On the Links

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 434, 16 August 1928, Page 10

On the Links

(By

Earl Robieson)

COMING EVENTS August 23.—North Auckland open amateur championships at Whangarei. August 2S.—Rotorua tournament. September 27.—New Zealand ladies* championships at Middlemore. “WE ARE SATISFIED” AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S TITLE BRILLIANT FINAL ROUNDS (Written for THE SUN by Muriel Payton.') Rose Bay, Sydney, August 9. The second qualifying round of the Australian Ladies’ Championship brought many surprises, but in most cases the lower handicapped players were the ones to beter their first scores. Miss McLeod (Victoria) returned the best card —and equalled Miss Kay’s record score of the previous day, doing a 77. Her figures throughout were steady, and there were very few strokes thrown away, three putts on the last green preventing her lowering the record. The figures were: Out.—s 5 3 5 4 3 4 3 5—37. In.— 44454563 5—40 —77. Miss Kay was not in form, and returned a card of 87, 10 more than the previous day. This however was good enough to give her second place. Mrs. Gatehouse (Victoria) returned a card of 80. GREENS BEAT NEW ZEALANDERS The failure of the other four New Zealanders was due to the fast, closelycut greens. Miss Payton on the second day returned a card of 86, but was five strokes away. Her first card cost her 47 putts on the round. Mrs. Weston had 54 putts on the first 18 holes. The draf, strange to say, was not the automatic one. There was no doubt that most interest was on Miss Kay’s match with Mrs. Russell, and it attracted a large gallery. Miss Kay started well, winning the first hole, and at the fourth was 3 up. BRILLIANT RECOVERIES Here Mrs. Russell seemed to change, and she brilliantly won the next two holes. With two more halved and a win at the 9th, they turned for home all square. Of the next four Miss Kay won the 12th and 13th, being now 2 up and 5 to play. However, again Mrs. Russell responded, and by halving the 14th and 16th and winning the 15th and 17th, the match was square once more, and one to play. On the 18th green Miss Kay brilliantly holed a 12ft. putt for a half, and continuing in par figures won the 19th and the match. Comparing the play of the two, Mrs. Russell hits a longer and lower ball, but it is with her irons that she is so brilliant. However Miss Kay with her steady and straight shots, and great carry, was more than holding her own, never being “down.” The next round saw all the New South Wales players eliminated. Miss Kay was playing wonderful golf, and her figures will be sufficient to show it: Out.— 34454354 5—37. In.— 45453663 4 —40. AGAINST MRS. SLACK Her match finished at the 13th hole, but the players continued in order that Miss Kay might attempt to lower the record, 77. However, three putts on the 15th green and a short approach at the ICth cost her two strokes, and she finished out in 77. MISS TOLHURST IN FORM Of the other matches, Miss Susie Tolhurst (Victoria) showed up brilliantly. She is only a young player, in her early twenties, and is showing great form. In England last May she gained much experience. In the open championship she qualified in the first 16, and won her first round, defeating Miss IX Fowler. Many thought perhaps that the younger pair would fight out the final to-morrow, but in each match youth went down. Miss McLeod beat Miss Kay 1 up. Mrs. Gatehouse beat Miss Tolhurst 2 up. Mrs. Gatehouse and Miss Tolhurst started away first, but although everyone knew it would be a good close game, the gallery, some 300 people, all followed the other game. The golf all the way was good. Mrs. Gatehouse being out in 3S, and yet at the 14th was 2 down and 4 to play. Here experience told, and by steady play she won the next four holes. Miss Tolhurst was unfortunate in having an unplayable lie for her third at the 18th and having to pick up and give up the match. A feature of the game was Mrs. Gatehouse holing her second shot (a full brassie) at the fourth hole. This hole is 350 yards. The match between Miss McLeod and Miss Kay produced some wonderful golf. The scores were: Out.—Miss McLeod: 354554643 —39. Out—Miss Kay: 453654634 —4O. Miss McLeod 1 up. In—Miss Kay: 34455654 5 41. In—Miss Kay: 34455654 5 —4l. Miss McLeod 1 up. Perhaps more interesting than the game itself would be the comparison of strokes. The drives were generally level, with slight advantage to Miss McLeod, who plays with a slight pull, which gives her extra length. The brassie play showed up Miss Kay to advantage. Miss McLeod used all her irons beautifully, whereas Miss Kay substituted her spoon for her mid-iron, but was brilliant with her mashie. in putting Miss McLeod showed up again to advantage, although the New Zealander holed some great ones. A particularly brilliant patch of play came in the middle of the round at the Sth hole, 216 yards. Miss Kay holed out in 3 to 4. The 9th hole, 342 yards, Miss McLeod reversed it and won 3 to 4. The 10th. 317 yards, was halved in 3. The 11th, 325 yards, Miss Kay won 4 to 5; the 22th, 375 yards, halved in 4. The 13 th, 423 yards halved in 5, each player narrowly missing fours. At the sixth, Miss McLeod was 1 up. They were square at the Sth, Miss McLeod 1 u p at the turn, and square at the 11 tli, then Miss McLeod 2 up at the 15th, with 3 to play. Miss Kay won the 16th, and on the l<th green her ball was in and out of the hole for a win, leaving the match Miss McLeod doing 1, and the 18th being halved she won 1 up. It was a great match, great golf, and the more experienced player won. .Now remains for us to see who wins tlie final. The “odds” are on Miss McLeod, but Mrs. Gatehouse is such a fighter and is playing so well that many think that he may come through. A\ e are satisfied—all our New Zealand girl did not do was win.

