CUP TOURNAMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 11, 4 September 1931, Page 3

CUP TOURNAMENT

ROSS PROVES WINNER WITH GOOD MARGIN IN FINAL SOMERVILLE WINS HANDICAP The final of the annual contest for the Golf Veterans' Cup was play ed yesterday afternoon on the Arikikapakapa Course, in dull and chilly weather with intermittent heavy rain. The match which was played over 18 holes resulted in W. D. Ross, of Frankton, defeating E. H. Liddle, of Miramar, by three up and two to play. •.Af the commencement of the game Ross appeared to be having a runaway victory, but later his play went off, and Liddle gradually reduced the gap. Liddle was erratic throughout, mixing good play with bad, although his main fault, the one which eost him the match, was his putting. On several occasions .he failed to sink from as close as two feet. At practically every hole he was on the green equal with his opponent, only to lose with his putting. The first three holes ivere won by Ross who sunk the first and second for bogeys and the third for a birdie. On each of these holes Liddl,e missed a short putt for a half, and found himself at the fourth tee with a score of three down. Liddle played a beautiful drive from the tee landing cwell past the corner of the school fence. He put his second into the bunker behind the green but made a 'good recovery to hole in one more. Ross was on the green for two, and halved it with two' putts. ^ Ross Stymied At the Crossing, Liddle's drive -hung on the lip of the bank in an exceedingly awkward position. Liddle, however, resorting to his niblick, got onto the fairway. His brassie shot was a sliced skittler, but finished safe. From here he took two approaches and a putt which completely stymied Ross on the lip of the hole. Ross was on the green for three and had already taken one putt when he found himself blocked. Having two strokes for a win he took the two putts rather than risk a half by playing the stymie. Ross was now four up. Both were on the green in one and out for two putts at the 6th, and Ross sunk for another bogey at the 7th. Liddle, however, topped both his drive and his brassie shots, to find himself behind the pine* tree. He made a go'od recovery, sending a long, low ball under the branches well on its way towards the green. It took him an approdch and two putts to sink, and he found himself five down. Liddle reduced the deficit at the next hole by sinking a four to his opponent's five, and took another off at the ninth, when, after both found the green for one, Ross missed when trying to play a stymie and surrendered the hole. Ross Dormie Six Both were lying level on the green at the tenth/but Liddle, through having to concede a stroke, lost the hole. At the eleventh Ross was on the green for two, while Liddle was just off to the left. He made a short approach, taking five to sink to his opponent's four. Ross five up. Ross was down for bogey at No. 12, while Liddle with a topped drive, and a short third was too late to do any good. His putt from the edge of the gren was not a good attempt, going too far and wide. Ross dormie six. 'At the Elbow, Ross drove three balls out of bounds, then forfeited the hole without any further attempt. At the fourteenth, Liddle placed a beautiful shot alongside the pin, to sink in two. Ross found the bunker and although he got * well out, he went past the pin. He stubbed his putt and gave the hole. He was now only dormie four. Both were on-the green but wide at the fifteenth, where Ross, after a short putt, was perfectly stymied by Liddle, and failed to get past. He took four to his opponent's three, to find himself now only dormie three. The Lake hole saw Liddle in trouble with his tee shot, which he duffed into the bunker by the ninth green. He made a good recovery, however, placing his mashie shot on the green. Ross was also on for two. Both were sitting for a yard putt with their next, but each missed and the hole was halved for fives. This gave the match, and the Veterans' Cup to Ross with a win for 3 up and 2. SECOND DIVISION In the match for the Handicap Tournament trophy, J. M. Somerville, Auckland v. H. Horton, Auckland, play was very even, the former, if anything, holding a slight advantage throughout. Somerville defeated Horton on the last green, with a score of two up.