Golf Tourney

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 270, 15 April 1914, Page 7

Golf Tourney

TIIE CONCLUDING STAGE. SEIFERT THE CHAMPION. Unfavorable weather conditions prevailed for the conclusion of the golf tournament on the Waiwakaiho links yesterday. In the morning the rain interfered somewhat with the semi-finals, but fortunately held off while the championship final was contested. Soon afterwards, however, it rained heavily, and rendered the closing moments rather .unpleasant. Keen interest was manifested in the semi-finals and finals. In the former, P. D. McCord was drawn to play L. Seifert, and S. Smith played E. Ekstedt. Seifert defeated the local man by four up and three to play. Seifert was up at the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 12th and 15th, and down at the 10th and lltli. The other seven holes were halved. S. Smith beat E. Ekstedt by 2 up, doing the last nine holes in 42. The final between Smith and Seifert created considerable interest. The l'almerston man, though appearing slightly nervous at the start, played a line game, and diid not allow his opponent many chances. In many cases his score was equal to bogey, and on two occasions he beat bogey. Of the fourteen holes played, Seifert won the Ist, 3rd, sth, 12th and 14th. The remainder were halved, Smith not gaining a hole, though on two occasion, at least, he had hard luck to lose by a very narrow margin. The arrangements for the tournament were complete, and visiting players were unanimous in their praise of the management. The results of the day's play were as follows: —

THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-final:

L. Seifert beat P. D. McCord, 4 up and 3 to play. S. Smith beat E. Ekstedt, 2 up. The Final:

L. Seifert defeated S. Smith, 5 up and 4 to play.

Smith drove off from the first tee. He skied, his first, duffed his second, and got a poor third. Seifert drove away beautifully, but his second waß rather strong to the right. He got a nic? third, and Smith, whose fourth was weak to the right, gave up the hole. —Seifert, 1 up.

For the second, Seifert got a fair drive, as also did Smith. Both got to the green with their second, and halved in four.—Seifert, 1 up. Driving off for the third, Seifert lay in good line just short of the green, and holed out in three. Smith pulled -his firslt into the rough, and holed out in four. —Seifert, 2 up.

Seifert was a bit short with his first for the next green, and sliced his second, getting into the rough. He got a good third. Smith got in a good low first, but also sliced, his second, getting badly under the fence. He got well out with his third. Both were on the green, over-running the hole with their fifth! The hole was halved in seven, Smith's sixth, a beautiful long one, lipping the hole.—Seifert, 2 up. Snfitli foozled his approach to the fifth hole, but lay almost dead with his third. He lipped the hole with his fourth, going down in five. Seifert lay nicely with his second, and, holing out in four, was 3 up. • Seifert got off the fairway with his second, .but retrieved with his' third, and got close to the hole with his fourth. He failed to go down with his fifth, and Smith, who made a very had approach with his fourth,, was enabled to halve in six.—Seifert, 3 up. Seifert over-drove the green with his first, whereas Smith lay an equal distance to the right. Seifert Jay within four feet and Smith within a foot with the. second, the hole being halved in three. _ -Smith with a fine approach got within twelve feet of the hole with his third, whilst Seifert pulled his third and got to the right of the green. >A tine approach and a beautiful putt retrieved the. position, and tlie hole was halved in" five.—Seifert, 3 up. Both got well away from the ninth, Smith foozled his second, but got just short of the green with his third. Willi his approach he struck the pin, and lay about four feet of the hole. He missed his putt and went down in six. Seifert, who was on the green in three, ran up well with his fourth. He also missed a short putt and halved the hole. Driving from the tenth tee, Seifert got well up to the right of the hole, but Smith failed to get up. He reached the green with his second and lippetl the hole with his third, a long putt. Seifert got on the green with ilia second, but failed to find the hole with his third, and it was halved in four. Smith foozled his second, while Seifert got a nice second near the Both were, on in three and down in five, halving tlie sixth hole in succession. Seifert over-ran the green with his first, but Smith got in the bunker and took two to get out. Seifert lay close to the hole with his third, and his) opponent gave him tlie hole.—Seifert, 4 Up -, Smith got away badly from the thirteenth, reaching the rat-tail. His second was also rather weak, but he made a line recovery oil to the green with his third. Seifert, who had got a beautiful drive, from the tee, lay on the green with his second. He missed a short putt with his fourth, and the hole was halved.—Seifert, 4 up and 5 to play. Smith over-run the green with his second, while Seifert was short.. His approach lay close to t,he hole. Smith made two weak shots, which cost him the hole and the game, which Seifert won —H up and 4 to piny. Mr. 11. li. Annitage referocd for the match.

