are destined, I believe, to be the most famous links in the Southern

Hemisphere. There was a goodly number of visitors from the South, the most notable absentees being the Brothers Pryde. All the local players, with any chance at all, and many like myself with none, entered freely, as a very pleasant week's golf was

anticipated. The only notable local absentee was Mr. J. R. Hooper, who, unfortunately, was seriously indisposed. I was very sorry that Mr. Hooper's state of health did not permit of his competing, as although I do

not think he would have altered the result, yet had he played up to his heat form, he would probably have been very handy at the

finish

In an article such as this I cannot, of course, give any detailed account of the matches. I must content myself with referring to the principal features of the most interesting fixtures. Directly the draw in the championship was made puhlic it was seen that Mr. A. Duncan would have a fairly easy passage through to the final, as all of those likely to prove in the least

degree " worrying " were in the other half of the draw. The Brothers Gillies and Mr. W. B. Oolbeck were all in the lower half, and all of those who " reckoned to know, you know," considered it a certainty that Messrs. 0. E. S. Gillies and A. Duncan would settle the final issue between them. For the Championship of New Zealand, the principal event of the meeting, there were the following entries : — E. Wilder, Christchurch ; H. D. Stronach, Otago ; G. T. Bull, Poverty Bay ; G. M. Burness,

Auckland ; W. Higujinson and H.* Duncan, of Wellington ; Pare Keiha, Poverty Bay; F. S. fclodson, Wellington ; A. 13. Lawrence, Auckland ; H. Piercey, Wellington ; J. B. Kyd, Auckland; A. Duncan, Wellington; W. B. Oolbeck and J. It. Sykes, Auckland ; D. B. Hovvdon, Hutfc; A. A. Scott, Otngo ; Kuru po Tareha, Hawke's Bay; J. B. Sauuders, Wangauui ; \ { ). S. Pearco, Wellington; C. M.S. Gillies and A. H. D. Peel, Auckland; E. 1). O'Rorko, Christchurch, and H. T. Gillies, Auckland. The first and second rounds were not

productive of anything very exciting. Tho best match of these rounds was that betweon Messrs. C. E. S; Gillies and A.H. D. Peel. It was generally considered that Mr. Gillies would have little difficulty in winning, but Mr. Peel, playing a very confident game, worried the local champion until the 16fch hole, where Mi*. Gillies was 3 up and 2 to play. This match was remarkable for the number of stymies laid. Of these Mr. Gillies had undoubtedly the worst of the luck. He was very weak on the gveen, but

his long game was, generally speaking, good. Mr. Peel played a good game, and made a most creditable stand against his redoubtable rival. Mr. Kurupo Tareha, playing against Mr. E. S. Pearce, put up a warm score for the twelve holes, which it took him to win his match. His card read : 6, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5. The third round was narrowed down to Wilder v. Bull, Keiha v. Duncan, Oolbeck v. Tareha, and 0. E. S. Gillies v. H. T. Gillies. From Mr. Tareha's form of the previous

E. S. PEARCE. K. DUNCAN. A. DUNCAN.

D. H. Morrison, Photo. A WELLINGTON TKIO,

day it was anticipated that he would give Mr. Colbeck a good game, but the chief interest of the round centred in the meeting of the Brothers Gillies. It was generally thought that Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies should win, but it was well known amongst golfers that Mr. H. T. Gillies was brimful of confidence in his ability to score a victoi'y, and that he was after it in dead earnest, and of this there could be no doubt. From the word go, or to adopt more golferly

language, from the first drive it was evident that tie meant business. He played with the utmost freedom and confidence ; in fact, if it were possible to play an aggressive game of golf, I -would almost go the length of saying his game was aggressive. His golf for the out journey was perfect, as his score of 39 will show, and he started for home 4 up. JacobVLadder was halved in 3, and the Pah in 4. Mr. C. E. S. Gillies won the 12th in 4, his brother taking 6. Mr. C. E. S. Gillies won the amphitheatre in 4, and the game stood : Mr. H. T. Gillies 2 up and 5 to go. The Bluegums was halved in 5. At the 15th Mr. C. E. S. Gillies played a good putt, and his brother failing on a much easier one, lost the hole, leaving him 1 up and 3 to play. The 16th hole looked like a certain half, but again Mr. C, E. S. Gillies missed an easy putt aud lost the hole, his brother now being dormy 2. Mr. H. T. Gillies thus only wanted a half to win, but on the 17th green he was a little over anxious and ran past the hole, and as Mr. C. E. S. Gillies had practically a certain putt, it looked like all square aud 1 to go, but again he failed at the critical time, and his brother won by 2 up and 1 to play.

