WILSON CUP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1939, Page 9

WILSON CUP

MASTERTON PLAYERS’ PROSPECTS. COMMENT ON RECENT FORM. (By “Handicapper.”) Much interest is being taken in the Wilson Cup match which is to be played at Palmerston North during the weekend between the Hokowhitu and Masterton Golf clubs. The Masterton team is expected to make a strong bid for the trophy. Unfortunately the Masierton players will be hampered to some extent by the bunkers of that course and focal knowledge will, be a definite advantage to the Manawatu players. Moreover, the Manawatu Club is very fortunate in having a professional who is probably one of New Zealand's best bunker players and all members of the club have the advantage of the experience of such a good man.

Observations on the members of the Masterton team may be of general interest.

J. P. Hornabrook, New Zealand open champion in 1937 and twice amateur champion, won the Masterton Club championship this year. He has also represented New Zealand, with T. H. Horten, in the Kirk Windeyer Cup match. He is in good form. T. H. Horton, last year’s Wairarapa provincial champion and holder of many other provincial championships as well as the New Zealand amateur championship in past years, did not play so much golf as usual last year

but this season is right on the job. Unfortunately, he was out of play for a month this year on account of a finger injury but he is now right back on his form and is putting in good work with his clubs.

Another scratch player, H. S. Budd, was club champion for 1937 and is probably one of the longest hitters in the country. On his day he is an exceptionally good player. E. Henderson, finalist in the Wairarapa provincial championship last year and a former club champion, has several times been runner-up for the club championship. He is playing great golf at the present time and last Sunday did 73, off 3 handicap mark, making a net 70. R. B. Cameron, playing on the four mark, is very keen. In the last few years he has been showing great promise and was runner-up to J. Hornabrook in the club championship last year.

A very consistent player on his handicap is H. L. Esau, on the five mark. He is an exceptionally good match player and has just had a week’s practice at Rotorua and should have no difficulty with the bunkers at Palmerston North. C. Faulknor, on the six mark, is a long hitter. He is at present competing at the Napier tourney. His brush up there should improve his game at Palmerston North.

R. Boys, playing on the six mark, has been playing good golf in the past two weeks, after a bad patch at the beginning of the season. At present he is on holiday and is putting in some solid practice; which will stand him in good stead.

On the seven mark, C. Torr, has been playing very well in the last five weeks, returning cards of five net 73’s in five weekends running—a consistent performance. Another seven marker man. F. Tatham, is a splendid match player, who has an ideal temperament for the game. He is a long hitter and has won several club handicap events in the past two years. His game is steadily improving.

G. Falloon, one of the younger players of the club having been taught by T. H. Horton, and modelled his game on that player's, put up a great performance this year in the Wairarapa provincial championship by defeating several scratch men.

T. Horton Junr., who has had the advantage of his father's knowledge, has been playing very consistently this year on the seven mark and with a little more experience in match play he will greatly improve. The first emergency, J. Palairet. should any of the members of the team be off their game, will possibly be in the play. He is a new player to the Masterton Club and will bo a groat asset to it. J. T. Jameson, the other emergency, is now right back in his form. Ho represented the Masterton Club against Wanganui when the latter hold the Wilson Cup.

Blue serge lounge suits, for evening and Sunday wear, are now supplied to certain classes of prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs. England. The men can change immediately they have finished their day’s work.