GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1920, Page 6

GOLF.

tARANAKI TOURNAMENT. 0. CTOOEON WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. * The Easter tournament, with which is combinod the Taranaki amateur championship, was concluded on the New Plymouth Club's links -yesterday. The weather was again perfect, and the meeting proved to be one of the most successful ever held. The championship was won bv G. Gudgeon (Inglewood), who defented D. Pryde (Pending) in the final, by 3up and 2. The game was closely contested throughout, and Gudgeon deserved his win for a steady and consistent game. He generally out-drove his opponent, while his short work was particularly deadly. It was always an uphill fight for Pryde, but he played a spirited game, and frequently aroused applause from the large number of spectators. If he had been steadier on the green, Pryde would have done better—he threw several chances away by faulty putting. The end of the first nine holes saw Gudgeon leading by one up, a previous lead of two up having been reduced by a splendid putt by Pryde on the ninth £reen. Playing the tenth. Prydo hit the bank and rolled down, while Gudgeon was well up Gudgeon placed his second handy, and went down in 3. Pryde, owing to his faulty first, was always a stroke to the bad. Gudgeon, 2 up. At the eleventh, Pryde was just short of the green in three, while Gudgeon was alongside him In four, a bad shot in' a bunker accounting for the difference. Gudgeon's fifth hit the Hp of the hole, hesitated, and lay tiead. It was a chance for Pryde, but his putting was uncertain, and the hole wu halved in six. Gudgeon. 2 up. Gudgeon reached the "crater" at the twelfth, being just to tho left side of the green. Pryde played a patchy hole. His first was short, his Second was short In the sand, and his third was on, but too faT. Gudgeon was down in four, Pryde's fourth not finding the hole. Gudgeon, 3 up. Gudgeon drove Into the swamp at the thirteenth, and played his third just short of the green- Pryde was lu a. better position for three, and th.> hole appeared to be his. But his putting was bad, and the hole was haired In six. Gudgeon 3 up. At the fourteenth, Gudgeon was short, his second was short, and his third was dead. Pryde was Just through the green with his second, and put his third dead. Gudgeon missed a four, and Pryde, going out in four, won the hole. Gudgeon, 2up and 4 to play. There were no special features about the fifteenth, save that Gudgeon was on with three good shots, whilo his opponent was a stroke to the bad all the way. Gudgeon went out in fire, winning the hole, and making the position dorm.v three. Gudgeon put his drive »n the sixteenth, while Pryae was slightly ts the right of the green. The hole was halved In 4, and Gudgeon thus won the match, 3 up and 2 to play. Amongst tho visitors at the tournament was Miss Gambrill (of Miramar), who was runnerup for the New Zealand ladies' championship last year. MiS3 GambrlU won the ladies' medal handicap yesterday morning with &4--S—----76. Her round was a particularly good one of a 43 and a 41, made up as follows: Out: 4, 4, !>, 5, 6, 5, 5, 5,—43; in: 6, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4. 5, 7—41. Miss Gambrill has a great admiration for the links and looks forward to the l Dominion ladles' championship meeting bein,? held here In 1921. A certain amount of bunkering is required before the course will be accepted for the champonshlp meeting and the club will no doubt put this work in 'hand soon. Miss Gambrill considers that the green of the fifth hole should be on the flat, and not on the hill, and in this she is supported by several prominent visitors. One of the visitors expressed the opinion that an alteration of the fifth green was one of the improvements most to be desired. Ap- ! parentis- the committee has been of two minds about this hole for some years, but now (specially in view of the prospect of tho ladies' Dominion championship meeting being held here! they should obtain expert advice, and decide once and for atl what they are g'.'.ng to do. The improvements which Miss Rnnnlirill suggests are Interesting. She advocates the bunkering at the fifth (where the green should be on the flat), the sixth, tho eighth the ninth, and the fifteenth, and "whiskers" •hould be cleared at the twelfth. Otherwise, Miss Gambrill regards the course as splendid.

