GOLF

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1933, Page 7

GOLF

WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP

SMITH BEATS ADAMSON 2 UP,

Despite the adverse weather, success attended the West Coast golf tourney

which concluded here on Saturday afternoon when the finals of the champions were decided. These resulted as follows: —Men’s, A. K. Smith (Grey) beat Adamson (Hokitika), (title retained); ladies, Mrs Cunningham (Grey) beat Miss Griffin (Grey); veterans. Kettle (Grey) beat Warnes (Grey). The men’s final was over 36 holes. The morning round was played in wretched conditions, an easterly breeze soon changing to westerly, and being . accompanied bv heavy showers of rain. At the tee and on the fairway there was little difference between the two meu, but Smith’s win was due principally to his. opponent’s inaccurate green work, Adamson losing op several occasions by poor putting. First hole.—Both got in good drives, and were lying even three on the green. Adamson sunk his second putt for a 5, Smith’s second being inches short. Second.—Fair drives and fairway shots saw each near the green edge in three,' Smith chipped well up and required only one putt to square, Adamson taking two. Third.—Each got away well. Smith’s second overran the green, Admsori’s being just to the right of the green. Smith masliied nicely to six feet from the pin and holed in 4. Adamson lay at the same distance, but his first putt was a little wide. Fourth.—-Excellent approaching saw each on the Pines green in thru**. Smith sinking a seven footer for a 4. Adamson’s putt took the slope and rolled away. Smith 2 up. Fifth.—Two good tee shots and approaches saw each on the green. Smith took, two putts, "and Adamson had an easy chance to halve, hut overran the hole by a yard. Smith 3 up. Sixth.—Doth went to within a few yards of the hunker with their second and were on in four. Adamson’s second putt was on ly inches off, and he almost had Smith stymied, but /the Grey map just curled round to take the lip of the hole and'drop in for a half. Seventh.—Adamson'topped his drive, but a good iron saw him on in. three. Smith’s second, after, a fair drive was a beauty, and he lay, close to the green. He went close up and wag down in birdie four, Adamson taking two putts. Tlie eighth and ninth were won by Adamson, who wa s now playing steadily. At Hope! both' were on in one, hut Smith missed the easiest of chances for a half with his second putt. At Ruatapu, Adamson went into the near rough but made a brilliant recovery, lifting his ball, tight to within 20 feet of the pin and was down in 4, Smith taking five, leaving him 2 up at the turn. The scores going out were:— Smith' ... 654447446—43

Adamson ... 565557534—45 < At tlio tenth each was neaVthe edge in one, Adamson’s second being a foot shoiit, and almost (a stymie. Smith missed a yard putt for a half.

