BAILEY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 173, 29 October 1941, Page 8

BAILEY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

COMMENTARY ON PLAY

The final for the championship provided a thriller. C. Bailey, the well known 2-handicap player from Rotorua, who had been playing superlative golf throughout the tournament, Avas considered to have the championship safe but he met most worthy opposition at the hands of the local president, L. Luxton, who turned on equally excellent golf to take Bailey to the 19th hole. Both players made three good shots to reach the first green where Luxton missed a very short putt to lcse in a 6 to a 5. At the second, Bailey found the green bunker with his second shot, Luxton was just short and the hole was halved in ss. The third saw Bailey again bunkered whereas Luxton recovered well alter a poor <lrive and the hole was halved in ss. Luxton obtained bogey figures at the long 4th only to see Bailey produce a birdie 4. Bailey was now two up. At the sth Luxton overdrove and Bailey .sliced to the right of the green, Luxton made the better recovery and won in bogey to 4. The 6th saw more great work by Bailey to Avin in another birdie 4, to .be two up again. The 7th and Stli Avere each halved in moderate 5s and Bailey Avon the 9th in bogey 4 to become three up at the turn.

The 10th hole saw Bailey's first crash of the tournament, when, after a boundary from the tee, in pressing for a recovery he failed and took a 7, Luxton winning the hole in a good 5 to reduce his deficit to two dawn. Now commenced a great struggle, both being on the green at the 11th and both lipping the hole to just miss 2s. Halved in 3.

At the 12th after two correct shots each, Luxton provided a real thrill in sinking a 20-footer to win in birdie 3 against a bogey A, and to become only 1 down.

The 13th saw Bailey play a period bogey to win and be 2 up.

Another sensation at the 14th. Bailey found the green while Luxton pulled down the gully to the left but played a perfect second to within ten feet from the pin. Bailey putted short and then Lux ton sank his 10-footer while Bailey missed his putt. Bailey now only 1 up.

The difficult 15tli saw both players score perfect bogey 4s.

Bailey's difficulty with his putting continued at the 16th where he took three puts to lose to Luxton's bogey 3. The match is now all square and excitement rose amongst the onlookers.

With the strain obviously showing in both players it AYas an excellent performance for them to halA T e the long 17th in bogey 4s. All square and one play.

At the 18tli Luxton droA*e> first and made a good shot. Bailey took a risk to cut the corner bunker very finely, just missing it by two feet. Luxton carefully studied his second and played a beautiful shot to three feet from the pin. Bailey overshot the green to the right. He iioav had a 30-footer AYith a stymie to negotiate. He played a careful and Avell judged shot just missing his opponent's ball to rest a foot from the pin. All eyes Avere noAV on Luxton to sink his three-footer to Avin the match but he missed and the players had to go on to the 19th, the match being still all square.

The 19th saw Bailey Avin a correct bogey 5, Luxton finding a bunker Avitli his third and taking 6 for the hole to give Bailey a hard-earn-ed Avin in the match.

The figures for the 18 holes were Bailey: Ou*t 41 in 39. Total 80. Luxton: Out 41 in 35. Total 79.

Members and ethers are asked to note that on Saturday next closing day ay ill be obserA 7 ed. All A'isiting players and non-players Avill be most AYelcome-