FROM THE GOLF LINKS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1946, Page 8

FROM THE GOLF LINKS

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY STARTS FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND Once again the elements were definitely on the side of all golfers who played in the Levin Club's first qualifying rouhd of the championship on Saturday afternoon. Ideal conditions prevailed, and no less than ten members were suceessful in playing below their respective handicaps in the medal round which was played in conjunction with the qualifying round. The following are "the scores provided_ from those members who handed in cards: D. H. Tomlinson 87—22—65, J. N. Sams 69—4—65, A. E. Hastedt 86—20—66, E. W. Clark 74—7—67, P. S. Crisp 86—18—68, J. I S. Dickinson 92—24—68, W. G. ! Clark 73—4—69, D. C. Hill 77—8— ! 69, C. D. Melville 83—14—69, O. B. 1 Brown 83—14—69, S. C. Franklin 79—8—71, D. P. Todd 86—15—71, ! H. Richards 89—18—71, M. C. Wilton 91 — 20 — 71, W. Groombridge 32—10—72, O. C. Lagor 84—^12 — 1 72, | A. Nicolls 88 — 16 — 72, C. G. Munro 188—16—72, H. J. Hughes 90—18— j 72, W. C. Childs 96—24—72, J. S. i Tomlinson 96 — 24—72, C. R. Hosie j 83 — 10 — 73, T. J. Coutie 95—22—73, |W. H. Walker 97—24—73, E. J. jWatts 78—4—74, D. E. Clark 82—8 | — 74, A. Saunders 83 — 9 — 74, S. F. I Atkins 92 — 18 — 74, J. O'Connor 85— ! 10—75, A. Bennett 93—18^75, F. P. j Wilson 93—18—75, H. F. McClune 93—18—75, H. W. S. Walker 93—18 —75, J. A. C. King 95—20—75, H. ! Nicholson 88—12—76, J. Todd 94— 1 18—76, R. Lester, H. Bull 85—8—77, ' M. R. Smith 91—14—77, C. M. , Wallace 91—14—77, W. Bull 95— 1 18—77, B. Fitzgerald 101—24— 77, R. Atkinson 94 — 16 — 78, H. Black :95— 17— 78, G. H. Sorenson 100—22 i — 78, F. E. Langelan 97 — 18 — 79, D. ; J. Sweetzer 97 — '18 — 79, L. S. Carmichael 99 — 20 — 79, R. A. Frederiksen 92—12—80, W. S. Ogier 98—18 —80, J. H. George 104—24—80, H. Foley 104 — 24 — 80, R. Irving 106 — 24—82 and R. Wilkins 122—24—98. Handicap RetTuctions ' The handicapper has made some j reductions in handicaps to the ; following players after last Sat- ' urday's play: D. H. Tomlinson 22 to 18, A. F. Hastedt 20 to 18, P. S. Crisp 18 to 16 and J. S. Dickinson 24 to 22. Next Satnrday's Fixture I Next Saturday the first round of the Karakamea Cup will be played. The draw for the first round's play ! has already been published and for : the benefit of those members who may not be conversant with their position of play, the sheet show- • ing their respective contestants appears in the clubhouse on the men's notice board. The draw for positional play will take place f-rom the clubhouse at the usual time, 1.5 ; p.m. sharp. Any .member unable j to play on Saturday next can play ! within the following week, proi viding he notifies his opponent to i this effect and a satisfactory j arrangement is made. Failure to | play within a fortnight, automatii cally disqualifies the offending i player.

Club Doings Very even scoring was the order for the majority of contestants in the qualifying championship round | on Saturday and no less than ten ! members bettered par fi'gures in i !the conjunctional medal round j ! with their nett scores. Despite [ ' losing the count back to D. H. j Tomlinson' with his equalling nett ! score of 65, t honours of the day definitely went to J. N. Sams, ! whose gross score of 69 was a bril- ; liant effort. This former South ; Island player, who has earned his : handicap of 4, played on such , courses as Shirley and Balmace- ! wan, and has taken time to | accustom himself to local condijtions of play, but is now among the jtop flight of Manawatu players. j The ultimate winner of the medal 1 round, D. H. Tomlinson, a new- ! comer to local golf, proved himself i a golfer of no mean ability when j he carded a nett 65. His future i performances, and also those of A. ; E. Hastedt, who reeorded his best | gross score to date, will be foliowed with interest by golfers, especially as they will in future be playing with reduced handicaps. Two of the remaining seven players who all bettered nett par figures, O. B. I Brown and J. S. Dickinson also J deserve credit for their great j efforts. I At a recent meeting of the club general committee, it was decided to proceed with arrangements to hold a two-day tourney for members over the King's birthday week-end. Fuller details of play will be made known when the whole programme is drawn up by the sub-committee elected for this purpose. The third day of the week-end has been alloted to the ladies' section for a one-day tournament. In a special hour spent at the clubhouse at the conclusion of play on Saturday afternoon, the club president (Mr. H. Bull), took the opportunity of extending best wishes and congratulations . to two members, Messrs. G. H. Sorenson, who was recently married, and D. E. Clark, who is shortly to be married. Both members replied briefly to the kind words amidst applause from the gathering. The simplicity of the club draw is at last being brought into effect as was shown by the handling of some 70 odd players on Saturday. Some seven ' minutes only were needed before all players were oh

their way to their respective plaees, an improvement on former startings. Attendances are on the up-grade as is shown by eomparisions with earlier draws. The first two e.vents each drew 25 entries and the third 29, while the fourth had 40 starters. The last two Saturday's play has drawn "the majority of club ' members to the links, the last creating a record. For the • benefifr of newcomers to the club, the lOcal rule will be enforced ■ that .should attendances continue to increase, "those new players who arrive late for the draw, etc., will have no standing on the course if they start play after the draw has co.mmenced. All members afe asked to adhere to this important club ruling, fdr mounting attendances will continue to a certain degree to slow down play on the small nine-hole course. Men members have been no doubt aided by several good scoring efforts in the fact that placing has been indulged in for several of their rounds. However, the links are in such good order that placing may be dispensed with, this fact then having hn advantage to the lower handicap player from a scoring viewpoint. Such seemingly trivial things as divot rnarks, etc;, then loom Iargely before all players. During the course of Saturday 's round it was apparent that little or no trouble was being taken by many- players to replace "divots. To bring tiie matter more fully before the culprits, the replacing of all divots is essential to the betterment, not only of fairways, but of a player's scoring. No placing, which is defmitely a royal and ancient golfing rule; is enforced by all clubs. Under normal playing conditions, a player is unduly penalised by his ball coming to rest in a divot mark, having to play it from a hole probably. two or three inches in depth. As many players know, the links are not easy to play upon in midwinter and good tees are essential for average scoring.