NORTH ISLAND CHAMPION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

NORTH ISLAND CHAMPION

Can P. G. F. Smith Retain His Title? It will 'be interesting to see whether P. G. F. Smith, the youthful Akarana player, who is amateur champion of the Dominion, will be able to retain his title as North Island close amateur champion on the Manawatu Club’s links at Easter. There will be many Richmonds in the field, embracing the 'best of the amateur players of the North Island., Pax Smith proved himself the outstanding amateur golfer in the Dominion last year. After taking the North Island amateur title from J. P. .Hornabrook in Palmerston North, he went to Dunedin, and made himself supreme by winning the New Zealand amateur championship convincingly. Qualifying equal with XV. B. Reilly, as third amateur in the open, Smith then in turn beat F. W. Dixon (St. Clair), 4 and 3; B. V. Wright (Otago), 2 up; J. E. Matheson (Otago), 4 and 3: B. M. Silk (Wanganui), 8 and 6; and took the title by outplaying XV. B. Reilly (Sliaudon), by 3 and 2 in the final.

Smith can be said almost to have been 'born with a golf elu'b in his hands, as his father has been one of New Zealand’s best-known professional coaches for many years. A stylist, Pax Smith owes a great deal of his success to his fighting spirit. He never plays so well as when the fortunes of war are going against him, and he is never so deadly as when shaping up to a nasty lie in the rough. He lias the will to win, which is a valuable asset to a golfer. This year he will have a strong lot of challengers, chief of whom may be Reilly, now of Hutt. Reilly has been playing great golf this season, and wound up with a 66 on the Hutt links on Sunday last. Other serious rivals will be XV. G. Horne (XVellington provincial and Hutt Club champion), lan Ewen (Hutt), R. B. Graham (XVellington Club champion), B. XI. Silk, A. R. Kitto, and R. F. Kitto (Wanganui), H. A. Black (Miramar champion), H. H. MeL. Elliott (Shandon champion), R. G. Holland (XVaiwetu champion). J. L. Black (Hutt). J. P. Hornabrook (Masterton). J. P. Mortland (Taibape), and R. H. Glading (Hamilton). If this strong contingent of challengers line up. the Akarana colt will have to marshal all the fighting spirit he possesses.

GOOD PIPE-OPENERS

Australian Professionals’ Visit

The tour which the two famous Australian professional golfers, Norman X’on Nida and Erie Gremin, are to make through tlie Dominion early next month will awaken interest in the game right at tlie start of the season. This pair are right at the top of the professional ranks in the Commonwealth. Von Nida, though short and light, is known as "The Giant-Killer,” as i i recent years he has beaten in turn such world-renowned players as Gene Sarazen, XValter Hagen and Bobby Locke in special challenge matches in Australia.

Von Nida started his golfing career in Queensland, and came into prominence by carrying off the Queensland open title three times. He then transferred to Sydney, and since then lie has annexed many open championships. Two years ago he went to Manila, and won tlie open championship of the Philippine Islands, and returned successfully to defend his title last year, though he was handicapped during tlie four rounds by an attack of fever, and had to struggle round with only some orange juice to sustain him. Von Nida was expected to win the Australian open last year, but failed to produce form in Adelaide, where Jim Ferrier, tlie youthful Sydney amateur, carried all before him with brilliant play in both tlie. open and the amateur championships. Eric Cremiii has twice won the Australian professional cliampionship, and has also twice carried off the New South Wales professional title. He accompanied Von Nida to Manila last year, and did well in the Philippines open.

The Australians will arrive at Wellington from Sydney on April 3, and will play an exhibition match in Masterton t'h e following day. There they will probably meet a strong pair in T. H. Horton and J. P. Hornabrook, who are a tough proposition on their native heath. The Australians will then return to Wellington, and will play an exhibition match at Miramar |