LADIES AT GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1538, 6 September 1912, Page 7

LADIES AT GOLF.

CHAMPION FINALS, HONOURS WON BY MISS COLLINSTHE PLAY DESCRIBED. (By Tclecraph.-Prcss Association.) •Nelson, September 5. The New Zealand ladies' golf championship tournament, which has occupied a week's play on Talmnnimi links, enmo to an end this morning with the playing of tho final Of the championships. Prom tho play in all the matches it appears that those who may have expected to get near tho final next year aro Miss Collins, Jflss Pearce, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Slack, Miss Wood, Miss Gould. Miss Gome, and Miss L. Brandon, whose defeat in the second round cannot be considered as any indication of her ability. Miss Collins and Miss Penrce—both Wellington players-met in tho final, and the result prov.ed an easy win for Miss Collins. The game commenced at about 10 a.m., and the links were in splendid order—better than on any other day in tho tournament. The greens showed a wonderful improvement, while the fairways, which were always good, showed tho cleanest of surfaces. The weather conditions were propitious. There was considerable excitement amongst tho spectators when the match commenced, but this simmered down when play had gone on a little. The popular opinion at tho start was that Miss Pearce (wjio is looked upon as the better golfer of the two, and whoso handicap was ono as compared witn Miss Collins's seven) would win by a fair margin, but the many supporters of Miss Pearce were doomed to disappointment. Mjss Pearce has, as a rule, .showed a minimum of strain in big matches, but sho was obviously very worried td-day, and this was the cause of putting her completely off her game. People would net have been very surprised to see the match result in a close finish, as both contestants have handed in cards very much alike during the past week, but a victory by 5 up and 4 to play was nov'er dreamed of.

Miss Collins never looked like losing, aid was ahead from tho first hole to tho last. Sho played with confidence in her long game, which caused surpriso at tho few minflr mistakes she made. Miss Pearce, on tho other hand ( was ragged at the start, and could not pull herself together, although she ■ made a plucky recovery half way through the match. Some of her shots were badly topped, while tho putting of both ladies was not up tctho mark. Had Miss Pearce shown her Wednesday's skill, tho result might have been different. A little bit of luck On her side might havo affected tho score early iu the game, and niado the finish closer. Tho great factor in tho result-was that Miss Collins rnroly failed to profit by tho slightest mistake on the part of her clubmats.

Miss Collins secured the honour at tho first tee, and drove a good length ball. Miss Pearce commenced with disaster, topping her drive, and playing a poor second; . Following up this advantage, Miss Coilihs won the hole in G. . Both drives off tho second teO were good, but a poor brassy shot gave Miss Collins the advantage-, and sho reached the green in 3, well ahead of tho other player, and then holed Out in bogey (5). The score was then 2 up in Miss Collins's favour. Then Miss Pearce rallied, a- succession of four halved holes being the result. A little luck would have given her .at least a couple of holes. Miss Pearco sliced her drive, but missed the bankers, Miss Collins getting a fair ball. Miss Pearce's second flew truly, but her third was badJ.V topped, .although an accurate.mashio found the green in four. In the. mean-, tiino Miss Collins reached the green in three,- but-threw .away a certain win for. <tt'.'h'al'i':% taking th'i'eo'iiutte-td'go down. - : Both drives from the fourth tee wero slightly sliced, and Misß Peftrco (lropwd into a bunker, but got out,-and near the green in two. More bad putting resulted in tho holo boing halved in sil. Both players took a safo course to the left to. reach "Tho Manuka," and succeeded in clearing the fence. Miss Pearce s third shot was a long putt, and grazed the lip of the hole. This was another half. Mis« Collins nutdrovo Mis* Pearco through tho green- towards "Tho Pot, but the neat mashieshot gavo Miss Pearce tho advantage, and *ho played tho odd on to tho green, but missed her putt, a- half in 5 resulting. At "Little Lighthouse, Miss Pearce played tho best hole of the day. Both drives travelled well, and Miss Pearce approached to Within two feet of the pin, going out in 3, and winning the hole. Her scoi'o was now 1 up, bat, at "The Basin" (although she was, over tjie hill in 2), Miss Pearce made several mistakes in putting, and picked up, her ball, while Miss Collins beat bogey in 4. At tho ninth hole Miss Piai'ce got on the greifa with a beautiful drive and a •braity, and then had Miss Collins thinking. The winner neglected a cbanco for a half after Miss Pearco had failed in ono putt, and then tho latter went down and mode tho scMO 1 up again to Miss Collins. The second round only went four holes, of whioh Miss Collins won three and ono was halved. Both drove close to the green, and Miss Collins took advantago of a missed putt and holed out in 3—one under borey. Another splendid stroke eiiabkd Miss Collins to eet in a good position at No. 11, while Miss Pearce fell short into a bunker. She flame out well, but rau over the hole, wliile hor opponent went down in 3.

Two good drives flew from the twelfth tee, but a short second saw Miss Pearce in the water hazard, from which she lost one. She topped her next, and got on the sreen after two attempt? in 5. Miss Collins teok three nicely-played strokes to set within puttirt? distance, and the holo looked hers-, but Miss Pearce holed a 20 foot putt, and halved. ■ Miss Pearce teok the ground well with her drive off tiio ner*- t*e, but this was oquel. ised by Miss Collins tonping with the wood, Miss Pearce was short in her approach, but Miss Collins nlado, no mistake, and went down in 3. Good drives 'Aliened the play to the next hole. Jltas Collins being in a good safe position before the fence with her secend, and, by an astonishingly accurate apnroach, went near the nin in 3. Miss Pearce frit, into a depression of the ground, from which she had difficulty in playin?, losing two strokes here. She ?ot on the green in 5, and then Miss Collins went Out in 4, and won the match and the clmnlDionship. After the final, the . presentation of prizes took place. Most of the oolfers left bv the delayed steamer at 4,30 p.m. for Wellington.'