DECISIVE WIN OVER MISS KAY IN N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 46, 16 October 1931, Page 3

DECISIVE WIN OVER MISS KAY IN N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

GOLF TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES ' | j* 1 CHAMPION LACKS STEADINESS ON V GREEN TO LOSE 5 AND 4 4 54? Falling away from the steadiness which had been her !§ chief strength throughout the tournament, Miss Oliver Kay * (Otago) lost her title as New Zealand lady amateur champion t-s to Miss B. Gaisford, of Marton, who added the latest and greatest achievement to a brilliant golfing career by beating the champion five up and four to playv."- It was a final wohthy of , ti a most successful meeting, and, played in ideal conditions, pro- 5 duced some outstanding golf. ^

The final was played over 36 holes but it was over the second ronnd played during the afternoon, that j Miss Gaisford placed the issue beyond j doubt. She was three up at the 16th, in the morning, but Miss Kay recovered to take the last two holes and reduee Miss Gaisford's lead, on the morning round to one. During the first lap, however, Miss Kay's green work had been a trifle patchy, and this appeared to undermine her confidence as the game progressed. She had hard luck in not squaring the match at the second in the afternoon when a 10ft putt lipped the cup, but when this chance passed she never overtook the deficit. The short holes were her downfall and at the third, ninth, and twelfth in each round, she struck bunker trouble. Contrary to expectations, it was Miss Gaisford who was the steadier of the pair. Her green work on the whole, was very reliable, and her long shots were consistently straight and very powerful. She played with an easy confident style, and was only off the line with one drive during the match. Both drove exceptionally long balls and on practically every hole were within a few yards of each other from the tees. Successful Season Her achievement in winning the highest honour among lady golfers in New Zealand has placed the crowning point upon an exceptionally successful season for the young Marton player. Already this season, she has annexed the Masterton open championship, establishing a new course record of 75, the Napier open championship, also with a new course record of 75, the Dannevirke open championship, and the Wanganui open championship. Both Miss Gaisford and Miss Kay are ih their early twenties and are probably the most outstanding pair of lady players which the Dominion has produced. Miss Kay also, has had a most successful season, winning the Canterbury open championship for the fifth year in succession and annexing the championships of the Otago, and St. Clair Clubs. Before coming on to the New Zealand championship, Miss Kay also won the Manawatu open championship. Although she was defeated in the championship yesterday, she also carried off some of the most important trophies for the meeting. In addition to achieving the distinction of being the first lady player in New Zealand to rednce her score to scratch, she won the Donnelly and Mellsop Cups; this last trophy is for the competitor returning the best aggregate score I for three rounds stroke play and is I therefore an excellent indication of consistency. Successful Conclusion The tournament concluded in perfect golfing weather, and at the presentation of trophies which marked the conclusion of the meeting, high tributes were paid by the visiting players to the excellent condition of the course and the efficiency of the tournament organisation. In this connection, credit must go to the committee and officials of the Rotorua Club who spared no pains to make the meeting an entire success. Well merited appreciation of the club's organisation, and of the nntiring work of its secretary, Mrs E. La Trobe Hill, was expressed by Miss E. Bell, of Wellington in returning thanks on behalf of the visitors. The Final In the final, Miss Gaisford returned four birdie holes and did 18 holes in bogey while Miss Kay did five birdies and 13 «in bogey. Miss Gaisford's morning card read: Outward, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 3, 5, 4, 4, total 36; inward, picked up, 4, 3, 3, 6, 5, 4, 4, 5, total for 17 holes, 70. Miss Kay's card read: Outward, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, total 38. Inward, 5, 4, 4, 3, 4, 6, 5, 3, 4, total 76. Afternoon cards read: Miss Gaisford, outward, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 6, 4, 4, total 39. Inward, 5, 5, 3, 3, 4, total for 14 holes, 59. Miss Kay, outward, 5, 4, 4, 4. 6, 4, 4, 5, 5, total 41. Inward, 5, 4, 3, 4, total for 13 holes, 57. The Morning Play Both were on the green in two at the first, and taking two putts each, halved in bogey four. Miss Gaisford was off the fairway with her tee shot at the second, and although she recovered well with her approach, Miss Kay put a beautiful approach putt within nine inches of the pin and sanlc in bogey three to stand one up. Miss Gaisford squared at the next where Miss Kay found the bunker to the right of the green. Miss Gaisford was on the edge of the green from the tee, and well up with her approach. She was down in birdie three to her opponent's four. The fourth and fifth were halved in excellent figures. Both were together with their drives at the fourth, and although Miss Gaisford was lucky in jumping out of the bunker with her second, they were both on the green in two and sunlc in bogey four. Straight long driving and good brassie shots saw both players well on the way at the fifth with their seconds.

