THE GOLF TOURNAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1919, Page 7

THE GOLF TOURNAMENT.

H. L, YOUNG WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. The Taranaki Golf Tournament, which must rank as the most successful in the club's history, was brought to a successful conclusion yesterday, when, despite the windy weather conditions, there was a large attendance, keen interest being taken in the championship fixtures. The visitors all expressed themselves as delighted with the play, whilst they cannot ipeak too highly of the arrangements — a fact on which the committee (Messrs. J. Paton, W. H. Robertshaw, H. 11. Bloxftm, F. S. Johns, R. W. D. Robertson, P. G. Newenham, H. Addenbrooke) and the secretary (Mr. W. H. Wood) deserve to be congratulated. In the absence of the patron (Dr. A. E. Walker), through ill health, the prizes were presented by the president (Mr. C. H. Burges3), who expressed regret at the absence of Dr. Walker, and expressed the hope that the doctor would soon be restored to his usual health, and would give out the prizes the following year. The club had, in common with other clubs, suffered through its young members going to the war —a fact of which they should be proud. Though he had not been on the golf links for three and a half years, he was pleased to see many visitors who had attended every tournament, and he hoped to see them back again. The club had a strong ftnd energetic committee, whose aim was to make the links equal to, if not better than, the best in New Zealand, and it was hoped by that means to encourage goliers to visit them.

Each of the prize-winners, on coming to receive the prize, was heartily applauded, Mr. H. L. Young, on behalf of the visitors, expressed their thanks for the treatment received at the tournament, which, on account of the splendid links, and the sociability and good-fellowship of the members, had been a most enjoyable one. He paid a tribute to the work of the ladies, and in conclusion expressed regret that more Taranaki players did not visit Manawatu, so that the club could have an opportunity of reciprocation. Mr. Robertshaw also paid a high tribute to the assistance rendered by the ladies, especially in the luncheon and afternoon tea arrangements, and they were accorded hearty cheers. Following are the results: SEMI-FINALS. The semi'finals in the morning produced strenuous contests, both being won by very narrow margins. H. L. Young (Palmerston North) defeated G. Saunders (Wanganui) by 1 up at the 18th hole, and I. Saunders (Wanganui) defeated W. Seifert (Palmerston North) by one up on the 19th hole.

H. L. Young v. G. Saunders.—G. Saunders was two up at the third hole, but Young quickly evened the scores up, being all square at the sixth hole. Saunders was one up at the 9th, but the tenth was won by his opponent. Saunders was again one up at the 12th, and the game was all square at the four? teenth. Saunders won the fifteenth, but lost the next two holes. The eighteenth hole was halved, Young thus winning by 1 up.