ROTORUA TOURNEY

BIG AUCKLAND TEAM NEARLY HALF THE ENTRY On appearances nearly half the number of players who can compete in the Rotorua tournament the week after next will hail from Auckland.| Middlemore members to the number of about 20 propose to make the trip, and Titirangi will provide another dozen or so. The possibilities are that the latecomers for the meeting will not be able to play, as the total entry is limited to SO players of handicap 16 or lower.

TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA

TWO DUNCANS GOING STRONG BID FOR CHAMPIONSHIP (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. When the New Zealand golf championships begin at Balmacewen this spring they will lack the presence of the great veteran golfer, Arthur Duncan. For the first time for years Duncan will be unable to make the trip in quest of national honours. Duncan’s absence from Dunedin is due to the fact that he is to make his most serious assault upon the Australian Open Championship. On Friday next he sails for Sydney to put in a fortnight’s hard practice before the Australian championships begin on September 6. This, he says, represents the first occasion in his golfing career that he has ever been able to play himself into trim before a big tournament, and while he is not unduly optimistic, he is full of confidence in his play. The ten-times amateur champion's satisfaction with his form is wellmerited, for to-day he is playing as well as ever he did. This is due to the fact that his driver and brassey play, the side of his game which used to be his greatest strength and which has weakened of late years, is now extremely good. Last week-end he hit 17 successive tee-shots not one of which was more than a foot or so off the line. Duncan is very fit and if his form is maintained he is sure to trouble the Australians. Accompanying him are Messrs. K. D. Duncan and J. B. Mac Ewan, who will play on the other side, but are really on a pleasure trip.

