GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1921, Page 8

GOLF.

TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. THE CONCLUDING DAY. A. SEIFERT WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. The Taranaki amateur golf championship for 1921 war won yesterday by A. Seifert (Palmerston North), who defeated G. Saunders (Wanganui) in tie final of 18 holes by one up at {he 19th. The championship was the principal event in the concluding day’s programme of the annual Easter tournament held by the New Plymouth Club on the Waiwakaiho links, and a very successful meeting was brought to a close yesterday in fine weather. In -.he morning the semi-finals of the championship were decided, resulting in G. Saunders beating F. Quin (Eltham). and A. Seifert beating A. Smith (New Plymouth). Though a strong mountain wind blew all day, the standard of play was high. Seifert’s morning round was a particularly good one, his total for the 15 holes over which his match extended being only one more than bogey. The wind was very strong when the final was played in the afternoon, but the tussle was a keen one right to the nineteenth green, and tliere were frequent glimpses of brilliant play. During the morning a four-ball bogey handicap was played, and the best scores were:: N. Turrell and C. G. Johnston (Wellington) ; T. V Mackay and Dr. Wade (New Plymouth) ; J. C. Richardson and H. B. Williams (Wanganui) ; and W. Harrison- and W. D. Ross (Eltham) *, all of whom tied with 2 up. As a play-off could not be arranged, it- was decided to draw for first position, and Richardson and Williams won. In the afternoon a bogey match was played, H. R. Bloxam (New Plymouth) winning with 2 up. Lewis won yesterday’s putting, and Mrs. Butcher returned the best card for ladies. At the conclusion of the play, the club captain (Mr. T. P. Anderson) thanked the visitors for patronising the meeting, and offered congratulations, on behalf of the players, to the new champion and tie run-ner-up. Cheers were given for the visitors. Mrs. Anderson then presented the prizes as follows: Champion.—A. Seifert; runner-up, G. Saunders.

Saturday.—Medal handicaps : G. Chong (morning), J. Austin (afternoon). Monday.—Bogey handicap: F. Quin first, L. T. Quin second; medal handicap, A. Smith first, G. J. Bayley second. Tuesday.—Four-ball bogey, J. C. Richardson and H. P. Williams; bogey, H. R. Bloxam first, Harrison second. Putting.—Saturday, Miss Gilbert and A. J. Qu.'n; Monday, Mrs. Butcher and A. Smith; Tuesday, Mrs. Butcher and Lewis. THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE SEMI-FINALS. G. Saunders (Wanganui) defeated F. Quin (Eltham), 3 up and 2. Saunders was one up at the turn. The tenth was halved. Saunders won the lltli, lost the next two, and then secured the game by winning three in succession. He played a pretty two at the (bogey 3), though witli the wind that was blowing this was a very difficult green to find. Saunders’ card read as follows (bogey in parentheses) :—Out 4 (4), 5 (5), 4 (3), 7 (5), 5 (5), 5 (5), 3 (3), 6 (6), 4 (s)—total 43 (41). In 4 (3), 4 (5), 5 (3), 5 (5), 4 (4), 5 (5), 2 (3); total 31 (28). A. Seifert (Palmerston Nor/fi) defeated A Smith /New Plymouth), 5 up and 4. Going out Seifert played a wonderfully steady game, winning four holes and halving foui. His total for the nine holes', was one bettor than bogey. He lost the 10th and then won and halved holes in succession until the 15th gave him the game. Seifert's card read:— Our 4 (4), 4 (5), 3 (3), 6 (5), 4 (5), 5 (5), 4 (3), 6 (6), 4 (s),—total 40 (41). In: 4 (3), 5 (5h 3 (3), 5 (5), 4 (4), 6 (5); total 27 (25). THE FINAL. The final' between Seifert and Saunders was closely contested, but for a long time launders maintained a useful advantage, and I the score on several occasions suggested he 1 would win with something to spare. Saunders was. always "up,” but his opponent, on the whole, played the steadier game, and towards the end Seifert steadily and surely overhauled Saunders. In the latter stages of the game Saunders missed several shots, being especially faulty on the greens, and it was x just one of these bad putts that cost him the match on\ the 19th green.

Saunders won the first hole, and established a lead of one up, which he never lost until the end. At the sixth he was three up, but a three to Seifert against Saunders’ five at the 7th reduced Saunders’ lead to 2 up. With two halves the position was unchanged at the- turn, thj scores reading :—Saunders 3 (4), 4 (5), 6 (3), 5 (5), 4 (5), 4 (5), 5 (3), |7 (6), 4 (5); Seifert 4 (4), 6 (5), 5 (3), 5 (5), 5 (5), 5 (5), 3 (3), 7 (6), 4 (5). Saunders 2 up. The tenth cost each player four, and then Saunders won the eleventh with a fine putt from the edge of the green, going down hi 4 to Seifert’s s.—Saunders 3 up. A half at the 12th and a win for Seifert at the 13th brought the margin back to 2 up. At the 14th Seifert drave tte distance, but he was to the left of the green, while Saunders was through the green with a splendid ball. A more accurate second and Saunders should have won the hole, but it was halved in four. Saunders won the next 5—6, and the game reached the interesting stage of dormy three. It now became a steady attack by Seifert, always playing up-hill, knowing that would cost him the match. Seifert accomplished the task splendidly, winning each of the last three holes by one stroke, and thus making the position all square on the 18th. Both got away well to the 19th, but Seifert's was the (better ball, and he was on but past the pin in two, while Saunders was "dead" in three. Seifert’s third was also "dead," but Saunders missed an easy put and lost the match. The scores coming home were:—Saunders, 4 (3), 4 (5), 4 (3), 6 (5), 4(4), 5 (5), 4 (3), 5 (5), 7 (5), 5 (4); Seifert, 4 (3), 5 (5), 4 (3), 4 (5), 4 (4) , 6 (5), 3 (3), 4 (5), 6 (5), 4 (4).

PREVIOUS WINNERS. Previous winners of the Taranaki championship are:— 190 G—J. C. Burns (Auckland). 1907 A. Duncan (Wallington). 1908— R. G. Scott (New Plymouth). 1909 Saunders (Wanganui). 1910— J. Harold (Wanganui). 1911— G. Saunders (Wanganui). 1912 W. B. Colbeck (Auckland). 1913 B. L. Taylor (Miramar). 1914 L. Seifert (Palmerston North). 1915 .T. F. Ritchie (Stratford). 1916 L. Climie (Lower Hutt). 1918— F. S. Johns (New Plymouth). 1919 H. L. Young (Palmerston North). 1920 G. Gudgeon (Inglewood). WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Wellington golf championship was won by L. D. Hurst (Miramar), who beat Petley (Wellington) in the final two up on the last green. KIRKWOOD IN AMERICA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. New York, March 28. At Pinehurst, Whittemore and French, two first-class American professionals, defeated Kirkwood and Kerrigan (another American professional) by two strokes in a practice match. A correspondent states that the great Australian professional demonstrated, much to the satisfaction of all beholders, that he is to be very muL. . ’—•’“•i with in the iraoendiua stsmpioEslup batti*.