LADY GOLFERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1253, 9 October 1911, Page 7

LADY GOLFERS.

LAST DAY AT HERETAUNUA. GREAT FINAL. CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY MISS L. BRANDON. Golfers mado Heretannga their goal on ■ Saturday to witness the final for tho New Zealand ladies' golf championship. Proceeding by motor and special train, about &I 0 players and spectators arrived in timo to see; the play. The weather was glorious and the course perfect. His Excellency the _Governor and Lady Islington, accompanied by Captain Shannon and Captain Maitland, were spectators, and followed the match keenly from start to finish. The .'play was good for a final, which, byitho; way, seldom produces a player's best golf. Miss Brandon kept the lead, to:;the sixth' hole, and then lost four, holes in succession. Then she pulled up again, and the scoring was up and down right to tho finish, where she holed a Iprig putt in fine.stylo, and then became, chanipion lady, golfer 'for tho year, VWhcn it was over, the spectators finally relieved of' the strain of excitement gave ohecr'after cheer and hurried to congratulate Miss Brandon immediately after she 'holed the winning putt, while others congratulated Miss Gould on putting up such a stubborn game.- Miss Gould piayed well all.'round, and mado a really fine effort to.. : win, her putt on tho seventeenth un-luckily-just being on tho edgo of the h01e...'. Had it gone in, tho game would Kav© proved even more exciting than was acttlally the case. Miss Brandon fully deserved her win, for she has been playing consistent golf right. through the meeting, and en Saturday her. capital putting saved her at several holes. Two ysars ago she- lost tho championship by a ■putt/but this year the position was reversed, and, as stated, that stroke was ier winning effort. By hor plucky play all through she undoubtedly achieved a •very;..'popular victory, and incidentally one which keeps the cup in tho Welling-' tea'.'Club. Mr, A. Duncan officiated as referee. " . ' , , It seems safe fo say that this tourney las been tho most successful ever held in The weather, organisation, and the .links have been perfect, and all .the-visitors will no doubt take away pleasant recollections of their visit to the 1911, championship. The visiting ladies fully realised the capital work done by_ Miss G.''Ewen. and they mads her tho recipient of a. handsome present. She has been ably •assisted throughout bv Miss Duncan, and, although they have had a strenuous week, tho. success of the tourney doubtless compensates for the effort undertaken. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. MISS BBANDON AND MISS GOULD. CAPITAL G.\ME. The plavers got on tho first' tee punc; tually to "time, and tho great "gallery of Several' hundreds lined round to watch the start of what'turned out to be a great match. Both got away with, good drives. Miss Brandon hooked her brassy Bhotj.and Miss Gould topped her shot. Miss Brandon then got in a fine iron shot, while Miss Gould pushed hers to the light. Miss Go-uld half-topped her third, and Mis Brandon overran. Miss Gould holed with a nice putt, and they balvcd in 5, drives and seconds were short of the bunker. Miss Brandon played a lovely iron shot, and Miss Gould naif duffed, bUt:got over the bunker. She then played ' a good run up, but, putting badly, Miss Brandon holed a two-footer, and won the hole ,5-6.

Both sliced into tho trees, and approached to within four yards, and Miss Gould just-"lipped" for a 3. This nolo was nalvcd'in 4. . .

. Miss Brandon, with'a "following wind, got a!lino long drive at tho fourth bole, outdriving- Miss • Gould. Miss Gould duffed her .second stroke, and Miss Brandon/got on the.green with a beauty; Her opponent. then played a pretty run tip, and Miss Brandon hit tho holo with Ivor third shot, and won it in 4s—o. Miss Briindon 2 up. Beautiful club shots reached the green at "(the fifth hole, Miss Brandon having tho' advantage. Miss Gould was short in Jier'sccond stroke, and Miss Brandon, putting dead, won in 3— i, and was now B,up.- ' '' Starting off for the sixth holo, Miss Brandon sliced, and Miss Gould topped their tee shots. Miss Gould again topped Tier second. Miss Brandon was- lying badly, but took a.n iron, and got well awayV. Miss Gould did not get her third cle-an, and got into a deep pot bunker, and : was very well out. Miss Brandon then,got in a fine brassy shot tc tho right—safe play—but she took her eye off, her next shot, which she only played a yard. The green play at this hole was poor,-and Miss Gould won it in 7—B. Good drives and seconds wero made for tho 'Seventh hole against a stiffish wind. Then Miss Brandon hit a nice brassy, and it struck tho bunker, and came back. She ■ got out with her next however, and got on' : the green with a fine mashie shot. Miss,Gould, played a perfect third, and was then on the green, but she putted indifferently,' and Miss Brandon holed a fine putt of-five yards, but lost tho hole 6—7. Miss Brandon 1 up. Miss Gould got away for the eighth bole with' a raking drive, followed by a brassy shot seventy yards past tho plantation, while Miss - Brandon topped her second, and jumped the, bunker. She was in the rough just, over it, but got nway.well with a nice iron shot. She then started -her mashie shot, Miss Gould playing a beautiful iron on the greon. Sho was then stymied by Miss Brandon, but won the hole C-S, making tho match all square. Miss Brandon was short with her approach at the ninth hole. Miss Gould putted dead in 3, but Miss Brandon mi=sed a yard putt and was 1 down at the turn. 4—5."