AUCKLAND FIXTURES PROVINCIAL EVENTS There has been a full entry for the Rotorua Golf Club’s tournament the week after next. The entry was limited to 80 players of handicap 16 and lower. HAWKE'S BAY TITLE The Hawke’s Bay ladies’ golf championship tournament opened on the Waiohiki links yesterday in showery weather. The following qualified: Miss Gaisford (Marton), Miss O. Smith (Napier). Mrs. Foreman (Miramar), Mrs. Guy Williams (Masterton), Miss Guy (Palmerston North), Mrs. Spiers (Napier), Mrs. Collinson (Palmerston North), Miss Ormond (Napier), Mrs. Geddis (Napier), Mrs. Tareha (Napier), Mrs. Clark (Napier), Miss White (Napier), Mrs. Kay (Napier), Mrs. Fryer (Napier), Miss Hindmarsli (Dannevirke), Miss McKay (Waipukurau). MATCHES PLAYED The following matches have been played:— Tauranga.—August medal: Miss F. Goodyear, 101—23, 78. C grade: Miss M. Wallis, 77—24. 53. The following ladies have qualified fox* the senioi* golf championship: Mesdames Hanna, Henderson, Maltby, Sanders. Ralfe, Misses F. Goodyear, Humphries and Goodyear. The following qualified for the junior championship: Mesdames Baigent, Candy, Beckett. Green, Misses Fox. Wallis, Beale and Candy. Paeroa.—Match for Mr. N. Bell’s trophy over 12 holes: C. N. O’Neill. 52; H. It. Thorp, 54. MATCHES ARRANGED The following matches have been rangedOne Tree Hill.—The following players will represent the Maungakiekie Golf Club in an inter-club match against the Pupuke Golf Club on Saturday:—At Pupuke: R. J. Hamilton, S. W. Hunter, J. W. Clarke, A. K. Hawley, C. M. King, • S. Hunter, J. Murray, F. Wiseman, J. S. Rankin, F. W. Wilson. At One Tree Hill: R. Cleghorn, C. R. Jones, F. Newell, W. D’Audney, E. A. Robb, A. E. Whitten, T. Stone, E. La Roche, W. H. Graham, H. P. Griffen. One Tree Hill Ladies.—Following is the draw for the fii*st round of the grade eclectic match for Mr. Gentles’s trophy, to be played by members of the Maungakiekie Ladies’ Golf Club at One Tree Hill to-morrow morning: Miss Gardner v. Mrs. Goodwin, Mrs. Myall v. Mrs. Snelling, Miss E. Thompson v. Miss Nixon. Miss Webster v. Mrs. Clark, Miss Reid v. Miss Thompsoxi, Miss Lamb v. Mrs. Goudie, Miss Easdown v. Miss Cotter, Mrs. Dawson v. All's. Hardy, Airs. C. Hardley v. Airs. Alison, Miss Fitzpatrick v. Aliss I. Nixon, Aliss Ronayne v. Aliss Bartley, Mrs. Abbott v. Airs. Shackleford, Aliss Rutherford v. Aliss Palmer, Airs. Cooke v. Aliss Wyatt, Airs. Ritchie v. Mrs. Campbell, Airs. Johnston v. Aliss Hill. Akarana.—A four-ball best-ball bogev competition for a trophy presented by Alessrs. Walker and Hall will be played by members of the Akarana Golf Club on Saturday. Players may choose own partners and opponents will be drawn at the clubhouse. Otahuhu Ladies.—Following Is the draw for the L.G.U. medal round and C grade match to be played by members of the Otahuhu Ladies’ Golf Club on Saturday: Miss Cutforth v. Aliss R. O’Loughlen, Airs. Hipkins v. Aliss A. Whyte, Aliss Alellsop v. Aliss Parton, Airs. Shaw v. Airs. Chapman, Aliss O. Whiteley v. Aliss B. Wyllie, Aliss G. Whiteley v. Aliss G. Katy, Aliss Dreardon v. Aliss G. O’Loughlen, Aliss Sutherland v. Aliss Richards, Miss Pesay v. Aliss Tims, Aliss Heard v. Aliss Clark, Aliss Denize v. Aliss Smith, Aliss Harrison v. Mrs. Alassey, Aliss Simmonds v. Aliss G. Hill, Aliss Wills v. Aliss Af. Hill, Aliss AlcArthur v. Aliss Speedey, Aliss Reynolds v. Aliss N. Wyllie, Airs. Moffitt v. Aliss N. Katy, Mrs. Boyce v. Aliss Aruir, Airs. Cox v. Airs. Kelsey, Aliss Lloyd-White v. another.