GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 23 July 1910, Page 3

GOLF.

(By '"deck"). A ritSßtef of Ngamotu players visited the Gnrringloii Komi links during the past or so. They wove agreeably surprised with the? new links and what has beeif done to improve them. It has been pointed out {Jban the erection of a fence enclosing tfc front ot the pavilion and a seat near .the' "Gullv'' hole would make the links' morn attractive, while the alteration of the feeing position in respect of the "'Junction v mil '"Tit-bit" holes and th» alteration of fte putting green of the latter hole would tend to produce better golf. The Ngamotu Club lias extended an invitation to the Carrington Road Club to play on their links, the new players, however, feel they are rather too "green" yet to "take on" experienced players, and prefer for the present to get in as much practice on their own links as possible. The tide has at last turned, and England has won the amateur international match, though by a very narrow margin —l' match, 1 hole, 1 putt. "Golf Illustrated" says that it is in no disparaging spirit towards the other men who won their matches for England to say that this victory was won by Mr. Hooman's magnificent putting at the most critical time. For nine holes the responsibility lay on him, all the more heavy in that he was playing against Mr. Ted Blackwell, at the top of his game. Good driver thought as Mr. Hooman is, he -was completely outplayed in the long game, and only a series of putts, which bordered on the! phenomenal, saved him. It was fully anticipated that there would be some drastic weeding out in the composition of the English side, and no one was surprised at the inclusion of Messrs Hooman and Woolley, but the name of Mr. A. Mitchell, was quite new to the majority. "Who is Mitchell?" was tie general query when the list was published. It turned out that Mr. Mitchell is a member of an artisan club, which has the privilege of playing over the Royal Ashdown Forest's course. He is one of seven brothers, and a gardener by occupation, and was discovered by Mr. Horace Hutchinson. The new men all played splendidly. The matches were inaugurated in 1902, and Scotland has won seven times to England's two victories, viz., in 1903 and 1910.

In the British Amateur Championship the following were the Tesults of the sixth and semi-final rounds: Sixth round: C. Aylmer beat W. Walker.by 4 up and 8, H. H. Hilton beat J. Graham by 7 up and 8, A. Mitchell beat T. A. Woolley by 2 holes, John Hall beat R. Harris at the 19th hole; semi-final: C. Aylmer beat H. Hilton by 4 and 3, John Ball beat A. Mitchell by 5 and 4. A cable announced some time back that John Ball easily beat C. Aylmer in the final.

The Open Championship of France was won by James Braid, out of an nMtj «rf all the leading French and British professionals. Hi'.rry Vardon led at the end of '.he first day. The scores were as follows:—James Braid, 76—75—75—72 238; A. Mas* v. 72—79—75—74-300; M. Vardon, 75—73—78 —76—302; J. Gassiat, 76—75_70_7^_305; G. Duncan, 77—76 —Bo—7s—? 07; Mavo 309, Jones 311, Herd 311, Williamson 311, J. Vardon 312, J. H. Taylor 313. Fred Popple well, the popular Kensington professional, is now playing in splendid form. Recently at Kensington he lowered the practice record of the course with a marvellous round of 69, made up thus—Out: 5, 2, 4, 5, 5, 3, 4. 3, 4—35: In: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 5—34—69. He dropped a stroke at the fourth and fifth holes respectively, as on each of these greens he required three putts. He, however, made full amends for this by getting a three at the sixth—the longest hole on the course. He was well over the hill with his second shot, and then holed a, long approach shot with his mashie. His run of 3's at the 15th, 16th and 17th holes was the result of brilliant golf. It is likely to be many a long day before this score is equalled. Am Auckland wire states that a party of golfers, members of the Auckland Club, has left in order to take part in a match against the Welliujjr'm Oolf Club to-day. A team of five wa- <—iginally chosen, but owing to the inability of A. E. DargaviHe to take part, only four of the team went. The team consists of J. C. Burns, P. Upton, H. billies and Dr. Bamford.

The fraal of the Ngamotu ladies' junior competition was played on Thursday afternoon, when Miss Bewley defeated Miss Jackson, 2 up and 1 to play. Last year the event was won by Miss Ryan, Miss Bewley being runner-up.