Professional Golf Tournament.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7701, 2 January 1905, Page 2

Professional Golf Tournament.

LOCAL RECORDS BROKEN. The first combined amateur and professional golf tournament ever held in Now ZealanS &afi f>laseilßS the local links on Saturday, a nil was a great success in nearly every way, the only drawback being the wretched Wttather, which spoilt the attendance, and was most discomforting | to the competitors. The play lt<self, however, was of a very higli t standard, golfing having the unique, advantage over other games of being 1 able to be played in all weathers. ' The game on Saturday afternoon was a handicap, open to both professionlas and amateurs, tho former start- i ing from scratch. The winner of tho ! cash prize for professionals was Mac- 1 ! lnren, who holds the position of pro- | 1 fessional to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Ho easily broke the re- 1 cord for the course, going around the eighteen holes in the marvellously small scoro of 75. The previous recoud was 85, though I the course over which the 85 was made I was much easier than it is now, ; several holes having been lengthened, j The winner of the amateur trophy—a club presented by F. Hood, the Auckland professional—was Mr C. 11. Wright, who broke tho amateur record, going round in 83. Maclaren's steady .and scientific play was much admired. He is not a particularly long driver, but he imparts spin on his approach shots which puts jhe ball very close to the holo. As the distances between the holes vary from 180 to 400 yards, and in one case a hedge 150 yards away must bo carried at ono shot, some idea of tho piny can bo gat'hered« Tho following aro the scores grs. hp. net. H, Wrigiht 83 9 74 Maclaren 75 scr 75 Ward 80 9 80 Martin 81 scr 81 F. Hood 84 scr 84 R ( Bayley 96 12 84 J. Hutchison 85 scr 85 Mannoring 103 9 94 Tolhurst 127 18 109 Hamlin 129 18 111 The tournament will be continued to-day when thane wlill be a. fourban match 01' 36 holes, for professiom^ts. only, beginning iat 10 o'clock in, thte morning. Good competition may be expected, as tho prize money offered totals £ls. Afternoon tea will be provided at a small charge, and a shilling will bo charged for admission to tho ground,