New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-13

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GOLD MEDAL. FOR THE BEST SCORE IN THE
PRELIMINARY RoUND-wHIGBAX LAS
YEARS CHAMPION FAILS TO oUALryT.
Az harmonious as the strains from the orchestra
on the clubhouse piazza was the progress OF mo
Arst days play IN the amateur gclt championship
At the Morris County links yesterday perfect
day clear calm and cool; links in iauitiess U'm'
ideal arrangements throDs OK enthusiasuc spec
tators and competitors whose proves mas ihaue
them familiar the country over, all combined L"
-ender the occasion the most brilliant and success
rll ever held under tho auspices OF the Ohltea
States COLI Association. Not single incident oc-
CURED 10 mar the dav's doinSs. The first PAIR elI
the opening tee promptly at the hour announcer
the Greens Committee. aided by corps OF ASSIST
ants. saw that each competitor was aoundanuy
provided for and the provision for tho comfort OF
visitors was all that could be desired
PLENTY or SPECTATORS
Tn. grounds themselves presented sala scene
Even 10 those who nothing for the struggle Ior
.un-ennacy the sigh: will well repay the Journey 10
Morristown Gayly decked tents occupy every
available space about the clubhouse ana WIN th'
crowds that surround the ropes the Inks are an IN
terestlnc sight The tournament IS to continue
through Saturday. closing with the exciting maj
round for the championship cup.
rh,rty-two players qualified for the match play
IN Yesterdays preliminary round. ana Joseph H.
Choata Ar OF Stockbridge. an able golfer AID
member OF the Harvard team. won the medal for
the best score. That college boy should take 'ho
.honors In a contest In which the most nnshed play
A.. of the country are entered shows the rapid
.eoxre.s that the younger element has made IN the
same In the last twelve months
Re 10 a m yesterday the course began to assume
An aspect Of busting activity Every tram Drought
In hundreds o: people from orX aho 'l.e su..
rounding towns Along the main driveway from
Norristown there was q constant stream o. car
riagss and the incoming guests NUMBERED nior"
,han a thousand by early noon Inc HOUSE Yum
rottee OF the Morris County Club under the diree-
ton OF Alexander II. Tiers. found Its task peas
ant though exacting one. A more oimcui' uNue!
taking than that OF providing for National goH
Guardianship where hundreds OF people are gain
cred in the open air. and where the fachi'es lo'
a throng Of guests are mono or the oest' can haIoS
he imposed, even upon the most tactfui. ana war;"
praise 10 deserved BY those who had the ana" IN
charge yesterday.
II was A fashionable gathering. though most
.nnrec,at,ve one ripple Of applause followed
every well-played shot, and though the e'lque''s
Of golf frowns any prolonged outours'' the ei-
thusasm was genuine and spontaneous through
out the day.
wr1I~KNowN PEOPLE ON THE LINKS.
With the exception Of one or two matches. Few
of the contests attracted a large following OF
.pectators. with hundred men on the INKS peo-
ME wis
would be as thick snowfiakes IN winter ana
,bev nreferred not to risk the danger OF being HIT
About the opening tee and the home green now
ever there was constant throns OF onioohe's'
Miss Frances Griscom. of Philadelphia pron'-
nent golfer OF that city, and player VINO Iankeu
y fourth In last years womenB championship. was
among those who watched the play NJ ana
Mrs Il. Mex. Twombly, who returned N theH
home from Newport especially for the tournament
were also present. All the ofhcers OF the Cnlteo
states Golf Association were on hand TO lend their
advice and aid IN case Of possible difficulty. with
the single exception Of Laurence Curtis its pres-
dent Mr. Curtis will probably arrive 10 morrow,
and will be the guest of the Twomhlys Colonel
Henry May, ot the Executive COMMITTEE vas also
absent. Colonel May was forced to remain IN
washington IN order 10 muster out his regiment.
but he sent word that he would arrive on Thurs
dav at the latest George .. Fowle. treasurer OF
,he association, who Is the guest OF w Allston
FIagg during the week, was on hand while among
other notabl. golf men present we're John pu tais,
secretary Of the Metropolitan Golf Association;
BENJAMIN Hardwick. Of Baltusrol. Louis I. Bay
ord president OF the Balusrol club. and John
Reid ex -presdent Of tho ST. Andrews club
1t IS safe to say that such an army Of golfers
and their friends has never before invaded sny
links IN this country. and IT is doubtful IL the old
country can boast Of any more formidable gather
,ngs OF the 10 entries yesterday. i07 started on
che fret round In the morning. and 90 finished tho
entire thirty-six holes. The largest number that
had ever finished amateur championship in this
country previous 10 yesterday was forty-six the
number In the preliminary round at Chicago last
wear In Great Britain sxty-fcur n the highest
limit reached IN any amateur tourney. Not only
was the contest yesterday the largest bur IT was
also the most exciting and vigorous that American
golfers have yet known Thirty-six holes was the
distance covered IN the prelimirar.es yesterday.
and .h,rty-slx holes VIII be the requirements each
dav until the finals on Saturday decide for an
other year the possession OF the championship cup
The Norris Couoty links cover circuit OF about
three and half miles. so that the man who -
fortunate enough win the coveted title Q! cham
p.on viii have trampel not less than fifty miles in
,hs course OF the week. Put Briefly the pro-
sraurne yesterday called for a double circuit Of
the links az medal play. the best thirty-two 10 he
eligible to continue at match play for IN cup.
Thost who failed TO gain places in this division
have no further part IN the contest
A START N EARLY MORNING.
Promptly a. 7ao a. m the FIRST pair. Maturin Bal
lou OF Arawam.s and F. L. woodward, Of Den
YER started from the opening tee. Four energetic
members OF the offlcial staff were on hand 70 see
70 the arrangements. including A. H. Tiers. George
6. Kip. Rcoer, p. Kerr and Ransom Thomas.
Even al that early hour there was small gather
ing who bravod the morning chill TO fee the play
Following Balou and Woodward came d steady
stream OF players. and II was high before tho
last couple had LEFT the tee. Whigham's appear
ance caused storm OF applause. We was paired
with Foxhal 7. Keene. and. though he gave evil
dencs Of tho hard Illness he has just passed
through. his frame seemed 1.-THE and active as
ever His opening drive WAS the signal for Wild
enthusiasm. and many ventgred tho opinion that
ne would BE abundanty able TO defend his cup
But after playing the frs, nine holes In credtable
style his physical weakness began to tell against
him. ami he finished the morning round with
score OF g. An overapproach and put on the tenth
hole gave him a C. and two topped drives the
eleventh and twelfth told heavily against his score.
in the afternoon he weakened gradually but stead
lily. and his final card 1874 This failed to place
him among the eligible thirty-two.
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