The New York herald., 1921-09-27
BY CECIL LEITCH.


BY CECIL LEITCH.
The task which / have beenasked
to perform is not as easy as II night
seem, as there is so much to sayi, Is
difficult to know where to begin. OF
the seventeen championships in witch
I have now played. the one in Canaa
| able and interesting.
We all know that the game is com.
paratively young among lady players
in that country. but the play that
have seen at Rivermead leads me tc
think that before very long Canada
will be able to put very strong team
Of players into the field. The scores
In the qualifying round were high, but
what else can be expected when every
competitor goes out to play knowing
that there are only thirty-two places
for ninety-seven competitors! Two
young players. Miss Hutton and Miss
Paget, played remarkably steady golf
and each returned SO. Unfortunately
spectators were denied the oppor-
tunity OF watching a fine match be-
tween them in the first round OF the
championship proper. owing to Miss
Hutton having to scratch on account
Of severe illness.
The draw was rather q one sided
affair, with the bottom half bristlins
with good players, including Mrs.
Hope Gibson, Miss Doris Chambers
Miss Alexa Stirling. Mrs. Gavin and
Miss 8. Pepler. In the top half Miss
Ada Mackenzie. Miss Edith Leitch
and Miss Mollie Mcbride had things
their own way until they met.
Praise for Mrs. Gavin.
Without detracting from the styles
and skill Of the Canadian entrants, l
must admit my increased admiration
for those Of Miss Alexa Stirling and
Mrs. Gavin. The latter has a perfect
method of hitting the ball and I'M
pressed large galleries by the length
and accuracy of her driving.
In her match with the American
champion she put up a fine game, and
I wish I could have been in the crowd
to witness one OF the best matches of
the meeting.
Miss Ada Mackenzie. even with the
assistance Of three dead stymies and
a favorable kick from post marking
an 'out Of bounds" went down to Miss
Edith Leltch. 1t is only fair to add.
however. that the Canadian player did
not exhibit the form that she had
shown prior to the meeting.
Naturally. I was able to study the
play Of my own opponents more than
that Of other competitors and these
were Mrs. Hope Gibson, Miss Cham
bers, Miss G. Pepler. Miss Stirling and
Miss Molly Mcbride.
am sorry to say nerves played an
important part in all these matches.
with one exception-that in which
Miss Alexa Stirling was my opponent
Never shall I forget my second game
with this wonderful little player and
charming opponent. A deficit Of three
down at the fourth would probably
have had an i'll effect upon the game
Of many. but 1t had the opposite effect
upon Miss Strings play. BY the
time we reached the tenth green we
peared to act as a magnet to my op-
ponent's ball that day and her two
marvellous recoveries at the Ions
eleventh thoroughly deserved a half
in Ave. but a half stymie on difficult
green robbed her Of her deserts.
Throughout the match her bunker
play was a fine example Of what can
be accomplished when in difficulties IL
only one knows how to do 1t. / am
convinced there are many who look
upon golf in an entirely different way
little fuss when playing from diff
culties. To my mind. this Is the cause
Of many shortcomings In the game OF
young players. The majority are rs
long and as good as the best when
everything is plain sailing. but once
a difficult lie is found they have not
the faintest idea how to attack II.
Then again, there are many who make
a speciality of one shot and who do
not realize that certain type of ap-
proach shot may be effective on one
course but absolutely useless on an
other.
More Competition Needed.
More matches and competitions are
needed in Canada. 1t is only by meet
Ing strange players and playing over
different courses that players can
really improve.
Speaking generally after what I
have seen Of ladies' golf in Canada, I
should say that the players should
aim at becoming steadier. Miss Pep
Ter went round the Rivermead course
in an approximate SO during one OF
her matches In the championship.
This is particularly good golf and
takes lot Of beating, but unless such
form is repeated 1t may be regarded
as streak only. There liz no reason
why Miss Pepler should not he a par
ticularly fine golfer. as her length is
above the average. Length Is not
everything. however, and young play
ers should be warned against siashing
plete control.
Half the bad shots that have seen
played during the past week were
caused by the player standing too far
behind her ball. or. In other words. hit
ting the ball when the club head was
on the upward swing OF the follow
through" Topping is the result.
and this is inclined to lead the player
to imagine that she Is too far In from.
OF the ball, and she continues to OK
aggerate the cause.