OTHER MATCHES. Pairs best ball, bogey liandieap. IS holes—G. li. Wright (hep. 7) and I'. K. Parkes (7) all square, and S. I'\ Burgess (11) and G. E. Jago (12) all square, tied for first place, the latter couple winning in the plav-ofl'. Bogey Handicap, 18 holes'—J. 1). Hunter, 2 down. 1; M. W. Iligginson. i down, o

THE CHAMPION. Mr. L. Seifert, the champion, is one of the well-known Palmerston North golfing family of that name. lie is a well-known figure on golf links, having competed at various tournaments throughout the Dominion. 110 is the present champion of Palmerston North, and was four years ago champion of South Auckland at Cambridge. " I'oui 1 years ago he competed in the New Plymouth tournament,

He is enthusiastic over tlie Waiwakaiho links. They are the finest mitu nil links in New Zealand, lie asserted and he has had experience oi the ma jority of New Zealand links. They ar L splendid sporting linksf, and arc exeep

tionallv well lttiil out. Moreover, the view from tliem is absolutely perfect, seaside links always having an advantage in this respcel. TIIK RUNNER-UP. Mr. S. Smith is a well-known New Plymonth resident, who haw taken an interest in various sports, but only took up golf three years ago. He attributes his success to having started on the ■ right lines. He. was coached by a proE fessional from the start. He considers > that the information gained by playing i a round with a professional coach is in- , valuable. He is a keen golfer, ami has devoted a lot of time to practice. This ■ is the first big tournament in which he has participated. PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS. Previous champions and runncrs-up have been:— 1900—-J. C. Bums defeated 11. D. Bates, 7 up and 5. 1907—A. Duncan defeated W. B. Colbeck, 4 up and 3. ; 1008 —R. G. Scott defeated \Y. B. Colbeck, 2 up and 1. 11)01) —O. Saunders defeated I. Saunders, 1 up at the 19th hole. 1910— J. Harrold defeated A.'H. Lewißj 3 up and 2. 1911— G. Saunders defeated R. L. D. Kidston, i up and 1. 1912 W. B. Colbeck defeated J. C. Burns, 4 up and 3. 1913 —B. L. Taylor defeated D. Pryde, 3 up and 2. 1914—L. Seifert defeated S. Smith, 5 up and 4. PRESENTATION" OF PRIZES. Dr. Walker, patron of the club, in presenting the prizes, voiced his pleasure at welcoming so many visitors, but regretted that the weather had been so unpleasant. However, he trusted that they would take away some pleasant recollections and return with their friends next year. Despite the climatic conditions and the state of the greens, some fine golf had been shown. He called on Mrs. Paton to prsent the prizes as 1 follows: — Champion—L. Seifert (Paimerston N.). Runner-up: S. Smith (New Plymouth). Medal Handicap, 30 holes —(i. R. Wright I, A. de B. Brandon i. I Teams Match--Paimerston North 1, j New Plymouth A 2. i Bogey Handicap, 18 holes (Monday)— j Guy Johnston 1, J. i). Hunter 2. Medal Handicap, 18 holes—J. D. Hun- I ter 1, Guy Johnston 2. J Pairs Best Ball Bogey Handicap—S. F. j Burgess and G. E. Jago (tied). { Bogey Handicap (Tuesday)—J. D. Hunter 1, M. Higginson 2. Putting prizes—Saturday: D. Syme 1, L. Seifert 2. Monday: \V, L. Fitzherbert 1, H. D. Armitage 2. Tuesday: W. S. G. Paton 1, J. Chalmers 2. The champion, in returning thanks, said that it had been a revelation to iiim to see the links in such good order. { They were practically perfect, and he was very disappointed that better scores had not been made. He said that the visitors had all been given a royal lime, and he hoped to see some Taranaki members at the Paimerston North tournament. The patron briefly, reviewed the history of the New Plymouth Club since its J inception seventeen years ago, when he was appointed captain. They first had links at Moturoa, and then they removed to Staudish's. The committee, however, considered that more accommodation was needed, and had pluokily acquired the present property. Certainly golf was only in its infancy in New Zealand, but the present links would give sufficient scope for all'time as far as New Plymouth was concerned. Tho committee had certaitilv made the most j of their possibilities. He also referred to the organisation of the present tournament, in which the committee had scored another great success, and here ' he paid a tribute to the work of the secretary. Mr. ■]. Paton. Mr. Paton returned thanks, as also did Mi. I'itzherbert on behalf of the visitors, and the tournament closed with rounds' I of cheers. I