GOLF

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2181, 20 June 1914, Page 9

GOLF

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. VARDON LEADING. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrieht London, Juno 18. Tho weather was dry when tho final four rounds (72 holes all told) of tho World's Open Golf Championship commenced at Prestwick. Tho course is hard and the greens aro tricky. There were eight thousand persons present. Harry Vardon (South Herts), with a score of 73, led in the first round, tho next pair being J. H. Taylor (Mid-Sur-rey), the present champion, and James Braid (Walton Heath), whoso rounds wore both completed in 74. Other leading scores were: James Ockenden (West Drayton), 75; Tom Williamson, 75; Abe Mitchell (Sonning), 76; George Duncan (Haugerlull), 77; and Massey 77. ■.'•_. L The score of Mr; Francis Ouimet (U.S.A.), tho open champion of America and amateur champion of France, was 80. His driving was poor and he got into bunker after bunker. At the end of the second round, the leaders were: Vardon, 150; Ockenden, 151; Taylor, 163; and Ouimet, 165. VARDON'S SUPERB DRIVING. By Telcstroph—Preo3 Association— Copyrisht (Rec. June 19, 10.55 p.m.) London, June 19. Vardon's driving' was superb throughout. Duncan's and Braid's putting was frequently feeble, but otherwise they played perfect golf. Ockerden gave a fino, slashing exhibition, and played m a style resembling Braid's. _ Additional scores are:—R. G. Wilson (Oroham Hurst), 153; Abo Mitchell, 154; Williamson, lfrlj-Hambleton, 154; J. D. Edgar (Northumberland), 154; Captain Hutchison, 156; Duncan, 156; Braid, 156; L. Holland, 156; Mr. Jenkins (the amateur champion), 159; Mr. H. H. Hilton (last year's amateur champion), 160; Arthur Havens (aged 15), 163. PRESTWICK, IN AYRSHIRE. ■ COURSE DESCRIBED. In flew of tho fact that the world's open championship is being concluded at Prestwjck,. in Ayrshire, this week (the result should reach us to-day), a note about tho links (from Mr. Horace Hutchinson's book) should prove of interest. "Prestwick golf is different from St. Andrew's golf. The soil is softerit is the real links sand, with a fine carpet, of turf. Prestwick is a private course, belonging to the members of the club; and its privacy is its salvation, for it could never carry on its existence under the amount of play, which St. Andrews" with difficulty survives. Prestwick, in oldtdays, was but a twelve-hole course, bull they were twelve of the best —some'say the very best—that could be found anywhere: Great big bunkers and undulating sandhills to carry, with holes in dells, and i punch-bowls amongst the hills, were, its characteristics in those days; and these it still keeps. But further, it has added other holes which are, for the most part, flat, with a streamlet-men- ■ acing the crooked driver. But betwixt i two level pastures runs a portentous i ridge of sand-hills, appropriately named ' tho Himalayas, over which the golfer i must drive his ball or pay fearful pen- ■ alties. On the homeward journey, the perils of'mountains are enhanced by the ; stream, which courses along their feet, i and which is then on the far side of the i mountain from you. It takes'a really good drive to carry both Himalayas and burn. It is, of course, possible to get • into the burn on your. outgoing shot over the mountain; but this can only be done by the worst of 'tops,', for you tee on the very brink of the stream .- The Cardinal's Nob'is perhaps'the ihost" famous of the great bunkers, and probably it has'cost.,niore strokes than any other bunker into which "a; "golfer 'has ' ever got. _ For, besides being deep and broad, it is palisaded with boarding to keep the edges perpendicular. Above all, it does not present itself as a hasard to bo carried from the tee —that , is, on its outgoing and more terrible ; aspect, but as a crux for the second , shot. No one, who has played at Prestwick, will fail to associate his golf on these'links with the excitement of running up one of the great hills to see how 'near-' the ball has rolled to the hole,, which is known to bo in the hollow just over the hill. And the joy of finding that'your own ball has rolled down dead, while your, adversary's has stuck upon the hillside, is quite ecstatic. The scenery from these hill-tops is less beautiful than the sight just conjured up, but only a little less. There is Arran in the distance, and all tho beautics of the Clyde Estuary nearer at hand; but, needless to say, the golfer does not look at them. In the dim distance there is the Mull of Cantire, on which is a noble golf links. But' nearer there are the beautiful links of Troon, and it makes a nice change from Prestwick to play the first nine of the Prestwick holes', than to walk half a mile across the bents to the end hole of Troon, and finish your eighteen there. Then lunch at Troon, and play back in reverse fashion in the afternoon." LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. June 19, 8.20 p.m.) , Sydney, June 19. At the golf meeting, the ladies' foursomes championship of New ' South Wales was won by Misses Parburv and Gibbons. CRICKET. GOOD.BOWLING AVERAGES. By Teleertph-Press Assooifttiou-Oopy'rieht _.. . London, Juno 18. • Playing against Gloucestershire Field (Warwickshire) took five wickets for 26 runs, and F. R. Foster four for 33. LAWN TENNIS WILDING & BROOKES WINNING. By Telegraph-Press Association-CojyriKht ' London, Juno 18. In the fourth round of the London tennis championships, F. F Lowe beat A. W. Dunlop, 6—2, 3-6, 6—2, 6—3. The Australian's chopped strokes considerably bothered Lowe at the start. In the doubles A. F. Wilding and Norman Brookes beat Dunlop and Harding, 9—7, 6—l. and also beat Myers and Biddle, 6-0, 6-1;