Both got excellent approach shots to the edge of the green, and halved in birdie five with two putts each. Miss Gaisford Leads Miss Kay struck bunker trouble at the sixth where she pulled to the left. Miss Gaisford was nicely on the green and with two putts was down in bogey three. Miss Kay required four. Miss Gaisford one up. Both players were driving well and got long shots off the tee at the seventh, where Miss Kay was fifteen yards behind her opponent from her drive. Brassie seconds put both in a handy position and although Miss Kay overran the tee with her approach

she recovered with two good putts to halve in bogey five. | Miss Gaisford regained the leac£ however, at the next where Miss Ka|r missed a short putt after both were on the green in three. Miss Gaisford laid her approach handy to th^ pin and sank in bogey four, to stand two up. u' Chance Lost « Miss Kay was short at the ninth, her ball lying in the bunker on tmj near side of the green. Miss Gaisford was on the green but well -away from the pin. Miss Kay got well out with her second but failed to ruja on to the green. Miss Gais'ford lo^t her chance of a win, however; by being short with her putt, and: Miss Kay did not give her another chance. The hole was halved in f ours. V Beautiful long drives at the.tentft, saw both lying together and equally good seconds put them within .^ea^Jr reach of the green. Miss Gaisfor$, however, was too strong with heat third the ball lodging in^.-som'e loose ground at the foot off a. tree on the far side of the "green.; Shjs played a provisional ball but afte!r some hesitation decided to eontindSe with her first. She was unable th obtain a right hand stance and finalljy used the back of the club from a.lefthand position. Two attempts to get the ball on to the green were fruiiless, however, and she conceded th'e hole. Miss Kay took five, findxng the green with her third and holirig oiit in two putts. Miss Gaisford one xip. Lead Increased The eleventh was uneventful both finding the green in two and sinking in two putts for bogey four. The twelfth, another short hole, agam found Miss Kay in trouble; her tee shot was in the bunker to the right of the green and although she came out well she took four to her oppd(hent's three. Miss Gaisford two upjj ' The thirteenth had no ill luck f^r either and was halved in easy bogOy threes. Miss Kay was a few yarjjs ahead of her opponent with her drive at the fourteenth, and Miss Ga!fsford pulled her second to the ri^ht to find the bunker. Miss Kay was hn the green nicely and took two putts to sink in bogey four. Miss Gaisfqfd was too strong with her bunker slipt and ran right across the green '|o the bunker on the other side. Ske took six to sink. Miss Gaisford one up, Driving continued to be consisteptly good and at the fifteenth the ba|ls were again lying close together -wjell up the fairway from the tee shots. Miss Kay hit a beautiful second to 'He I on the edge of the green but although I Miss Gaisford pulled slightly to the right she missed any trouble. Miss Kay ehopped her third however ahd was well short of the pin, while Miss Gaisford with a beautiful approach •and one putt lay right on thq.'-£dge of the hole. Miss Kay took thr£e putts to sink and Miss Gaisford tppk the hole in bogey fives. Miss Gaisfofd two up. ? ? Both pulled to the right at 'tlie sixteenth to lie in the rough at -tlie edge of the lake. Miss Gaisford had the better position however .and was able to play a straight iron shot to 'the green. Miss Kay's ball was almost among the trees and she had*to chop it on to the fairway. She was on /the green with her third but Miss Gaisford holed in two good putts, to talie the hole in bogey four. Miss Gaisford three up. ; ^ Miss Kay's Good Finish ' % Miss Kay ran across the green and nearly into the bunker on the 'Lar side at the seventeenth, but the h|ll rested near the lip. Miss Gaisf;o|;d was well on the green but missi|d an easy putt and took four to sink. Miss Kay after lipping the cup -vfith a long putt from the edge sank» 4n bogey three. Miss Gaisford two '«u|>. Drives were level at the eighteenfh but Miss Kay had the better positddn towards the trees on the right. Sfie played a .beautiful jsecofod to tHe green, but Miss Gaisford playing ojv&r the tree found the bunker on-the lh|t. She played out well but ran past t|e pin and two putts apiece gave M^s Kay the hole four-five, to leave h|r opponent one up for the morniri^s play. j | Final Lap .. " ? The first was halved againfmr'lhe final lap of the match, but prFthis occasion, both were one over bogey figures to sink in five. Play was very level over the next three which„wgye all halved in fours. Both players,' drives were keeping well together, ,.hut at the second, Miss Kay had hard luck when a ten-foot putt lipped the cup and came out at right angles. Miss Kay was again in the creek at the fifth and both had to bring their balls back. Miss Kay, however, topped her second badly, and it struck tlie bank on the opposite side and rolled back into the gully. She used her brassie to get well out of a difficult lie with her third, but Miss Gaisford was well down the fairway with her second. Miss Kay eould not overtake -the advantage, and lost the hole five-six. Miss Gaisford two up. j More Bunker Trouble" The champion again struck trouble at the sixth pulling to the left into the bunker. Miss Gaisford was on the green and holed out easily in bogey three, to her opponent's four. Miss Gaisford three up. Miss Kay did .a fine hole at the seventh, where she was on the edge of the green in two and placed her third seven feet from the pin. Miss Gaisford was short with her approach and found the bunker. She was well out, but Miss Kay sank a good putt to take the hole in birdie four. Miss Gaisford two up. Continued On Page 4.)