The winner played a fine game. His driving waslongand straight, his approaching good, some of his mashie shots being perfect, and his putting confident and accurate. His brother, ou the contrary, played with a great lack of " go " until it was too late, and then, to borrow a turfy term, he was " done on the post." I think 1 may fairly say that the winner played the better golf, although if there was any bad luck about, Mr. G. E. S. Gillies generally managed to find it. It

was not until the match had practically slipped through his fingers that Mr. C. E. S. Gillies really came at his brother with any show of determination. Mr. Harry Gillies secured a good lead early in the game, and this stood him in good stead later on. On the other hand Mr. C. E. S. Gillies failed on the out journey, particularly on the green and during the play at the first six or seven holes, and this seemed to put him out a good deal. Without in the slightest degree detracting from the merit of Mr. H. T. Gillies' performance, I have no hesitation in saying that had his brother put as much

go into his woi'k in the earlier stages of the game as he did at the last five or six holes, there would very probably have been a different result. Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies played very fairly as far as his long game aud ordinary approaches were concerned, but his putter cost him the match. Of the other matches in this round most interest was taken in the meeting of Messrs. Kurupo Tareha and W. B. Colbeck. Mr. Tareha did not sustain his form of the previous day, and the local player won by 4up and 3to play. Mr. Duncan beat Mr. Keiha by 6 up and 5 to go, and Mr. Bull

heat; Mr. Wilder by 2 up and 1 to piny, leaving Messrs. Bull mid Duncan and W. B. Colbeck and H. T. Gillies to play the semi-finals. Very great interest was taken in the meeting between Messrs. H. T. Gillies and Colbeclc, and opinions were fairly equally divided as to who would prove tho winner. They were all square as they came up to the Bth green, which Colbeck had nearly reached with a grand 2nd. Ho played a perfect approach shot from about 35 yards and holed out in 3, leaving him 1 up. Colbeck pulled his drive into long grass

behind the bank in the amphitheatre, and losing it lost the hole. Gillies went down in 5 and stood 1 up, the first time he had been in front. At the 14th hole Colbeck had an easy putt for 4, but Gillies laid him a stymie, and it looked as though the hole would be halved in 5, but with a putt of perfectly-judged strength and direction, he just glided past the other ball, steadied for a moment on the higher side of the hole, and then, assisted by the slope and wind, rolled slowly in. This was one of the prettiest and most skilful shots of the meeting. All square and 4to go. The next hole was

halved with a poor 6, but Colbeck won the next in 5, mid stood lup and 2to play. It looked as though the 17th hole was to be

halved, but Col beck went out with a welljudged putt in 4, aud won by 2 up and 1 to play. Mr. Oolbeck played a good game, and well deserved his win. His driving was long and straight, and, generally speaking, his approaching was good. His approach at the Bth hole, although there was, as in all such shots, an element of " fluke," was a very fine bit of play, He was very good on the green, time and again holing* out good putts under pressure, and he did not allow anything to put him off. His opponent did not play such v happy game as he did on the preceding day, and this and a little worse luck were quite sufficient to turn the scales against him. . He should have won this match even as his brother should have

the fraternal contest."

won M: Bull

ir. Duncan won his match against Mr. I by 6 up and 4 to play, and it wasjleft for Mr. W. B. Colbeck to do battle for Auckland against Wellington's doughty representative. The final for the Amateur Championship of New Zealand consisted of 36] holes, and was started on the morning of Friday, 4th October. Mr. Colbeck started brilliantly with two perfect fours, but by the time the fifth hole was played the game was all squai-e, and the Wellington player gradually increased his lead, until at the end of the first 18 holes he stood in the comfortable position of 5 up, although he had only finished the round one stroke better than Mr. Cnlbeck. The competitors' cards read : Duncan : 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4—44. Colbeck : 4, 4, 5, 6, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5—45, After luncheon the players started out for the final round. Duncan started with a fine drive, but Colbeck foozled into the long grass, and gave up the hole. At the Cave Duncan got in two fine shots, leaving him a nice distance from the wall, and with a beautifully-played iron shot

he was on the green in 3. Colbeck's third was just over the wall, and he lost the hole, Duncan going out in a perfect 5 to his 6, and standing in the comfortable position of 10 up and 11 to play Colbeck won the next hole with a perfect 4 Duncan's second was a bad cleek shot, the only really bad shot he played on the round, and it cost him the hole, as he took sto go down. The Bth hole also fell to Colbeck in four, and the players turned homewards, Duncan 8 up. At Jacob's Ladder both players were on the green with their tee shots. Colbeck was on the outer edge; Duncan within 18, inches of the hole. Colbeck took two more to hole out, and the match was apparently all over, but to the surprise of the onlookers, Duncan missed his putt, and the hole was halved in 3 r