Tenth hole: Miss Brandon played a pulled drive and a short approach. Miss Gould, after a good drive, played a fine shot past tho flag. Miss Brandon plavcd a nice approach, while Miss Gould pulled 2 yards past. Miss Brandon then holed a hno putt'. Miss Gould missing hers, and tho. watch was again all square, 't—s lt M * s 3/Brandoh carried the bunker' at tho, 11th beautifully. Miss Gould, driving.;;*.,low ball, hit tho bunker, and had to play to-tho sido in.2. Sho then got a fine long third. Miss Brandon then hooked her brassy, but recovered well. Both played short and missed their putts Miss Brandon, winning in G-7, became I,up'again. 12th.hole. Miss Gould getting in a fine brassy, shot. 'Miss Brandon got a fino iron lieht on to tho contre of the green bat Miss Gould was short. They both putted well, and halved in 5 "thirteenth hole: After fine drives and brassy shots. Miss Brandon plavcd short r; !t \ h ™ mashic. Miss Gould playing l 0 the left. Miss Gould then holed, and won with la I_s ' agai " sr ' UMin B t' llo

For the, fourteenth hole Mi;s Brandon vvas Short, and Miss Gould was a l so on the.short ado with a cleek shot. Mi=s Brandon played up to within 15 feet of tho pin, but Miss Gould over-ran about iijS far past. it. Miss Gould missed tho ■return pntl, and Miss Brandon, hitting the. ball trnly, holed a lovely putt again Incoming 1 up.

_ Miss Brandon miss-hit and was short «it! ho ng e J? ss , ," p tllo hnDk at the 15th, Miss Gould getting well on to the green, but missed the hole. Miss Brandon mado a fine recovery, but Miss Gould, holm* a nice putt, won tho hole in I—s, and again thov wero all square. Itfiss Gould hit a magnificent long drive at the 18th, out-dnving Miss Brandon bv nearly 50 yards. They both plavcd fino seconds on to tho green. Miss Brandon ployed a nice putt and laid it dead, but A'fSs Gould, playing short, laid herself stymie. Sho lifted it over with a mashie but, played too strongly, and went Greet past, and then took 3 more strokes to tide out, losing tho hole, I—7. Miss Brandon 1 un.

Miss Brandon got a nice long ball at tho seventeenth, Miss Gould sliced, but she played a great bra.sscy shot, and overran tho green, Miss Brandon being short. Both ran up short, and Miss Gould "lipping" tho hole for a four, a halve in a re-mlted, Miss Brandon dormy 1.

Playing to the last hole Miss Brandon swept away a lovely drive, Miss Gould topping her shot. She then topped her

second, but made a great recovery, and fot on the edgo of the green hole high, fiss Brandon plavcd a fine brassey; but was very weak in nor approach. She had to the odd and van two yards past. Miss Gould then laid her fourth dead, but Miss Brandon putted with great confidence, and holed a lovely stroke, .winning the match by one hole. OTHER EVENTS. The consolation bogey was won by Miss Brewster with a handicap of 9. all square. Tho high handicap prize was tied for by Mrs. O'Meara (IS), 2 down, and Mrs. Burnett Stuart (11), 2 down. PRIZE LIST, The following is the complete prize list:— Championship.—Champion, Miss L. Brandon, cup and trophy. Eunner-up, Miss Gould, trophy. Semi-finalist, Mrs. Orbell, Miss Collins, medals. Melisop Cup—Mrs. Guy "Williams. Coronation Modal—Mrs. P. Anderson. Eunner-up, Miss W. Cotter. Best Gross Score—Miss L. Brandon. Consolation Bogey.—Miss Brewster, Mrs. O'Meara, Mrs. Burnett Stuart. Donnelly Cup.—Mrs. Donald. Eunnerup, Miss D. Booth. Best Gross Score. Mrs. Guy Williams. Bogey Handicap.—Miss Nora Brandon, Miss E. Gray. Medal Handicap.—Miss Holmes. Eunnerup,. Jliss G. Gorrie. Best Gross Score—Miss Wray, Miss G. Gorrio. Teams' Match.—Mnsterton No. 1. Teams' Match.—North Island. Putting.—Mrs. Burnett £tuart, ■ Mis 3 Poster, Miss Carter, Mrs. Abraham, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Seifert. Best score for the week.—Mrs. Abraham and Mrs. Seifert, 3G (equal). The prizes were handsome ones, and were greatly admired. LORD ISLINGTON'S SPEECH. His Excellency the Governor, before presenting tho prizes, congratulated the winner or tho /championship upon her success, and her consistent play throughout the tournament. He also referred to the fact that they had in the Wellington Club the champion gentleman golfer of New Zealand, and ho expressed tho hope that Mr. Duncan would one day cross the ocean and bring back the English championship to Now Zealand. He complimented all concerned upon the manner in which tho tournament had boon conducted. He had heard on. all sides that the management had been excellent. The club wa9 one that had in a few years shown extraordinary maturity. He wished to add that all through there had been shown an admirable sporting spirit on the part of tho competitors, whether tliey had been successful or unsuccessful. Ho felt sure they would long recollect the seventeenth ladies' championship of New Zealand. (Applause.) MATCH AT AUCKLAND, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 7. In tho final of tho Auckland Golf Club's championship to-day (thirty-six holes), J. C. Burns beat W. B. Colbeck, one up. It was a fine exhibition of golf, the match being keenly contested.