GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1921, Page 11

GOLF.

KIRKWOOD IN ENGLAND. When Kirkwood, after bringing himself right Into the limelight at Oxley, qualified fifth at Gleneagles with 217 the golf correspondent of the Londbn Times wrote of him: —"Kirkwood also played splendidly, his only weakness being on the green, where he could not bring himself to hit his short putts confidently. On the other hand, hb holed a 20yard putt for a 3 at Blink Bonfiie, the sixth hole. Kirkwood finished very strongly, for he did the last five holes In 17, holding a nine-yard putt for a 3 at the 15th hole. He has the (latest swing of any first-class golfer, with a curious little pause or lift in its backwaid journey, rather reminiscent of Mr. F. G. Tait. Undoubtedly he is a great golfer.” J. H. Kirkwood lost the first prize at the Oxley Tournament through "crocking” at one hole, according to the English papers. Mitchell, who had failed signally to distinguish himself in the qualifying rounds, in which Kirkwood led the field home, .played consistently brilliant golf when It came to the four rounds of the match proper, but the Australian champion was playing just as well. Mitchell was found the "first time in 73-; so was Kirkwood. In the second round .Mitchell returned another . 73, but Kirkwood went one better with a 72 and was at the head of the list, at the end of the first day. In the third round Mitchell with 71 equalled the record for the course, but Kirkwood was again round in a faultless 72 and was equal with Mitchell for the three rounds, the aggregate in each ease being -21-7; Then came the third round. Kirkwood played beautiful golf going out and was 37 for the nine holes. He played the 10th well, and then came the lltb, a short hole of 165 yards, at which he had consistently got threes. Kirkwood from the tee found the bunker guarding the green, scrambled out to the edge of the green with his second, was short with the approach putt, took two more and was down in five. He could not regain the two lost strokes and finished in 78 to Mitchell’s 76. The aggregates were therefore:—Mitctell, 293; Kirkwood, 295. Edward Ray and George Duncan were equal for tenth with 304; Taylor and Vardon were 303, and Braid was 304.