Good, even play saw Seaside halved in fives, each approaching to within inches of the pin. Adamson squared with a win at the next, with a 3, just taking the curve of the hole to go round Smith’s second putt. At the Incline, which wa s halved, each wa s near the green with the drive, and well on in two, but the putting was poor, Adamson had a chance for a win but li.is ball went over’the top of hole, struck the opposite edge and right-' angled away. Bad putting by Smith saw Adamson again take the lead at the fourteenth. Smith was close to the green with his first, but was out in 6. Smith squared the next with a beautiful drive and approach, sinking a ten foot putt for 3. His opponent, from 20 feet outside the green went up to within a foot of the pin with his third. Adamson went away well from tiie 16th tee, laid his second a couple of feet outside the fence beyond the green but was stymied by a post, His third hit the wire and dropped just inside and three putts saw him out in 6. Smith found the green in 3 and took two putts, again assuming the lead. At the 17th each wa s on in three, hut Adamson failed to halve with his second putt. The morning round saw Smith still 2 up, the 18th being halved in fives,, both being on in three. The in scores were:— Smith ’ 451563555 —42 -Adamson ... 353544666—41 The Afternoon Round, In the second round, the pair opened quietly and were on the green in lour. Adamson’s first putt hit Smith’s ball which rested on the edge, while his second rested an- inch away from the hole, Smith winning with a 6. Three up. The. second was halved in fives, and Adamson had a win at the third. Smith was just on in two, but his putting was poor. He went 20 feet past the pin and took two more to hole out. Adamson’s first two shots lacked Smith’s distance, but a nice third saw him lying 15 feet away, and he holed out in 4. At the fourth, Adamson pulled his drive which was short, but a. nice second saw him just on. Again his putting let him down and he took three more shots to halve. Smith was alongside the green in two. Each was handy to the pin in two at- the" fifth but. Smith’s putt was too hard and Adamson sank a good putt for a 3 to Smith’s 4. Boor putting cost Adamson the sixth, while two balls out of bounds- spelled trouble at the next, both of which were won.by Smith in bogey five. Hope! was halved in threes,. Adamson getting in a long putt from a good approach after his -tee shot had fallen short. Smith was on in one. Smith 3 up. ‘ The Hokitika man won at Ruatapu with a four after bo,th were on in two. The score out were:— Smith ... ... 655545535-43 Adamson ... '754536734—44 Accurate putting by Smith gave him another win with, a 3 at the lQth, alter both men. were near the green’s edge with their first,. The. lltli was halved, Both' drove and approached well ana were alongside in 3, but each- missed a putt, and were down in 5, Smith revealed the putt of the match

at the pagoda green going down in a birdie two from just inside the green’s edge,' after both were on in one. Adamson’s own putt was very handy Smith 4 up and 6. Adamson was now in a position where he had to fight hard to carry the game on, as Smith was now holding a great advantage. The Incline was halved in five. Both putted badly after being on in two. Smith 4 and 5. Adamson then made a great effort and played steadily and well, winning the next three holes. At the 15th, Adamson got nicely away and found the green well with his next. He then evoked applause by holing out in 3 with a very long putt. Smith went through with his second, hut was back within a yard of the pin with his third. Three shots took each to the 16th green, Adamson passing the 'bunker with his second. He took two putts for a 5 and a win, Smith requiring an extra putt. Smith 1 and 2. The interest among the spectators was very keen when the pair turned to do the last two holes, and the gallery, which had been of fair proportion during the afternoon, was increas- 1 cd considerably for the final lap. Their first two shots found Adamson and Smith close together, but Adamson’s third took him on to the green, Smith being short. Adamson’s putt was short and he reached Smith’s ball, both now lying four. They both added another putt to a similar distance close to the hole, and Adamson was left with a medium putt to ensure a half, but it curled away. Smith made no mistake with his putt and won the match 2 and 1. Their scores on the eight holes in were:— Smith ... ... 35256456—36 Adamson ... 45355347—36 Mrs'CUNNINGHAM WINS LADIESThe final of the ladies’ championship was won by Mrs Cunningham (Greymouth), .who defeated ' Miss’ Griffin (Greymbuthj 7 and 6. The heavy condition of. the greens and fair-,v-y s made good play difficult. Nevertheless the game iwa, 3 very interesting to follow, frequently only a stroke separating the players. Mrs Cunningham played a particularly steady game, 'her long, clean drives and perfect; iron shots were good to see, and she made few mistakes. Miss ’Griffin' w-aVs not playing up to . her - Htsual fine form. Her usual long drives and : .perfect field ploy, in general for which she is .noted were lacking, and she 'dhj not have the best of luck. She was unfortunate at the third where the hall .went out of 'bounds after a beautiful "drive, .while at the next after a good drive her ball oam<\ to rest in a sheep track. Vi -..: Mr s Cuinningham’is . win wa s every popular and .she deserved her success. VETERANS’ FINAL. Kettle (Grey mouth), heat Watties (Gteymduth) 2 and 1 iii an interesting match, on which there Was. little difference between the players. vV !-;• # v AAii .ojsib no*\