GOLF TEST TO N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1948, Page 7

GOLF TEST TO N.Z.

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Remarkable Recovery Of Dominion Players

Copyright)

Received Monday, 10.30 p.m. MELBO URNE, Oct. 4. New Zealaiid triumphed on the second day of the golf test against Australia at the Royal Melbourae course today, by winning three singles matches and- halving the fourth. Eacu country had won a foursomes on Saturday and in. the final analysis New Zealand won by 4$ matches to 11. Results of the singles today were: — B. Silk defeated A. N. Waterson (3 and 5. R. H. Glading defeated W. A. Edgar 4 and 2. D. L. Woon defeated H. W. Hattersley 5 and 4. J. F. Hornabrook tied with D. JBaclili all sqaare. The /outstanding feature was the almost unbelievable improvement in the New Zealanders' play. Following today 's performances, all are cousidered by their Australian opponents, to have a real chance of winning the "Australian ainateur championsliip next weelc. Silk Phenomenal Silk played a phenomenal ni'ne holes on the outward journey in the afternoon, so phenomenal that it is doubted whether his 32 for the nine has ever lieen equalled in ainateur match piav in this country. W.hen his match against Waterson ended he was heading for an approximate score in the low (50 's. Bogey for the first nine is 37 and for the 18 it is 75. Silk, who was 1 down after the morning 18 holes, seemed glued to the target after lunch and his eard for the reniainder of the niatc'i read: Out: 34334524 4 — 32. In: 4 5 4 2. The real feature of Silk's afternoon round was that he had only three putts on the first four holes, the first three of which were birdies and the fourth an eagle. The eagle came from a 50yard chip over a bunker which dropped in the hole. Silk gasped, his opponent gasped and so did the watchers in the gallery. His • putting was made easy by magnificently hit irons, a number - of which stopped only a foot or two from the pin. On the first green he holed a fourt'oot putt, at the third a two-footer, aL •he seventh, where he had a two, he pui his iron only two t'eet from the hole and at the 13th where he had another two, he sank a two-footer. He was live imder fours for the first nine after lunch aiul five under fours for the match. Silk was the player who, on Saturday, was cauglit by almost ever y bunker on the course. . Woon's Impressive Win Probably tlie most impressive win was Woon's success against Harry Hattersley, Australian ainateur champion. Woon was 3 up after an approximate morning round of 71 and still 3 up after the first nine in the afternoon. He was trapped in luinkers at the first, 15th, lfitli and 31st holes but came out eacli tinie to sink the ' ball with oue putt. He also sank his chip from the edge of the green at the 13th. Hattersley seemed out of touch and missed five putts from -three -feet. ■ or less. He said lateiv .that Waterson had given him so jixany easy putts in the foursomes on Saturday that he was unprepared for longer putts in the singles and could not get the feel of the greens. Hornabrook 's Battle. Hornabrook had a great battle with Bachli and at lunch he was 4 up with in approximate round of 72. In the afternoon he began l»v dropping the first three holes. Bachli half stvmied him at the first and sank putts ot' 20 feet and 15 feet .at the second and third. Hornabrook won the next two holes and tnrned 3 up. Coming liome Hornabrook went to 4 n p on the 10th, lost the lltli wlien his caddy picked up Bachli 's ball by mistake, and the next wo, to be only 1 up. After winning the 16th he had Bachli dormie 2, but the Australian fought back and won the 17th with a beautiful chip from a had lie, and the 18th wlien Hornabrook missed a fairy easy putt after having halved.