ON THE LINKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 7

ON THE LINKS

—(By

E. C. ROBIESON.)

WAITEMATA MAY GO OUT NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER CLUBS There is a probability that Waitem<ita Golf Club, as a separate entity, will cease to exist after the present season. The committee is negotiating with Pupuke and Glendowie with the idea of amalgamating. Waitemata has apparently realised the hopelessness of trying to carry on its links on the Takapuna racecourse, without any definite tenure, which justified it in undertaking the extensive improvements necessary to make the course moderately playable. At present the conditions are impossible, the rearrangement of the track and the alteration of the drainage levels having very adversely affected the course. Both Pupuke and Glendowie want more members, and Waitemata has a nice little inducement in the way of about £ 200 in cash and trophies. BEATING PAR FIGURES BRILLIANT GOLF TITIRANGI CHAMPIONSHIP Match-play in the Titirangi Club’s championship has now brought the title event to the final stage, and the last match will be between Sloan Morpeth and Rex George. George beat A. E. Robinson 1 up in the semi-final, while Morpeth disposed of J. N. Hunter 2 and 1. The final will be somewhat delayed, owing to George having put his ankle out on the links a couple of weeks ago. Robinson had a great chance of getting into the final. He outplayed George on the way out, and was 3 up turning for home, but after that his short game was not as good as it had

been, and the pair came to the last hole all-square. George recorded a perfect 4, and Robinson was unable to halve it. Hunter, in the semi-final with Morpeth made a great fight of it. and it was only due to the fact that Morpeth, at the critical stage, started holing out in under par that settled the match with only one hole to go. Morpeth went out in level fours, but was only two up at the turn, Hunter having played sound golf for a 38. The tenth was halved in par 4, and the players then proceeded to halve the 11th in 3, or one under par figures. The next is 417yds.. and Hunter played a magnificent second to it, but Morpeth sunk a long putt for a half in 4, once again one under par. UNDER PAR Xot to be denied Hunter tried again at the next, and once again holed out in one under par at this, the 18th. 447yds._ long, Morpeth being out in bogey 5. Following this Hunter holed out in par 4 at the 14th, in spite of a half stymie, and the match was square again. It was at this stage that Morpeth started his fireworks. Hunter pushed his iron shot a little at the short 18th, and then laid his approach a foot from the pin. Morpeth promptly sunk a 20ft. put for a 2, to assume the lead again. Then Morpeth, with a magnificent iron shot, laid his second a foot from the hole at the 356yds. 16th, and Hunter’s par 4 was no use to him. The 17th was halved in bogey 5, and the match ended 2 and 1. The fact that for 17 holes Morpeth’s score was 67, and Hunter’s 69, indicates the brilliance of the golf. Hunter made a splendid effort at the right moment, and anything might have happened but for the crippling scores of Morpeth at the 15th and 16th. y TITIRANG! OPEN TOURNAMENT The Titirangi open men’s tournament has been fixed for Ooctober 22, 24 and 25, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, the Monday being Labour Day. A good entry is expected, and an excellent programme has been arranged, with one big event requiring the players to qualify, and then a series of what are known as flight tournaments, in groups of eight, played off on handicap matchplay. CLOSING DAYS The official season of the One Tree Hill links will close on Saturday, with mixed foursomes. The official closing of the season of the whole of the Maungakiekie Club will be held at Titirangi links on October 29, foursomes being played in the afternoon, followed by a dinner and a dance in the club-house. IRISH OPEN APPALLING CONDITIONS The Irish Open Golf Championship, which was played in bad weather conditions at Portmarnock, was due to G. Duncan’s suggestion, states the London “Times” correspondent. When he made it he said that he would also win it. After one of the most brilliant rounds ever played he succeeded in keeping his word, “coming from nowhere” to beat young Cotton by one stroke. Cotton was in front at the end of the second round, but met with many disasters in the third round, at the end of which J. Smith was well in front, leading by eight strokes and no fewer than 14 in front of Duncan. It seemed any odds on Smith winning, but he took a 91 for his last round a.nd Cotton, recovering, took the lead, only to be beaten by Duncan, who did a 74 in the most appalling conditions imaginable—rain and a hurrican of wind, which blew marquees and tents away as if they were paper bags. Cotton once more showed that he is the best really young golfer we have seen for years. Duncan also showed that he can still play a round which no one else since Taylor, Vardon and Braid were young has ever yet been able to produce. Many golfers wish that his undoubted genius could be used to consistency, but then, as they admit, he would no longer be a genius. LEADING AGGREGATES G. Duncan (Wentworth) winner of Championship Gold Medal and £l5O 76 80 S2 74—312 T. H. Cotton (Langley Park), £9O 73 73 86 81—313 J. Smith (Wentworth), £6O 73 74 77 91—315 A. Compston (unattached), £SO 75 75 82 85—317 W. Nolan (Portmarnock), £4O 72 83 83 8L—319 E. Ray (Oxley), £4O .. 75 77 88 8')—320 G. Murdoch (Kilmarnock), £4O 76 78 80 8'5—320 The first American was W. Melthorn, with 324. VARIOUS CLUB FIXTURES Auckland Following is the draw for the second round of the eclectic competition for Miss Horton’s prize, to be played by members of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club to-morrow:—Mrs. Nevill v. Airs. Smith, Mrs. Endean v. Miss Coutts, Mrs. E. Friedlander v. Miss Aloginie, Airs. Rutherford v. Miss Buddie, Miss AlcGovern v. Airs. Wilson, Miss Lever v. Aliss MacCormick, Mrs. Robertson v. Mrs. Murphy, Aliss Cutfield v. Airs. Joyce, Airs. Ferguson v. Miss Upton, Miss Martin v. Airs. Alarshall, Mrs. Green v. Mrs. Morris;, Miss Ruddock v. Airs. Bradley, Aliss Henderson v. Airs. Watson, Miss D. Rainger v. Aliss Alahoney, Miss Draper v. Mrs. Cox, Airs. Rainger v. Airs. Pugh, Miss Cousins v. Aliss Ballantyne, Airs, Phillip's v. Aliss Kent, Airs. Friedlander v. Aliss Rathbone, Mrs. Mellsop v. Mrs. Cooke. In the semi-finals of the W. R. Wilson Cup competition Airs. J. Wilson (12) defeated Miss E. Al. Upton (6), 1 up at the 23rd hole; and Mrs. Ferguson won by default from Mrs. Carter. A bogey match will be played next Tuesday. Post entries will be received, players to choose partners. One Tree Hill Following is the draw for tht; first round of the C grade eclectic match to be played by members of the Maungakiekie Ladies’ Golf Club at One Tree Hill to-morrow, play to start at 10 a..m. on account of the handicap match later:— Miss Clarke v. Airs. Paterson, Aliss W. Lamb v. Aliss Schnauer, Mrs. Jones v. Aliss Rutherford, Aliss Aloody v. Mrs. Spinley, Mrs. Joplin v. Mrs. Reid. Miss Ewen v. Miss Robson, Airs. Goudie v. Airs. Wilson, Airs. Alason v. Airs. Bright, Aliss Smeeton v. Airs. Moore-Jones, Aliss Miller v. Aliss P. Reid, Airs. Blaekie v. Aliss D. Lamb, Aliss Gallaugher v. Airs. Oyllies, Mrs. Rough v. Mrs. Hoyes,, Miss Cooke v. Miss Thompson, Aliss Ansell v. Airs. Goodwin, Airs. Hardley v. Airs. Grierson, Airs. Fee v. Aliss Wyatt, Aliss Ronayne v. Miss Creamer. Akarana The club medal match of the Akarana Ladies’ Golf Club was won by Aliss Ballantyne, whose score was 119—36. S 3. The C erade 12-hole match was won by Miss Wynyard, with a score olf 89. Pupuke Following is the draw for the third round of the eclectic competition for Sat-

