1922 New Zealand Open: Hosted by the Manawatu Golf Club at their Hokowhitu course on September 11th and 12th. Following several weeks of hot dry weather, heavy rain fell during both days of the Open causing difficult playing conditions. Practice rounds of the highest quality by the amateurs Morpeth and Duncan gave them some favouritism.
However, the battle for the title was fought out between a Scottish professional and a promising young amateur, both from the Hutt Golf Club.
Required to return three consecutive scores of 3 for the final three holes after two earlier disasters, the young Jack Black failed by one stroke, finishing 3 4 3 and presented professional A.Brooks with the first of two successive Open titles.
1923 New Zealand Open: Hosted at the Wanganui Golf Club, Belmont, bogey (par) 79 on Friday and Saturday, September 21st and 22nd. Ideal weather on the first day of the championship saw some very good scores returned by the leading professionals, with amateurs Black and Duncan in contention.
Heavy overnight rain and very strong north-west winds on the final day further isolated the leaders and by late afternoon a situation had developed that was promising a five-way tie. The two amateurs had tied on 314 which subsequently required two further rounds to determine the top qualifier for their match-play championship.
Their score was equalled by professionals Hood and Clements, and with Brooks scoring 45 on the outward nine in his final round, no great change was expected.
The playing-through champion, however, though hampered by the gusty conditions and an often-over-enthusiastic gallery, came home in a remarkable 34 to retain his title by two strokes.
