GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1920, Page 3

GOLF.

DOMINION TOURNAMENT.

MORPETH AMATEUR CHAMPION. KIRJOVOOD WINS PROFESSIONAL, (By Wire.—Special Reporter.) Hamilton, Last Night. The New Zealand golf tournament concluded on Saturday In fine weather. A cool breeze made the conditions delightful for players and specratora. The final of the amateur championship between S. Morpeth (Hamilton) and Dr. K. Ross (Dunedin),, resulted in a win for the former 8 up and 0 to play, after a great game. In the opening round, the players reeled oft fours as if fives were figures to ibe feonied. Ross played excellent golf up to 'he ninth, where he developed a slice of his wooden club, and this fault found hto serious trouble. Morpeth started houne with six fours, and improved his game as he proceeded. After lunch, he gave a really gTeat exhibition, and the play was the finest ever seen In an amateur final. Ho deserved his win, for he played with great confidence in the second round. Ross was not playing so bad as the result denotes. He had very bad luck on the greens, and In this department' of the game Morpeth excelled. Trie opening round was a great struggle. Morpeth took some time to get going, and Mien he did his play was brilliant. Three halves in fours opened the match, Dr. Ross taking the lead with a five at the fourth. He won the sixth, Morpeth just missing a short return putt. Morpeth was two down at tho turn, but all square at the twelfth, lioss having bad luck for a half. His ball struck the back of the hole and jumped out. Morpeth, increased his advantage to two up at the end of tho round. Morpeth look 78, and Ross 80.

Morpeth Increased his load to three by Winning the first hole in tho second round. A pull into the rough and a wide approach cost Ross tho third, and made Morpeth four up. Tho next hole was halved, and the fifth was won by Morpeth, Ross taking three putts. Morpeth, 5 up. Morpeth missed a five feet, putt at the sixth to win, and the hole was halved. Morpeth was five up at the turn.

Morpeth won the tenth, and became six up. The eleventh was the brilliant hole of. the final. Two beautiful iron shots found tho green, floss, putting first, slipped past the hole a foot, and Morpeth, carefully playing down ' hill, holed out, and became dormy seven. The end came at the twelfth, where Ross, putting treakly, required a five, Morpeth holing a three feet putt for four. Morpeth won this hole and the championship, Morpeth, who is 22 years of age, has a great record. Last year, be tied for the open championship, and this year he tied for second place. He is a fine natural golfer, In the professional event, Kirkwood won comfortably from East. The former reached the turn In 37, and was 4 up. East then reeled off six fours, but could not break his opponent's consistent play, and ho had to acknowledge defeat on the sixteenth green, threo down and two. VISIT OF J. H. KIRKWOOD. MATCH AT NEW PLYMOUTH, Keen interest is being taken by golfers throughout Taranaki in tho visit of J. H. Rirkwood, the open champion of Australasia, to New Plymouth on Thursday. It is probable that Klrkwood will play a 30-holes match witii a leading New Zealand professional. Details arc not yet complete, but it is hoped to announce complete arrangements In tomorrow morning's Daily News. NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. Tiff. CHAMPIONSHIPS. The final of the junior championship ot Ihe New Plymouth Club was won by H. Johnson, who defeated A. E. Surrey by 1.1 up and 9, over 30 holes. In the final of the Thursday senior section, H. Thomson beat G. Gudgeon, 1 up at the 20th., and in the final of the Saturday senior section, W. It. Robertshaw beat T. V. Miickay, 3 up and 2. Thomson now meets Robertshaw to decide the club championship, and the match, over 30 holes, will probably be played on Thursday week.