Golf Invasion of Australia

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 7

Golf Invasion of Australia

N.Z.’s Try to Avenge Last Year's Narrow Defeat in Kirk-Windeyer Cup Contest

Council Adopts New Method of Selection

WITH the golf season now in full swing the approaching departure for Australia of New Zealand’s best golfers, keen to avenge their narrow defeat in the Kirk-Win-

deyer Cup a year ago. is arousing considerable enthusiasm, -while the more serious matter of selecting the team to represent New Zealand is causing a gr?at deal ot interest.

The New Zealand Golf Council this year has adopted quite a new method in going about the question of selecting the representative team. First of all the' personnel of the committee is

There are, however, several other players who will have to be considered, quite apart from some of the younger men who are rapidly coming to the front. Of the veterans the Black brothers are in good form and pla'j’ ing consistently, and the same may be said of A. G. Sime and H. B. Lusk. J. L. and M. A. Black, as a result of the fine game they played during Easter at Auckland and Wellington, cannot be overlooked, though there are some experts who declare that both players are slightly below the form of New Zealand’s best players. But this cannot be said of Sime. who can do a. championship round if he sets his mind to it, though he has the disability of being a bit “in and out” at times—often at the most awkward times. Lusk was once a national champion, but of recent years he has not been able to rise above provincial form, and it may be that the selectors will debar him for this reason. So much for the veterans of the game, who are quite able to carry the banner of New Zealand to victory. But is that all that is to be desired? The selectors will naturally be thinking of future possibilities as well as present actualities, and from this point of view they may desire to include a ‘•colt” in the team as emergency for the purpose of breaking him in. The most outstanding player in the Dominion among the younger brigade at the present time is undoubtedly “Pip” Wright, of Timaru. though there are one or two possibilities in the North Island. There is not one of them, however, who suffers less from nerves. In fact Wright seems to have none at all, and this, coupled with the fact he Is at present playing a very fine game, seems to qualify him for a place in the team as an emergency. Mis introduction to international golf in this manner would greatly improve his game and. jin addition, demonstrate whether he !is qualified for inclusion in future teams. The names mentioned may all be termed possibilities, and at the moment it looks as though the team will have to consist of Morpeth, Ross, Horton and Duncan, with one of the Blacks as emergency or, perhaps, as suggested, the Timaru youth.

quite unknown to the golfers themselves, the committee being entirely secretive in its work, which is the choice of a number of players who are up to international standard. Their task completed, the committee will submit to the council the names of a greater number of players than is actually required, the final selection being made later by a special committee set up for that purpose.

The idea is a novel one, and it is probably the first time it has been tried out in New Zealand. It is to be hoped that Arthur Duncan has not been placed on the Selection Committee this year, as his services should be required for the visit to Australia, and few men like to choose themselves in such a team. There seems little doubt now that had Duncan been included in last year’s team the trophy would still have been located in the Dominion. Taking Duncan as one of the members of the team, the selection of the others is not difficult so far as the next three are concerned. They will probably be Sloan Morpeth, Kenneth Ross and T. H. H orton. The four names mentioned would represent a very strong side, but it will be necessary to add one more at least, and perhaps two, as emergencies are abslutely necessary. Donald Grant and Leo Quin, who were in last year’s team, are not available this year. Quin has always been looked upon as a lucky golfer, but he is now practically out of the game, or plays so infrequently that it is hardly likely that the selectors would be justified in selecting him, while Grant will be in Europe when the matches are being played.