GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1920, Page 3

GOLF.

MANAWATU TOURNAMENT. J, S. PATON'S GOOD PLAY. (By Wire.—Special to News.) Palmerston North, Last Night. The second day of the Manawatu golf K.urnament was held in perfect weather. The greens had improved slightly, but still left a good deal to be desired. The first round of the championship was played in the morning, and' resulted, so far as the New Plymouth men were concerned, as follows: — .T. S Pnton beat W. Seifert, 2 up and 1. Cross beat BUVcher, 6 up and 5. I>. Moore beat Chong, 8 u» and 7. In the afternoon, Swainson beat Paton, 3up and 1. Paton played a splendid game, and favorable comments were made on his good showing. New Plymouth results in the bogey competition were: A. Smith 1 down, J, Paton 3 drwn, Chong 10 down, \V. Nlooll 8 down. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. GOOD CONTESTS ANTICIPATED. The New Zealand golf championships will be played at St. Andrew's links, Hamilton, from 1 September 13 to 18. A good deal ot expense Jras been incurred in preparing the course for the meeting. At most of the holes new tecs nave- been made, with the result that the round has been lengthened to 6407 yards, or 106 yards more than the Australian championship course at Kensington, New South Wales. The longest holes are thy, fourth 1440 yds) and 7th 521 yds), and the eighteenth has been considerably lengthened to 438 yds. The shortest are the first (184 yds), tenth (191 yds), and fourteenth (116 yds). Bogey is 44 out and 42 In. Several n6w bunkers have been put in, while old ones have been cleaned. The most difficult bunker now is that at the Bhort hole—the fourteenth—the sand in the steep bank now being very loose and-requir-ing a very good shot In order to get clear. Special care has been taken with the greens, weeding having been done in such a systematic manner that it is anticipated they will be in perfect order for the meeting. Hie clubhouse has been extended to provide locker room for nearly J2OO players, while the diningroom will accommodate a similar number. It Is expected there will probably be 90 competitors. Klrkwood, Australian professional, lntß- entered, while other entries are expected from Australia by next mail. Other prominent professionals who have signified their intenlion of competing are Douglas (Miramar), the present open champion, Isles (Christchurch), Martin (Auckland), McEwaa (Wellington), Moss (Middlemore), McCormack (Walhi), Butler (Christchurch),' Clements (Palmerston North), and Brookes (Lower Hutt). The prominent amateurs include H. E Cross (Napier), present amateur champion, A. Duncan, runner-up in the amateur championship, and several times winner of the event; D. K. Ross (Dunedin), Sloan Morpeth (Walhi), last year's runner-up for the open championship, who is in good for.m, and whose knowledge of the local course Is likely to stand him in good "stead; H.. B. Lusk (Auckland), a player who can always be relied upon to play a good gamo upon the Hamilton rourse and who at one time played a 73 there. Other players on the scratch mark who have entered are J. Goss (Wanganui), A. Ekstedt (Palmerston North), T. H. Horlon (Masterton), and Rex George (MaungnIclekle). Hamilton players are in exceptionally good form this season, and are expected to carry off the honors in the Inter-club ma tdi. THE BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP. DfJNCAN'S REMARKABLE WW. George Duncan,. of the Hanger Hill Club, won the Open Golf Championship of England at Deal, with a score of 303, made up of 80, 80, 71, and 72 by two strokes from the veteran player, A' Herd (Coombo Hill), who returned 305, and E. Ray fOxney), whose final score was 306 (says the London Times' golf correspondent). It was a great championship, marked by much brilliant play and full or the unexpected. Af, the end of the first day's play Mitchell (North Foreland) was leading the Held by six strokes from Herd and Barnes, the American player, who were second equal. Hagen, presumed by many to be the better of the two Americans who had emtered, was 19 strokes behind Mitchell and considered to have no chance of final victory. So well, Indeed, was Mitchell playing that it was believed by many that he could not lose (he championship. He has not usually been considered a nervous player. Duncan, at the end 9f the first day, was .13 strokes behind Mitchell, and few people, if indeed any, then talked of him as the ultimate winner. Duncan has always been a player of raoods, but as a rule ho has not done best n the closing stages or any competition; one has always been afraid of him. Here, In this championship, evervono was confounded and shown tn be wrong. Duncan, on the Thursday, apparently cheerful since lis chances of success seemed so remote, played his own sparkling game. He let himself go and played as even he has seldom done before. His early successes give him confidence, and a morning round of 71 quickly placed him in a very favorable position especially .as Mitchell, apparently overcome with lus position and his prospects, plaved as badly as any bad player could wish, and did an 84. Would Duncan crack now that he knew that he was well in the'running for that for which lie has striven on so manv= occasions? 1 thin!- that it is safe to say that most penjple thought—nay, rather feared—that he would fail. He did nothing of tho kind, and a very brilliant final round of 1 2 gave him the championship. Let us before- saying 'moro about Duncan and his play examine what was happening to the pther players, Nobqdy can, I think, deny that, after his fl/st great round, Herd might win. A 72 for a player of his ageUS Is over 50—was a most amazing Verformance. Not for years has he plaved such golf. He waffled just as ever he did, and s ashed at the ball like a child, and having slashed, he hit. His approaching and putting . T round were wonderful. He did not do so well in the second round, but he was second at tho e-id (if the first day, and consistent play—for 77 and 75 is consistent —on the second day plaaced him second on the hat. Ray began well; and then did an indifferent 83. A 75 the next d»y made his task very difficult, but a final round of 73 took him into third place. Mitchell's 74 and 73 on the first d[iv, with the eighth hole done in one—l hope he did not hare to stand drinks all round—was Mitchell at his best. Nothing would go right on the next day In the morning, and an 84 made his position very trying. He played well In the last round, hut 76 was not sufficiently good. At the end of the third round a comparatively 'unknown plaver, Holland, of Northamptonshire, led the field by one point, but the occasion was too much for him, and he could finish only fifth—a very fine performance however. S. Win»atc (Ravensworth) and A. Havers (West Lanes) also did remarkably well, and must In future be considered amongst the best 'of our players. Until the last round, Barnes, of Sunset Hill, U.S.A., was a player with a very big chance of success, but' a final 82 prevented the Cup from going to America. Hngen never recovered from his bad start No member of the famous trlun-viratc was in ihe nrizo money. Taylor did the best of Hie ii-ree, one stroke awav from the prizes with 317, Vardcn 318, and Braid 350 The younger school have at last triumphed, but the position of Herd shows that, youth is not nil in golf, or else" that golf players are never old but always young. The amateurs did not do so well «s many' had hoped that they would do, but on the other hand they were consistent, and there were just as ,many professionals below most of them as there were above them. Mr. W. I. Hunter, the son of the famous greenkeeper at Deal, did the best, and his 322 was the result of sound golf. Mr. Douglas Grant, was next with 324. Mr. Tollev, the amateur champion, did 326. He began most indifferently with SB and 84, but his last two rounds of 79 and 78 were the result of really good plnv.