GOLF

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 51

GOLF

By Divot. LADIES’ GAMES The second qualifying round of the St. Clair Ladies’ Club Championship was played on Tuesday under ideal conditions, and the silver and bronze L.G.U. medal competition was also held. Miss Kay bad the best score in the senior competition, and had the best gross and net score for the day. Her card was 72—1—71. Miss Rita Kindley won the junior event with 95—21—74. The eight to qualify for the club championship are: —Miss Kay 76 and 72—148: Mrs M'Carthy 82 and 82—164; Mrs Paterson. 92 and 90—182; Mrs Gilbert, 98 and 92—190; Mrs Taylor. 99 and 93 —192; Mrs Wight, 98 and 95— 193; Mrs Robertson. 96 and 99—195; Mrs Burnett, 100 and 96 —196. The Otago Ladies’ Golf Club will hold the monthly L.G.U. competition next Tuesday.

PROFESSIONALS TRANSFERRED E. S. Douglas, professional to the North Shore Golf Club, has accepted an appointment with the Otago Golf Club. Douglas won the New Zealand open championship while attached to the Nelson Club in 1913, and was with the Wanga nui Club in 1914. and the Miramar Club in 1919 and 1921. Prior to accepting the position of professional to the North Shore Club on its recent formation he served two seasons with the Maungakiekie Club. The North Shore Club has obtained in Douglas’s place N. Bell, who for Hie past two seasons has been associated with the Hamilton Club. He is the present holder of the singles bowling championship of New Zealand. GOLF IN ENGLAND It is very heartening to note that so far the English champions have more than held their own against strong foreign com petition in the important tournaments held in England prior to the open championship meeting at Carnouslie. Following the success of Cotton in the South port tournament, E. Whitcombe and Barber played off in' the final of the Leeds tournament. C. Whitcombe was eliminated in the round before the semifinals by Barber by the narrow margin of one hole. E. Whitcombe, a brother, survived a determined challenge by Manero. the brilliant Argentine professional, winning a very keen game by 2 up and 1. The final was played in a drenching rain. but. notwithstanding these trying conditions, both Barber and Whitcombe were brilliant. Although the cabled details are meagre it would appear .that the final match was of a most exciting nature, and was won by Whitcombe after three extra holes had been played. Apparently there was little to choose between the players except that Whitcombe derived an advantage by reason of his magnificent driving. Among the amateurs, too, the British were not seriously challenged by the foreign entrants. Voight, one of the leading amateurs of the United States and a Walker Cup player, was one of the most formidable foreign entrants, but he was defeated in the fifth round by Roper Clerk. Roper Clerk is considered as a first-class discovery, and learnt golf when he was a coal miner. In tire same round a number of the remaining favourites were eliminated, including Cyril Lilley by Tippet, and Wethered. who suffered defeat by Tulloch. The final was fought out between De Forest and Martin Smith, both youthful Englishmen in their early twenties. The match was a thrilling one. and was worthy of the occasion. Smith was 4 tip at the twenty-first, but De Forest made a gallant recovery to square the match at the thirty-first. Smith again took the lead, and was one up at the thirty-fifth. The home hole was halved. Smith thus winning, one up. Martin Smith, who got his' Cambridge University Golf Blue, by no means expected to be so successful when he entered as he merely thought it an opportunity to enjoy a week’s golfing.

APPROACHING AND PUTTING COMPETITION. LONDON, May 26. First round of the Arbroath 500 gs approaching and putting competition: Horton Smith,' Saracen, and M'Minn 54, Kirkwood and Stewart (Australia) 59. OXFORD PLAYER’S REMARKABLE RECORD. LONDON, May 27. Ronald Burton, an Oxford golf blue, holed out in one at Weybridge—l6s yards. This is the eleventh time he has put up a similar performance ou various courses. THE ARBROATH TOURNAMENT LONDON, May 27. A. Padgam (a young professional) and Horton-Smith (110) are the leaders in the Arbroath competition. Allis, Farrell, Sarazen, 113; Churio and Kirkwood 114; Stewart 116.LONDON, May 28. At the Arbroath competition the leaders are:—Alliss 168, Farrell and Horton Smith 171, Kirkwood and Padgham 172, Stewart 177. LEADERS IN FOURTH ROUND. LONDON, May 29. The leaders in the fourth round of the competition at Arbroath are::—Alliss 226, Horton Smith and Kirkwood 228, Boomer 231, Sarazen and Compston 234, Stewart 235, Manero 238. NEW SOUTH WALES CUP. WON BY P. J. WITHYCOMBE. SYDNEY, May 31. Playing for the New South Wales Cup against many of the State’s leading ama-

teur and professional golfers yesterday, P. J. Withycombe, with a splendid round of 75, won the trophy, which is for the best gross score. S. A. Keane, with 76, was second. ST CLAIR CLUB. Unfavourable conditions for good golf prevailed on Saturday, when the St. Clair Club’s championship semi-finals were played. A sweeping westerly gale prevented good figures being recorded, but, nevertheless, some close games resulted. C. B. Wight and J. A. Scouler staged a flgood contest, Wight winning the match by 1 up after being 1 down and 3 to play. J. E. Matheson, who has played consistently throughout the championship, defeated H. A. Gamble by 3 and 1. The Junior Cup semi-final between G. North and W. G. Aitken resulted in a win for North by 2 and 1. In the second round match between A. Smellie and H. Aitken the former won by 1 up and will meet W. D. M'Kenzie in the semi-final. The play-off in the four ball bogey from last week resulted in a win for P. W. Seelye and W. Shepherd, whose card of 3 down was a good effort under the conditions.