Some further Interesting comments on the steps which should he taken to Improve the course were made by Mr. H. Gillies (Hamilton), in speaking on behalf of the visitors at the presentation of prizes. He said they were all particularly pleased with the tournament, and he thoupht the course was now In better order than any other in New Zealand The greens were splendid, hut lie said It would bo idle to say the course was boyond Improvements. The sand country near the sea shore was fine colflnE country, and the club should concentrate on embracing it In the links. Tho front portion was not true golf country, but it could be disposed of for other purposes. If this policy was adopted he felt sure that in five or ten years' time the course would be the best In' New Zealand. At Hie conclusion of play, I)r. E. A. Walker (the president) welcomed the visitors, and referred to the high standard of plav during the tournament. Ho then asked Miss Brewster (the ladies' captain) to present the prizes as follows: Champion.—o Gudgeon. Runner-tip—D Pryde. Medal Handicap—S. R. Harlow. Medal Handicap— 0. N. Deluhton. Borey Match.—J. S. Paton; runner-up, W H. Wood. Medal Handicap.—L. Quln: runner-up F Quln. - ' Tour-ball Bogey —Stlchtmry and McLean. Bogey Match—P. S. Parkes. Ladies' Bogey Match.—Mrs. Martin; runnerup. Mrs. Butcher. LadSes' Medal Match.—JCsS GambWlt; runner-up, Mrs. Martin. Putting—Saturday: Mrs. Johns and D. Pulley: Mnndav: Mrs. Gray and P. J Ritchie: Tuesday: Miss Brewster and P. ,T. Ritchie The success of the tournament. Is a trlhutc to the splendid organisation of Mr. J. Paton, while Caretaker Barnitt Is rewarded by the visitors' praise of the condition of the course. Details of yesterday's play are:— THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SEMI-FINALS. G. Gudgron (Inglewood) beat W. H Young (Palmerston North). 3 up and 1. D. Pryde (Fellding) beat F. S. Parkes (Wanganut), 1 up. FINAL. Gudgeon beat Pryde, 3 up and 2. PREVIOUS WINNERS. j Previous winners of the Taranakl championship arc:— 1906 J. n Burns (Auckland). 1907—A. Duncan (Wellington). 1908— R. G. Scott (New Plymouth). 1909—0. Saunders (Wanganui). 1910—.T Harold (Wamranul). lflll—G Saunders (Wansanul). 1912 W. B. Colbeck (Auckland). 1913—8. h Taylor (Miramar). 1314—L Seifert (Manawatu). IPJS—.T. V Ritchie (Stratford). 191fi—L. Ollmie (Lower Hutt). 1918—F S. Jones (New Plymouth). *l9l9—H. L. Young (Manawatu). POUR-BALL BOGEY HANDICAP. The best scores in the four-ball bogey handicap were:— Stichbury (5) and McLean (8) 7 up Kirkby (5) and Milue (11) 6 up Haxerfield (8) and Xewenhami (8) .... (; up J. Quin (11) and F. Quln (8) 0 up S«iundert (scr) and Hairison (6) ... sup Bewley (4) and Hascll (8) 5 up Ritchie (2) and Powdrell (5) .. sup j StewaTt (11) and Fletcher (15) 5 up LADIES' MEDAL MATCH. The best scores in the ladies' medal match were Miss Gambrlll 84— B—7o Mrs. Martin 98—17 81 Miss Hamerton 106—25—81 Miss PUmmer 120—30—84 Miss Gavin 99—14—85 Miss K Wilson 100—15—85 Miss Gilbert 106—21—85 Mrs. Gow 117—32—85 MEN'S BOGEY MATCH." Tito best scores in the mien's bogey handicap were:— F, 8. Parkes (2) 4 up J. Quln (11) 3 up W. H. McLean (8) 1 up G. N. Deltfhton (11) 1 up J. F. Ritchie (2) All square A. S. Hasell (8) All square NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. The Reason will be officially opened by tho New Plymouth Club on Saturday, when mii«sd foursomes will he played. Players will choose partners and opponents, and post entries will bu received.