urday players:—Miss Cox v. Miss Bygate, Miss Joyce v. Aliss Manson. The senior championship of the Pupuke Ladies’ Golf Club was won by Aliss G. AlcDonald, who defeated Alissa A.. O’Neill in the final at the 18th hole. In the final of the junior championship Miss L. J. McDonnell defeated Aliss Gladys Lovie. The eclectic competition for Mr. Reeve’s trophy was won by Miss G. AlcDonald, with a net score of 64. The inter-c ub match with the Maurgakiekie Ladies’ Club resulted in a win for the Pupuke Ladies’ Club by 8 games to 0, tw'o being squared. Details are as follow, Alaungakiekie players being mentioned first:—Miss C. Stubbs lost to Aliss G. AlcDonald, 2 and 1; Aliss Haslett lost to Airs. Perman, 4 and 2; Aliss Richardson lost to Miss A. O’Neill, 4 and 2; Mrs. Burton lost to Mrs. Thompson, 8 and 5: Aliss Grove lost to Airs. Blomfield, 4 and ; 3; Miss Harvey lost to Aliss B. O’Neill, 7 and 6; Airs White lost to Mrs. Davidson, 3 and 1; Aliss Easton and Mrs. Bowden, all square; Mrs. Schnauer lost to Aliss Williams, 5 and 4; Miss McGowan and Airs. Rutherford, all square. The following players will represent the Pupuke Club against the Alaungakiekie Ladies’ Club at the One Tree Hill links to-morrow—Aliss G. AlcDonald. Airs. Perman, Aliss A O’Neill, Airs. Buddie. Airs. Thompson, Airs. Blomfield, Aliss B. O’Neill, Airs. Rutherford, Airs. Utavidson, Mrs. Bowden. Waitemata Proposals 1.0 link up -with either the Pupuke or the Glendowre Ladies’ Golf Clubs were discussed at a largely-at-tended meeting of the Waitemata Ladies* Golf Club last evening. It was eventually decided to defer the matter until to-morrow evening. wh?n the whole position will be gone into by a meeting of the Waitemata Aten's Golf Club. The first round of the Waitemata Ladies’ Golf Club's gold button competition will be played this week. Wanganui Title WANGANUI, Wednesday. The Wanganui ladies’ golf championship was won to-day by Aliss Payton, of Rotorua, who defeated Airs. Dodgshun, of Dunedin, one up in the final. In the semi-final Airs. Dodgshun defeated Aliss Culling, Auckland. 5 and 4; and Aliss Payton defeated Airs. Williams, 4 and 3.