Duncan being dormy 8. At the Pah Col beck was too strong with his second, and Duncan, who had made a fine approach, holed out in a splendid 3, while Colbeck took 4. Duncan thus won tlie Championship of New Zealand by 9up and 7to play. Play was continued to the club house, both holes being halved in four. Duncan afterwards completed the course in his play-off against Keiha, and put np the brilliant score of 70 for the 18 holes. His figures for the final round read : Out : 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5—40 In : 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 3, 5—36 This was a really fine performance, and was the only taste which Mr. Duncan gave Aucklanders of his quality, He was in the very nice position of 5 up when he started out on the round, and could afford to play a free and vigorous game. The round hardly had a bad stroke in it. Colbeck played a good game, quite up to his best form, and won many congratulations on his fine play. He made a very bad beginning after the luncheon adjournment, and did not hole out at the first hole, but for the remaining holes to the amphitheatre he played good golf. Duncan's driving was very gocd in this round. He gets a fine long ball, generally fairly low and with good direction. His appi caching was veiy good,, and his putting nearly perfect. In the other events Auckland came out well, Messrs. C. E. S. and H. T. Gillies winning the Bogey foursomes after tying with Messrs. A. and K. Duncan; Mr. AB. Lawrence -won the Handicap (Medal Play) of 18 holes with the good score of 90—10—80, and materially assisted hi B team to win the interclub challenge bowl presented by Mr. E. D. O'Rorke. The Auckland quartette were Messrs. C. E. S. and H. T. Gillies, W. B. Colbeck, and A. B. Lawrence, and Wellington was represented by Messrs. A. and K. Duncan, W. Higginson, and F v S. Hodson. Neither Messrs. A. Duncan nor C. E. S. Gillies showed good form in this match, Mr. Duncan

finishing in 87, o up on Mr. Gillies, while My. K. Duncan 92 was 2 up on Mr. H. T. Gillies. Mr. Colbeek 01 was '<i up on Mr. Higginson, while Mr. Lawrence, who finished in 90, was no less than 15 up on Mr. Hodson. Mr. A. Duncan won tin? Bogey Handicap from seraloh after tying with Mr. Pare Keiha (4). Both players were 1 down, and Mr. C. li. S. Gillies (scratch) was 2 down. The approaching and putting competition was won by Mr. J. L. It. iiloom field. Competitors wore roquii'cd to hole a ball from each of 3 distances, 2U yards, 80 yards, and 120 yards. There were twentytwo entries, comprising the best goli'mg talent in the colony. At the first essay

Messrs. Bloomfield and C. E. S. Gillies and A. Duncan and F. S. Hodson tied with the good score of 9 each. Mr. Bloom Held won the play off with the good score of 8, a performance of which, considering the company he was in, he may verj justly feel proud. The prize for this was a handsome gold matchbox presented by Mr. Jas. Kirker, who also gave the prize for the driving competition. This competition took

place down the amphitheatre, but unfortunately it was somewhat interfered with by the heavy rain which set in. Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies won with a fine drive of 226 yards. Taking the golf throughout the meeting there was not much to enthuse aboutMany of the competitors showed very good form, several exhibited fitful flashes of brilliancy, but the only exceptionally good round was Mr. Duncan's fine finish for the championship in 7Q. To finish ten holes up on Bogey, who had not previously been beaten, was undoubtedly a fine performance, and it will be some little time before his figures are lowered. Of the local players Messrs. C. E. S. and

