ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

GOLF & GOLFERS. > TALK WITH J. A. CLEMENTS. HIS RECENT TRIP. Ir. J. A. Clements, the Now Zealand fessional. golfer, "'who returned from Inoy by tho Manuka on Wednesday, jrnoon, interviewed, gave somo in;sting particulars with, regard to tho itralian links in general and the y at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club's n and amatour golf championship )ting of Australia, which took place the Sandringham links, in particular. Ir. Cloments, who won tho New Zead professional championship at Wel;ton last year, left Wolhngton for [bourne on August 15. The chamnship meeting commenced on August and finished on September 12, ments had a few days in which to over the course before playing for championship. Asked to describe his formance, Mr. Cloments replied: "I 1 playing very well to start with in ctice,' and was doing 74's and 76's gy being 80), but' wlion the olinmlship started I waß in troublo almost n the start. It is an absolutely local l's courso, and every variation of d changing the courso completely. > two players- who finished first and uul could walk up to tho ball and 1 it without thinking, 'whereas every tor was worried as to what to do t. On several occasions I played my t thinking I should drop on tlio en, but instead dropped in a bunker ■ty yards short, tho distance being: leceiving. Tho courso is very narrow. ier spongy, and well-blinkered, whilst greens aro very large, so that unless layer got in a perfectly straight drive [ made suro of a good approach shot' finds himself bunkered in tho narrow t. I expected to find the turf pretty d, hut it was as Spongy, as a three-'-ii mat."

Australian Championships. n the open championship Clements 1 for tenth place out of over 80 playfrom all. parts, there being some 0 entries for the various ovents. Ivo itton (Victoria) did' the four rounds 302 (76—73-73—80), A. R. Lemire (Victoria) being three behind —74—73—78). "Up to that time," 1 Mr; Clements, "73 was the record the links, but severa 1 players did the nd' in 73, aiid subsequently D. ■ G. tar went round in 70.'' here wore 22 entries in tho profeslal competition, in which Clements shed fifth, his scores being 81 and 80, inat D. G. Soutar's' winning scores 8 and 76. For a purso of £25 offerby Messrs. Watson, tho winner waß & Soutar, who broke tho record by lg round in 70, his second round be--15, whilst the next throo players swart, • Popplowell, and Clark) took cacli to the second round, and 73, and 76 respectively to the first, Bents going round in 75.and,81, and ihing. fifth. For a purßo of £20 of:d by the Metropolitan Golf Club, ments finished sixth, tho scotes being follow:—Clark, 80 and 80; Soutar, ind 81; Findiay, 81 and 83; Maidan, und 86; Young, 81 and 82; Clements, and 86. ''It was blowing very hard t day,'' commented Mr. Clements, liich explains why the scores were higli in the final for the amateur mpionship, which was played off tho le day." ■ Ls to the future, Mr. Clements said rt "fl3 far as he knew he would not playing for the Australian charansbip next year, but he hoped to (50 r again' the following year. Ho is ying an exhibition match on ilho ri\mar links/'with Mr. Simpson, (aner: professional - golfer)' on• Saturday arnoon, similar to■ the,match, played t year, when Clements won 4 up and 'j play. ■ Ir. Clements added that it has been ided to play next year's Australian impionslup over tho Seat-onn course Adelaide. -

. SYDNEY'S GOLF LINKS. Whilst in Sydney Mr.'Clements playover t : ho Kensington. courso, when. 3 year's championship was to have ;on place, and which still boasted a :g of 'water on. one. of tho greens, ich would take two or three months clear; he played over Royal Sydney If . Club's links at Rose Bay, which considers to be a very good sporting irse; the Manly links no found in >ital order; the Killara links, which > up on the hills out of Sydney, and ich provide an interesting course, ho )light rather on tho rough side; and also played on tho Concord links, a v course with very long grass, DUt ih the making of a very tine course en developed. ir conclusion, Mr. Clements said ho pod to defend his title as New Zeaid professional champion, play for ioh would take placo on the Balraacen links, Dunedin, on October 13. He o mentioned that Iyo Whitt-on, who lin won the championship at Meljrne, was going to England next it to make a tour of the links, and it Now Zealanders would have tho portunity of seeing how ho fared iinst tho Home professionals.

CLEMENTS AND SIMPSON. J. A. Clements, New Zealand golf ampion, and \Y. R. Simpson, Miramar ofessional, are to pln.y an exhibition itch at 3.30 to-morrow on the Mirair links, and tho match is attracting nsiderablo interest in golf circles. The iramar professional lias put up a new 3ord, for the courso since ho was deitcd by Clements in a similar match it year by 4 and 3. The links are excellent condition and 'a sporting itch should be the result.