The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-16
SECTIONS TO BE PITTED In THE
NATIONAL GOLF SEMI
FINALS.
BAD DAY FOR MCDONALD.
PRIDE OF CHICAGO NARROWLY
ESCAPED DEFEAT BY AN UN-
KNOWN MAN.
CLOSE SHAVE IN SECOND ROUND.
Nothing But Miraculous Put Saved
the Western Expert-Results
of the Day.

CHICAGO, Sept. 15.-The national
tournament, on the links of the Chi
cago Golf club, at Wheaton, was some
what handicapped by strong wind.
and continued hot weather today The
play for the first time became more
than ordinarily interesting and marked
the actual start of the tournament as
far as fine play was concerned. The
preliminary round, to determine the
four players for the semi-finals,
brought out the sixteen honor men and
nearly resulted in the defeat of c. B.
Macdonald, of the Chicago Golf club,
by John Reid Jr., comparatively un-
known player. The chief point of in
terest in the mornings play was Mac
Donald's trying experience Reid was
expected to make no stand at all
against the ex-champion. and when at
the twelfth hole Reid was three up, the
Western contingent felt that their
chance was gone. There seemed at
the time no probability Of Macdonald
winning the match That he subse-
quently did win was largely due to
Reid's nervousness over his sudden
prominence. Whigham, who was also
considered an easy certainty, had a
very bad time at the start with Still
man, but came out very we'll at the
end. Douglass, the most dangerous
man, as far as the Western chances
for the championship are concerned,
had a comparatively easy time with
Forgan in the morning, and with Fam
in the afternoon.
1t was altogether very bad day for
Macdonald with his close match with
Reid in the morning, and the still clos
er one with W. G.. Stewart in the
afternoon. Stewart played finally all
through the course and on reaching the
home hole Macdonald was only one
UP. They came upon the green with
the same number of strokes. Stewart
made a beautiful put from the end of
the green and went directly over the
hole. Macdonald was on the edge of
the green and by put which seemed
almost miraculous 1oled his ball, win
ming the match two up.
The finish between Whigham and
Coats, who came up to the home hole
even all. was also very interesting.
Whigham, however, secured the hole
and the match was his with only one
round and brings the semi-finais on to-
morrow with Macdonald against
Belts; and Whigham against Douglass.
The match to determine the finals will
be significant, bringing, as it does, the
West against the East.
The first pair started about half past
nine, and within an hour they were all
in the field. Mcdonald and Reid were
the first men, and this match proved
the sensation of the morning. There
was no uncertainty felt over the result
of this, and when it was announced
trat Reid was three UP on Mcdonald,
as they drove off the twelfth hole, the
excitement was intense. This was re-
garded as very little short of mirac-e,
and the Western men were very de-
pressed over the prospects of their
champion. But the strain proved too
much for young Reid the twelfth hole
was haIved, and the following three
taken by Mcdonald, the sixteenth hole
was halved and the seventeenth again
went to Mcdonald. This made him
one uD as they approached the last
hole. All the spectators were gathered
around at the finish, and the interest
manifested was extraordinary. Both
of the men played finely to this hole,
but Reid was very nervous and made
a bad put, Mcdonald taking the hole
two up. This was a great honor for
young Reid, and he received almost as
many congratulations as the winning
opponent. The complete score was as
follows: Mcdonald took the third,
sixth, seventh, ninth, thirteenth, four
tenth, fifteenth, seventeenth and
eighteenth. Reid the first second,
fourth, sixth, tenth and eleventh, and
the fifth. eighth, twelfth and six
teenth were halved.
Whfgham's game was far below his
average. He had very bad luck with
bunkers and topped two drives very
badly On the last nine holes Whig-
ham picked up and finally beat Still
man four up and three to play. Other
results of the morning were as follows:
Stewart beat Chadwick, UP and 2 to
play; Fem beat Emmett 5 up and 8 to
play; Hartman beat Tying, up
and 1 to play; Belts beat Willitts
up. Coats beat Sweeney 3 up and
to play. Douglass beat Forgan up
and to play.