H. T. Gillies, W. B. Colbeok, A. B. Lawrence and J. L. R. Bloomfield showed very g^od form in the various events. Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies' play in the championship,

for a golfer of his calibre, was certainly very weak, especially on the greens, but in the approaching and putting, driving and other events, he figured prominently, although his play generally through the green was not equal to that high standard which we expect of him. I was disappointed that he did not meet Mr. Duncan in the final, as I had looked forward to the event with much interest, as likely to provide us with an exposition of the game worthy of the occasion. In connection with Mr. Gillies' non-success on the green, I should mention that he told me that he has had a recurrence of the peculiar trouble in his right wrist which militated so much against him at the Australian meeting. It seems to affect his direction, and the manner in which he missed practically certain putts was almost as distressing to an onlooker as it must have been to him. The Auckland Golf Club has only recently had completed its new club house on its private property adjoining the links, and the fine accommodation provided for members and visitors assisted materially to make the meeting the pronounced success it was. A short time prior to the meeting the links were in a very backward state, but the Committee worked wonders, and the result was that the course on the opening day was in very good condition. The visitors, many of whom have seen the finest courses in the world, were loud in their praises of the Cornwall Park Links from a scenic as well as a golfing point of view, and one of them, who ought to know, went so far as to say, that in time he believed it would be the most perfect course in the world. I cannot conclude this article , without a. word of recognition to Mr. 0. E. S. Gillies f Hon. Secretary of the Auckland : Golf Club, for his indefatigable efforts in connection with the meeting. Everyone who has had to do with tournaments knows what a good secretary means to a meeting like this, and I cannot say more than that no sports tournament which I have ever attended ran more smoothly.

The New Zealand Ladies' Golf Championship Meeting. The New Zealand Ladies' Golf Championship Meeting took place at Cornwall Park Links during the week following the men's meeting. I regret that space will not allow me to devote as much attention to the ladies as 1 should like to. Play started on Wednesday, October 9th. There was a large Southern entry, and all the best local players were entered for the principal event, the Ladies' Championship of New Zealand. The competitors played two rounds of 18 holes (medal play), the best eight aggregates to play off by holes for the championship. Miss llattray, of Dunedin, last year's champion, narrowly escaped losing her position iv the eight, and was only saved by a fine round of 99 in the afternoon. Our local champion, Mrs. W. 11. BloomnVld, failed to qualify, but it was apparent that she was quite off her game, and in addition to this the gallery was "quite too familiar"

and sociable. It cannot be too widely known that it is a heinous offence in the eyes of a golfer, even of a lady golfer, who one might suppose would be tolerant of such weakness, to talk while a stroke is being played. In fact, absolute silence and stillness should be preserved while anyone is playing. In this respect— and in this respect alone, I think — might the two meetings just concluded have been improved upon. I hope those responsible for the management of future tournaments "will not forget the regulation of the gallery, for it must be remembered that the average New Zealander is not yet fully educated as to what is expected of him or her as a unit of a golf gallery. In the final of the men's championship matters in this respect were averaged up somewhat, for the unfortunate followers were roped off at quite an unnecessary distance from the players.

Miss Gillies won the Ladies' Championship of New Zealand after a fine match with Mrs. Bid well, whom she defeated at the last hole by one up. Miss Gillies played a sterling game. Her record round of 93 was an exceptionally good one. She uses a wooden putter, and some of her approach

putts are a treat to see. The tino largo greens at Cornwall Park allow her ample opportunity for using this olnh. Miss

Gillies also won the Bogey match, finishing one up on the Colonel. The final was a most interesting mutch, and although Mrs. Bid well lost by one hole, her card was actually one stroke bettor than the champion's. The runner-up played good golf. She had if anything the worst of the luck, but that is all in the game. Of the other competitors the one who impressed me most was Miss Lewis, of Auckland. Her round of 96 was a fine performance. She won the driving handicap with a good drive of 130 yards against the wind, and in the scratch Bogey match for Dr. Stuart Reid's prize, which provided a most interesting and enjoyable game, she finished all square. Mies Lewis has an easy natural swing, plays with plenty of confidence and strength, and will, I have no doubt, figure very prominently in the Ladies' Championship events of the future, as she has everything in her favour. In the driving competition Miss Lewis' three drives were almost of an equal distance. It always seems to me that it is a mistake to take the

longest drive of three. I think a fairer test in almost every case would be to take the longest average. Take the case of the winner of this event for example. Another ■competitor might have made two air strokes, and with the thii'd have beaten Miss Lewis' best by six inches, in which case she would 'have taken the prize, although similar play •thiough the green would have left her in a bad way. This condition should, I think, be altered.

The visitors went down badly in the Wellington-Auckland match, in which Miss Gillies finished 5 up on her championship opponent, Mrs. Bidwell. Miss Lewis again played a good game, and helped largely to swell Auckland's majority. The meeting was, like the men's, a great success, and the visitors enjoyed themselves very much ; indeed, Cornwall Park Links could hardly have been opened under happier auspices.