AUSTRALIAN GOLF

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 196, 4 September 1937, Page 18

AUSTRALIAN GOLF

WILL' AMATEURS BEAT PROFESSIONALS?'

In quality, numbers and talent the field entered fftr the Australiart golf championships, to be contested this month in Sydney, is ,a record one. Rivalry between the amateur and professional camps, and even distribution of talent among the top notchers, epdsts in a healthy way in Australia. Of the half-dozen candidates most fancied for the open championship there are three amateurs and three professionals. Reports are to the effect that the contestants Will find a greatly modernised and improved Kensington. Recent bunkering work has been cleverly and well done, and, although the course lacks great length as compared with open championship courses in U-S.A. and Britain, it will prove a searching and adequate test. Given normal conditions of weather for turf and play, it is confidently expected that the meeting will be marked by further indications of the advance of the game in Australia, and possibly record scoring, says an Australian critic. There is an impresison among the discerning who know the course intimately that 288 at most will win. If some of the very skilled stars provide the best that is in them over the par 71 Australian links, some hope that even Sarazen's record of 282 made last year at Metropolitan will be in danger. One can hardly hope for golf of quite that wonder quality, but certainly can for several rounds under 70 in the open, and thrilling fights for each of the titles now held by Gene Sarazen. Jim Ferrier and W. J. Clifford. Undoubtedly che amateur team to go to Britain early next year, and the hopes thjat two or three professionals have of making the trip abroad at the same time have had a big effect on making the forthcoming meeting such a thoroughly representative one, and of drawing together this greatest Australian field to date.

Normally, all the professionals with winnlng chances compete in the nationals, and it is in the amateur entry that this year's meeting will be above normal. The six who are "at the head of the betting" for the open include Ferrier, Hattersley and Williams; and the professionals, Bolger, Von Nida and Richardson, or M. L. Kelly. Many shrewd judges consider that the event contains more potential winners than these, and surprises inr all three title contests are well on the cards. While it is generally admitted tha$ Class 1 of amateurs in Australia is made up of Ferrier, Hattersley and Williams, the national amateur thisyear may be a desperately difficult title to win. Queensland has in Stan Keane a real contender.- who in former events, particularly at Rose' Bay in 1928, has proved that he has the big occasion temperament, and who often has proved he has the golf skill. Latest reports are that he is playing b.etter than ever. Form of ' other Queensland amateurs does not suggest that they are quite of national title-hunt-ing calibre. Tasmania has, in 1926 and 1928 national amateur champion, Len Nettlefold, a serious contender for both the amateur championship and the British trip. More mature and experienced than ever, Nettlefold last year indicated that he was at least as good a golfer as he was when he won twice. When he throws caution to the winds and gives the ball all he has (and that is plenty) he is very dangerous. While South Australia has four of its best.young amateurs in the contingent it is considered that with the possible exception of Ackland Horman they just yet have not attained the class of W. S. Rymill and the now veteran Ross Sawers. Sawers Jias been in g^eat form for a couple of years at' Adelaide, but Rymill this year has not struck his best form. i