I. Saunders v. W. Seifert.—The first three holes were halved. Seifert won the fourth. The nextjpas halved, and, Saunders winning the sixth, the game Was all square. Seifert won the next two holes, but Saunders won the ninth and turned one down. He, however, evened matters up at the 10th hole, but lost the eleventh. The twelfth was halved. Saunders won the thirteenth and fourteenth, thus, for the first time in the contest, being one up. The fifteenth hole was halved, ttnd Seifert won the sixteenth, the game bfeing all square. Saunders won the seventeenth, but S(#fert secured the eighteenth and left the game all square. An extra hole, therefore, waß played, and this with the game went to I. Saunders. THE FINAL. The final in the a f ternoon was followed by a large crowd, but, contrary to expectations, the play proved rather disappointing, neither of the competitors playing up to form. The contest proved an easy win for H. L. Young, of Palmerston North, by 5 up and four to play. BaundefS' driving was superior to the champion's, but his approaches were rather weak, and he did not seem to be able to gauge the putting greens too well. On Die whole, he had the worst of the luck. H. L. Young, the champion, visited last year's tournament, and readied the semi-finals, where he was defeated by H. L. Kidaton. Both got well away from the first tee, Saunders driving the longer ball. Both were on the green in two, and holed out in four, halving the hole. At the second both got well away. Young was on the green In three. Saunders made a weak approach, which cost Jiim the hole, he taking 6 to hole out to his opponent's five. Both were on the third green in two, and Saunders, failing to hole out in four, lost the hole. Young two up. From the fourth tee Saunders got a good drive, and was close to the green with his second. Young took three to reach the green, and made a fine approach, while Saunders' was weak. Young missed an easy putt, and Saunders halved in six. Saunders got on the fifth green in three, but took six to hole out, Young taking seven. Young one up. At the sixth hole Saunders was on the green with the third. He just failed to hole out with his fourth, and Young halved in five. At the seventh Saunders' drive went through the green to the rough, Young getting to the right. Both were on in two, and Young, with a magnificent putt that earned the applause of the onlookers, holed out in three, Saunders taking 4. Young two up. Saunders, with a magnificent approach, reached the green with the fourth, Young taking live. Saunders failed to putt with his fifth, but was down in six. Young narrowly missed halving, and went down in seven. Young one up. The ninth hole was halved in five, and at the turn Young was one up. Both struck trouble at the tenth. Young went out of bounds, and lost a stroke, whilst Saunders was bunkered, and took two to get out. Young was on the green in three, and holed out in five, Saunders taking six. Young two up. At the eleventh, Saunders, who got into rough country to the right, took four to get on to the green. His fifth overran the pin, and with his sixth he had hard luck in not going down, taking seven. Young lay well with his second, but made a poor approach, over-ninning the pin. He went down in five, and the score read Young three up. The next hole was halved in four. At the thirteenth hole both got over the hill with their drives, Young getting to the right of the green with hia second, while Saunders, who had a poor lie, made a poor second, but got close to tlie green with his third. Young was down in five, and Saunders, just failing to putt with his fifth, lost the hole. Young four up and five to play. Young's second carried him to the right of the green, but he made a great approach, and went down in five, while Sftundei'i, whose second overran tin

green, again failed to go down in five, and lost the hole and the match—five down and four to play. Both competitors were given an ovation. PBEVIOUS CHAMPIONS 1906 J. C. Burns, Auckland. 1907—A. Duncan, Wellington. 1908— R. G. Scott, Ngarnotu. 190!) ft. Saunders, Wangamii. 1910—Harold, Wanganui. 1911— G. Saunders, Wanganui. 1912 W. B. Colbeck, Auckland. 1913 H. L. Taylor, Miramar. 1914—L. Seifert, Manawatu. 1915 J. P. Ritchie, Stratford. 1916—L. Climie, Lower Hutt. 1918—P. S. Johns, New Plymouth. OTHER MATCHES. Other matches resulted as follows: Four-ball Bogey Match. A. S. Hassell (9) and A. Bewley (4), all square. W. H. Robertshaw (5) and W. H. Wood (9), all square. H. G. Elliott" (7) and C. J. Bayley (8), all square. G. P. Dodds (9) and I, Dodds (13), 1 down. G. Gudgeon (5) and P. O'Carroll (9), 1 down. J. Kenny (6) and D. S. Syme (14), 1 down. Major Cox (10) and G. Regan (8), 1 down. R. T. McQuade (10) and H. R. Bloxam (15), 2 down. W. D. Ross (9) and A. Hay (14), i; down. W. Muir (4) and C. G. Ross (12). 2 down. G. Grey (7) and A. K. Spain (14), 2 down, The first three tied, and the draw resulted as above. Bogey Match. H. G. Stringer (8), 1 up. P. S. Johns (3), four down, Ladies' Medal Match. Miss C. Hammerton (Inglewood) 115 25 90 Mrs. A. E. Surrey (Inglewood) 124 32 92 .Miss Outfield 131 36 95 Miss Blundell 116 21 95 Mrs. McQuade 114 19 95 Miss Gilbert 126 29 97 Mrs. O'Carroll (Inglewood) 126 28 98 Miss Brooker 131 20 111 Miss Morrison 149 30 113 Putting Competition. The putting competition yesterday resulted as follows: Ladies, Miss Morrison; .gentleman, H. L. Young, won after tieing with E. Hay. The previous day's tie was also decided, and resulted in favor of Miss Blundell and H. L. Young.