GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 595, 25 August 1909, Page 8

GOLF.

CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY MRS. BEVAN. MISS BRANDON RUNNER-UP. A'VERY FINE FINALE. (By Telograrh.-Rrieclal Correspondent.! Palmerston, August 24. .. This morning the semi-finals of the championship were played, and attracted a great deal of attention, practically all those not engaged following tho players. The weather , was again most favourable, and play very ko6n,' As was generally anticipated, Misß Humphreys.succumbed, to Mrs. Bevan, who was in great form, succeeding during her round in.again lowering the record of the links; and bringing it down'to 84. Mrs. Bovan beat Miss Humphreys by 4 up, and 3 to' play.! Miss Brandon also'defeated. Miss Cowper by 1 np. Mrs. Bevan's round this morning , bt'it.,the previous record by '5 strokes, and cahib within 2 strokes of tho par of the green. This is based .'upon what if is' estimated the champion of England (Miss Dorothy Campbell) would do the round in, if playing in her best form. In the approaching :andputting competition .in the morning there were.'3 ties at B;!arid in the play-off Miss Bcatson''(Hastings) won'with Tho .final for the' championship was played off 'in- the. afternoon. between, Mrs. .Bevan and Miss Brandon., All othpr golf was p'raic; tically, suspended, 'and'.there', must, have been fully 100 spectators,,arid; players, following thei fortunes of the two contestants. ■, .Mrs. Bevan opened badly, the strain, of.,tho .morning apparently affecting her miich more ibarr Miss Brandon, who'.commenced , ye.ry .-.confidently,.' getting .iway.with' a.' strong lead,; which she iriaintairtedtb'the tenth hole, when she., was 3 up,■'. and golfers who .had. confidently . predicted that -Mrs.; .Bevan would again secure the Freeth Cup we're commencing to discourse upon the glorious uncertainty of the'game;', However,, at the. 11th hok, iMrs.,Bevan was,successful,: and,, with a' splendid, exhibition of clean, decisive driving,'also: prevailed ,at: the' 12th' hole thus considerably i reducing, the .advantage vioußly .held: by,' lady. .The. latter approached- badly/at' the 13th '•.;' hple',' and landed comfortably in the bunker. Mrs., Bevan, on.' the'contrary, as the result of a .well-placed drive, got 'into' 'a : good position;, and scored also< at this, hole by- 6 .strokes td'7..; ;■'.<:.■■., ;^c: ; ,v. ..;;',::■■ u ■■:■'',■ ■•..'.-> • vGood play followed .'.to ..the'fourteenth': hole',which was 'halved,/ : The'.supporters of; the Otafcr player were'now quite.'confident that she.-sv.ould winj but 'at; the.fifteenth ■ hole - she also >vas ; bunkered. ..,-A- '.;firiQ. 'recovery, .y?as. arid, amidst suh,ducd. .applause, the hole•; washalvedy-, Mrs;' Bey^n''sho'w'ecl; her, best; form at the 'sixteenth' hole,- ; where: shp, j'put:-in .sotte- deadly: putting,' -and, scored-de-' tisively. her brjlliant.pla.y agahrevokihg the quiet'plaudits of the; onlookers,. The. game, however} was'.not' by any meaps lost,. Miss Brandon playing a plucky game", whilst-. fortune, cam'e'to :her';assi6tance;at the. next hole; where , Mrs..,Beyan'6.-;:drive ; landed ;vin. . the, rushes.' ,'A's a'.resjillt, 'Miss...Brandon,' won the. hole, arid scores-,,were,:again.level, with,'oiily brioholo to- go. .:', - ;;■ .'..'■'■ '..y ,'■■-';■-''■ •;' .The excitem'erit',fras.rio^'-intensei-the,only. cool and collected, ones being:-'.-'the.' players themselves. Each, portion: .of. tho play was watched %,if.h. the • keenest:-attentiori,' and each drive, was'followed.withvthe -ikeenest;.appreciation ' of 'ithe- probable, ftesnlt;- < '' i Th'e.. ; .odds wore.;rill-;against../Mrs. 'Bevan,. when}.it was swri.isat;hcr:,ball : had'ag'airi.TO ■ nishop, : -'j ©sp^ip / 11y...v i sijic*iy Mis.?; /bsfcl cleared' the... fatal welUdirected shot.-, ■ Mfs;- Bcran wis,. howiVer f 'eijual'toihe. occasion, hef.self .•'fr.orri, her; difficiilt. position, with'a,'splendid tichlly the wihning'offort of the, gaine; iince, followed by brilliant: putting, it enabled 'her to. halve"the. eighteenth;hole: ■'Apain:, tlie'applause broke Out; arid again, it was Veil deserved by each player. ~ The nirieteenth, and, as it happened,, the final hole, was opened by each player with' good- drives, Miss'Brttndort 'perhaps haying an advantage which she did not'lose,-in the approach, Mrs. Bevan's putting Tvas,;hbwcver, irfesistiblei ,a'nd,,wilh; a brilliant effort, she placed the ball in the hole.to'.tjieaccomr < panimerit; of. loud applause. .Miss- Brandon was n6t'equojl to'the effort jequired, arid for.; the secojid-time. Mrs.'Beyari. was returried a winner. She was tho recipiorit of numerous congratulations on her second victory. , Last year she- won with a score of 92, as against 95 on: the present occasion.;;, v

. CONSOLATION HANDICAP. ;,'.. .(By AMoolatlod.l >■ • ' Palmerston,' August 24.'.'. : • In the ,consolation--handicap,- the- best ' were:—Miss Pulton (18), one ■ down; :Miss'. Stafford (16),; one' down; Miss: Abraham (18), all square.. •- •'■ ■ ■ ■ '■ -y! ■; .-■: ■<::■ '■'.-■''•■■- ■■■/. '-. The prizes were presented at an "at home" held in the Municipal Hall .to ; night.. The; ManaWafrr Club's ladies tournament begins tomorrow, and a considerable number-, of the competitors are .staying-for. it. .. ~-.-'■.. . . ■;..-.