GOLF

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 355, 13 May 1897, Page 11

GOLF

; The principal interest on Saturday at the golf links was centred in the final round of the championship, which was fought out by Messrs. Gillies and Kyd. Both players were in good form, Mr Kyd especially so, and after a prolonged and severe struggle, the latter player succeeded in carrying off the honours, defeating, to the surprise of those present, last year’s champion by three up and one to play. A very strong easterly wind prevailed, and as this is the moat trying quarter from which the wind can come, the play was somewhat affected by it. In many respects the contest was an extraordinary one. In the first nine holes five holes were halved and four were won by Mr Gillies, who played one six, the remainder being fives and fours. At this stage the match looked almost a certainty for Mr Gillies, but Mr Kyd then won Bulls Run in four to his opponent’s five ; following on which came two uneventful halves for the Polo holes. Mr Kyd, with five, three, six, four, won the next four holes in succession, his opponent putting badly, being one stroke behind at each hole. The seventeenth was halved in five, and though Mr Gillies was playing the like from the edge of the last green he took four more to hole, and Mr Kyd won the hole by six to seven, he (Mr Kyd) being then two up. At half-past two p m., before a good attendance of interested spectators, including a number of ladies, the final 18 holes were commenced. Mr Gillies with four five and four took the first three holes, thus establishing a lead of one up, and the next two holes were halved with five and mx each. The Forest fell to Mr Kyd in five to six, Bamford’s was halved in five, and Mr Gillies ■won the next whole in four, being then one up. Rorke’s Drift was halved in four, the match being then one up, with, nine to play, in favour of Mr Gillies. After Bulls Run had fallen to Mr Kyd, and the Polo to Mr Gillies, in five each, the latter was still one up.' Mr Kyd s second at the Upolo hole lay under the wall, but with a fine mashie shot he lay dead, and just missed holeing his fourth. The match was now all square and six tp play. Both had good drives over the long wall, and Mr Gillies had to play from a grassy lie. Mr Kyd with a splendid cleek shot reached the green and holed in four to six. At the bridge hole Mr Gillies missed an easy put for a-half in three, but took the home hole in five to his opponent’s six with a very fine put The game at this stage was extremely interesting, Mr Kyd being one up and three to play.: Both made splendid drives to the sixteenth hole, but Mr Kyd getting the benefit of a run on his ball, took the hole in four to his opponent’s five. At the next hole, Mr Gillies, unfortunately, had a down hill lie, and took five to hole, Mr Kyd being down with a perfect four • the game thus resulting in a win for Mr Kyd, as abovementioned, by three up and one to play. The winner is to be complimented on his improved form and stubborn uphill game. This is the first time Mr Gillies has been defeated in a match on the Greenlane Links, and for his own sake, as well as that of the Club, it is perhaps a good thing that be has suffered defeat. There is nothing which improves a man’s game more than good hard matches and it is hard for the best man in the Club to improve his game without such matches. Mr Kyd has improved greatly in the last three weeks, and on account of his dogged perseverance he is a difficult man to sjiake off. It was this dogged pertinacity which won him the championship on Saturday, and which makes him come away so strongly at the finish of a match. Mr Gillies finished in good form, but the standard of play set up by Mr Kyd ih the last six holes was too severe. The links have been carefully measured off, and the following is the list of holes and their lengths: — Out: 1, First, 320yds; 2, Pump, 240yds ; 3, Summit, 195yds; 4, Windmill, 215yds ; 5, Remuera, 320yds; 6, Forest, 300yds ; 7 Bamfords, 265yds; 8, The Gap, 220yds; 9, Rorke’s Drift, 175yds ; total, 2250yds. In : 10, Bull’s Run, 370yds; 11, Polo, 435yds; 12, Upolo, -440yds ; 13, Long Wall, 320yds; 14, The Bridge, 100yds ; 15, Home, 420yds ; 16, First, 320yds ; 17, Pump, 240yds; 18, Home, 420yds; total, ■3065. It will be seen that the course is 5315yds long, or 3 miles and 35yds. This is so far as we know the longest course in New Zealand, Dun - edin coming next witn 5,200yd5. The handicap match attracted the large field of 26 entries. Mr Walker, the winner, who showed steady form right through, went out in 45 and came in in 55 ; this, with his handicap of 6, giving 94 net, which was not beaten, Mr Colbeck was in splendid form and went out in 40, including one seven, but unfortunately took 57 to come in. This gave him 97, and entitled him to second place. Mr Gillies went, out in 43 and came in in 52, to which, however, had to be added his handicap of five, giving 100 net. Mr Carr was fourth with 102, Messrs Cuff, Turner, and Leatham returned 103, and probably the latter would have won the match had he started earlier, the light being distinctly bad when completing his last three holes. Other scores returned are MessTH Sykes and Reed 107, Mr Kissling 108, while many have not yet been sent in. It is satisfactory to learn that three entries have been received from Wellington for the New Zealand Championship contest to be held here next week. These are the three Wellington cracks, Messrs W. and D. Pryde and A. Duncan. Christchurch dnd Dunedin will unfortunately not be represented, and this is to be regretted, more particularly in view of the fact that when the cjiampionship was held at Dunedin last year two Auckland players attended. The links are at present in splendid order more especially at the home hole, the whole re fleeting great credit on Tims, the caretaker.