Evening star., 1901-12-28

The play OF the sisters was a revelation to
them; and IL was generally admitted that
their approaching and putting were quite
up to the standard OF the best professionals.
Again Miss N. Graham secured the Irish
Ladies Championship. Her play at Dolly
mount all through was brilliant. The run
ner-up was Miss Magill. who had just
beaten Mrs. Hezlet.
Miss Lena Thomson OF Wimbledon. a pre-
H1ous hnaltst, gained the ladies' champion-
ship in 1898, which was contested at Great
Yarmouth. She Is now Mrs. Towne The
sisters Orr did not appear. The weather
was stormy. and at times IL was pathetic
20 see the attempts made to get away balls
Nnrs,, lLs On the Irritating sandy patches Miss
Magiii, the runner-up OF the previous year,
secured the Irish Ladies' champIonship
atter beating Miss y. Graham, Miss Dodd
and Miss NJ. Hezlet.
Double Victories.
Miss NJ. Hezlet did wonders during the
following year, for she secured the double
victory of the Irish Ladies championship
at Newcastle and the ladies' championship
on the same course. In the one case she
defeated Miss Adair and in the other Miss
Magiil, the ex-champion. Ireland was de-
cidedly proud of her golfing daughter. She
Is a very fine driver makes few mistakes
through the green and puts accurately.
She is practically self-taught; and her
well deserved
Miss Rhona Adair achieved an equal
triumph In 1900. She gained the champion
ships at Portrush and Westward Ho. There
was an interesting match between Miss
Hezlet and Miss Magill but after a keen
struggle the champion won. She had now
to face Miss Adair. The breeze OF the
morning developed into gale, which drove
sand bllndingiy across the links and was
accompanied by torrents of rain. But the
plucky competitors stood out stubbornly I'm
what was really a contest OF pure physical
endurance. Miss Adair won the match by
single putt on the last green. She scored
an easy winner over Miss E. Hezlet by nine
holes and secured the trophy. At West
ward Ho Miss Adair secured an easy vic
tory over Miss Neville by six holes and
thereby received the sincere conRratlIla-
tions of the golf world.
The championships for ladies have been
extending over the world. New Zealand
ana the United States have their distin-
guished competitions; and these are bring
ing before the golfng world first-class eX-
ponents OF the game, who. except for the
difference in build and strength for driving
would run the sterner sex very hard.
However. since the ladies cannot enter
into direct contest with the gentlemen,
they can, they do, make capital four
somes in mixed doubles. These give rise
to many most interesting club competitions
and are as keenly contested as the mixed
matches at tennis
But many a splendid match is played I'm
these mixed doubles. No keener golfer
n.
member for East Fifeshire. and In a four
some she shows all the enthusiasm of a
girl. Ladies seem to throw of any sense
OF sex, just as they do in hunting, shooting
or fishing. The enthusiasm OF the game
the exhilarating air and the elastic turf
make them throw themselves heartily into
the match, as If all depended on the issue.
"Life Matchesw
And many life match is originated on
the golf links. Spoonyism may go far
enough to have a single between a young
lady and her devoted steward According
to the love stories they forget about the
score, and make it up on the bright brae
side or grassy hollow Even the bunkers
lose their rerrors when they pour out the
tender tale sitting on it's yawning edges.
No wonder, then, that golf is becoming so
popular among the young ladies' An ex-
hibitton match by Braid and Nardon finds
a galaxy of beauty and enthusiasm follow
ing which would never have been dreamt
OF only half a century ago. The fair sex
decked in every variety of color and style
criticise as freely If they were all ex-
perts. They applaud their heroes; they
show temper over any opposition TO their
judgment of the play; they imagine them
selves taking part in the match.
And this is health inspiring for them es-
pecially for the young. In many cases
married ladies ought to be better occupied
Ing part In competitions; but with the un-
married golf is the best amusement and
its morale is more testing than that of any
other game. So, long may golf flourish and
prosper and spread over the world, And
Its success is secured when it is supported
so generally, so enthusiastically and SO
brilliantly as now by the fair sex.