SENSATIONAL FINAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20283, 27 August 1937, Page 8

SENSATIONAL FINAL.

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MIBB V. FLEMING'S VIOTORY SOUTH AUCKLAND WOMEN’S TITLE Miss V. Fleming, the Christchurch handicap two player and member of the Tasman Cup woman’s golf team, defeated Miss J. Duncan, of Wanganui, holder of the Rotorua women’s championship, In the final of the Ellis Cup at the conclusion of the Bouth Auckland women’s open championship at St. Andrews links to-day. A sensation came at the thirteenth when the score was dormie five in Miss Fleming’s favour. The leader then experienced a serious lapse in her putting, missing several putts of two or three feet, especially at the fourteenth. She lost two holes before halving the sixteenth and winning the title 3 and 2. The standard of golf generally was excellent but not as high as in the semi-finals yesterday. Miss Fleming maintained command over the game throughout as a result of superior control over the ball and more accurate putting. The tec shots were very even. Miss Duncan often gaining in length but losing that advantage on occasions with faulty direction. However, she struck the rough at one hole only but on several occasions played into bunkers. The approaching of both finalists was extremely creditable. Miss Fleming’s superior control being of occasional advantage in this department. On the green the' winner was undoubtedly superior and her early lead was the" result of more accurate putting. However, from the thirteenth, where the match was dormie five, until the finish she seemed uneasy and missed many short putts, even ones of two or three feet, in a manner which was rather surprising after her earlier brilliance' in this phase. Miss Duncan fought all the way and her rally from the thirteenth to the sixteenth, where the game terminated, won repeated applause. Of the 16 holes played Miss Fleming scored seven bogies and two birdies, while Miss Duncan obtained seven bogies. The previous title-holder. Mrs F. Preston, of Auckland, failed to qualify for the championship. Run of Play Superior putting enabled Miss Fleming to win the first in four and the contest over the second was even, but again brilliant putting saved Miss Fleming and, after running through the green with her third she halved in bogey five. After gaining a slight advantage from the third tee Miss Duncan’s second rolled over the edge of the green. However, she countered with an accurate niblick on a sloping green, but her putt, a long one, lipped the cup and she lost to her* opponent’s bogey four. Accurate golf enabled the pair to halve the fourth in five after Miss Duncan’s fourth had ringed the hole. Miss Fleming was still two up. Miss Fleming won the fifth with a bogey four, while her partner took five after having trouble in a bunker, from which she recovered nicely. Miss Fleming went down In birdie four at the sixth after playing faultless golf. Miss Duncan approached the better on the next, but failed to sink a lift, putt and the hole was halved in boguy five. Both struck trouble on the eighth. Miss Duncan getting a poor lie from the tee-shot and then hitting a bunker, but she controlled brilliantly and won with a bogey. It was great play. Miss Duncan was in the rough, although at the ulnth she conceded the hole to her opponent's five. She took the next, however, and reduced the lead of four at the turn to three. Missed Short Putts ) The next was halved after Miss Fleming had missed an eight-foot putt. Miss Fleming won the twelfth, sinking a 15ft. putt. She won the next to make It dormie five. At the short fourteenth Miss Fleming was within 25ft. of the pin. Two putts went through a few feet, then the fifth Upped the cup and she conceded the hole. Despite the fact that Miss Duncan duffed her second, at the next she won in bogey three after Miss Fleming had missed two putts of three feet. At the 16th. however. Miss Fleming halved with a wonderful 25ft. putt, after Miss Duncan had gone out in four. Over the 16 holes there were two strokes only between the players. St. Andrews Match Miss J. Masters Hamilton) beat Miss V. Campbell (Timaru) 1 up in the final of the St. Andrews Handicap which was decided to-day. The game was very even, but Miss Masters maintained a slight lead throughout, hut on occasions the game was squared. Lying four stymies. Miss Masters took control at the end. EXCELLENT PLAY KEEN SEMI-FINAL COMPETITION A high standard of play was attained by the semi-finalists in the two principal events in the South Auckland women’s open championship, whiMi was continued at the St. Andrews links yesterday afternoon, and particularly keen competition prevailed. The course was in ideal condition, with the green unaffected by overnight rain. The semi-finals of the Ellis Cup, the scratch event, ami the St. Andrews handicap trophy were decided in the afternoon. During tne day minor competitions were play 2d also. Results of the semi-finals are as follows: Ellis Cup. .Miss j. Duncan Wanganui3 beat Mrs F. Mander (Hamilton , 2 and 1; Miss V. Fleming (Christchurch beat Mrs W. S. Ralph (Middlemore), 8 and St. Andrews Handicap. Miss V. Campbell (Timaru) beat Miss N. Beverley Matamata . and l; Miss J. Masters Hamilton beat Miss M. Campbell (Hamilton), 3 and I. In Hie semi final of the Ellis Cup both Miss Duncan and Mrs M.nid r played excellently. The players halved (Continued iu next column.)

11 of the 17 holes and throughout maintained a high standard of golf. Miss Fleming, who is a 2 handicap player, struck good form in defeating Mrs Ralph, of Middlemore. in the other match. Stic completed the first nine holes in the excellent figure of 34, having nine fours on the ca-d. Only 12 holes were played, as Mrs Ralph could not equal her opponent's consistency. In the second round, which was played in the morning. Miss Fleming was in form to beat Miss J. Stewart, of Whangarei. 7 and 5. She opened the game with 12 successive fours, which presented a formidable obstacle to her opponent, and finished the first nine in 34, a performance which she repeated in the afternoon. Despite the fact that Miss Stewart's score included two birdies, she was no match for Miss Fleming. The semi-finalists in the St. Andrew’s handicap played equally impressive golf. Results of other matches played yesterday were as follows: Foursomes—Mrs A. E. Sandford and Mrs C. Taylor, with a net score of 72. 1 ; Mrs I*. R. Glanville and Mrs J. C. Hill, with a net score of 77, 2. Good scores were returned in thi medal and bogey competitions. In th« senior bogey competition Mrs. F. Mander and Mrs. G. Ferguson each finished square with bogey. Mrs. Mandei winning on the count back. In thi junior bogey Mrs. E. V. Daldy and Mrs R. E. Hart finished 1 down. Sirs. Daldj winning on the count back. ROTORUA CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS DECIDED (Special to Times.) ROTORUA, Friday Excellent conditions again prevailed for the semi-fTnals of the Rotorua amateur open golf championship yesterday. There was a large gallery but there were very few thrills. The finale will he played over 36 holes to-day, Results of yesterday’s semi-finals are as follows Open Championship Semi-finals.—W. Kusabs beat J Stedman. 2 and 1 ; H. D. Brinsden beat J. Goss, 7 and 6. Thermal Cup Semi-finals.—T. McElroy beat P. Potter. 5 and 4; H. G. Davies beat G. It. Knight, 1 up. BRINSDEN IN LEAD (Special to Tim**s.) ROTORUA, Friday Tlie course is in splendid order for the fln.il of the Rotorua amateur golf championship to-day and at the end of Hie morning's play 11. D. Brinsden (Auckland) was seven up on W. Kusabs (Rotorua). In the final of tne Thermal Cup It. G. Davies (Hastings) was one up on T. McElroy Rotorua) at the end of the first 18 holes.