New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-12
GOLF.
OPENING OF THE wOMAN's NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP AT ARDsLEY.

THE QUALIFYING RouNp-srxTEEN PLAYERS
PERMITTED TO QUALIFY INSTEAD OF
ErGHr-A BRILLIANT GATHERING
WATCHES THE PLAY.
Possibly among the whins and bents Of Scotland
there may be some bonnie lass who can play golf
better, but certainly there none who are pref
tier nor more lssome than the maids and matron.
who tripped gayly the ArdsIey links yester-
day. when the womans National golf chamnion- !
snip was begun. Fifty-four fair golfers took part
In the qualifying round at medal play and the
contest was royalty fought and royalty won Beatr,x
Hoyt, who has twice triumphed IN these National
tournaments and whose name has become almost
synonyme for all that Is graceful and success
ful In feminine endeavor on the links made the
best score and broke all previous womens records
for the course. Miss Hoyt's card for the eighteen
holes was %. four strokes better than the record
she herself established in practice on Saturday and
eight strokes better than the recognized COM
pettive record. Whatever fears have been felt
as TO her ability to maintain the championship
have been wholly dspelled and no one who
watched her game yesterday doubts for a moment
that the weeks play will result in a third victory
for the coveted championship title
II was gala scene that greeted the visitors 70
the Ardsley grounds. The hosts OF contestants in
natty golhng clothes the throngs Of gayly dressed
spectators. and the brilliant autumn foliage OF the
links, all combined to make a picture Of life and
color well worth going miles to see Around the
first tee stretched long ropes to keep the on
lockers from pressing too closely upon the players
and about these were gathered hundreds Of eager
spectators. c. Oliver Iselin drove to the club
house in his four-in- hand and among his guests
Lieutenant Woodbury. Kane Of the Rough
Riders F.. e. Wallis also fooled his coach 10 the
links. bearing another jolly party OF sightseers.
II Is doubtful II such army OF golfers and their
friends have gathered at womens contest in
this country. Certainly there has never been
more appreciative or enthusiastic gathering,
that has been rewarded with better play.
The arrangements for the comfort and pleasure
OF the visitors were admirably carried The
Ardsey Greens Committee. aided by corps OF as.
sistants, that nothing that could add 10 the
success Of the tournament overlooked and
number Of members Of the United States Golf AS
ISOLATION hand to assist in the rather
ariuous work Of starting the pairs off. Laurence
Curtis. president of the association. arrived from
Boston In the early morning. and together with
Robert B. Kerr and Ransom H. Thomas, repre-
scented the Executive Committee. under whose
charge the contest is being conducted.
Yielding to the pressure which has been brought
to bear on all sides. this committee met previous to
the opening Of the tourney and decided to increase
the number Of those eligible for the match play
rounds from eight to sixteen. This action is de-
cidec innovation. but one expediency Of II Is ad
mittted BY all. The enormous Increase in the num-
Der or entries and the injustice Of excluding all
but eight from a contest in which more than sixty
we're entered was the chief reason for the commit
tees move. The announcement OF the new condl-
tons was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
Their effect Will be merely to add another day 10
the tournament, so that instead OF Friday the
championship round will take place on Saturday.
Considering the number OF distant points repre-
scented and the size 81 the field the defaults were
surprisingly few. Mrs. John Jacob Aston. about
whom much interest felt. telegraphed that
she would be unable 70 take part. and Mrs Hobart
ChatfeldTaylor. OF Chicago. also failed to appear.
The other Withdrawals were Miss Anne Archbod
and Mrs John T. Terry jr.. OF Ardsley: Miss Helen
Barney. Of shinnecock Hills. Miss Cornne Mock
Of Philadelphia. and Mrs. j. J. Vatable. OF Tuxedo
This left ffty-four competitors. and to the credit
Of feminine persistency It should be said that not
one Of these failed to complete the full eighteen
holes. This is more than twice the number who
finished in last years championship. where only
twentythree out Of the thirty-hree participants
turned in complete
Not only was the tournament larger but the styie
and quality Of golf displayed was immensely SUI
perior 10 anything that has been In women's
golf in this country. II is doubtful If in the
womens championships Of Great Britain a more
brilliant finished performance has been wit
messed than Miss Hoyt's game Yesterday The story
Of her round is one Of perfect play, gracefully
and successfully done that 1t seemed almost with
out effort. She paired with Mrs A. De witt
Cochrane. Of Ardsey, who had as her coach and
golfing mentor Willie Tucker, the ST. Andrews
professional. ". r. Sands. captain OF the West
chester Country club carried for Miss Hoyt These
two ala not get away until the middle OF the fore
noon, and the crowd which had been anxiousy
awaiting their appearance had by that time in
creased to almost thousand people Miss Hoy,'s
opening drive was ne occasion for prolonged APP
Pagd aPd as she left t the tee hundreds OF people
In her driving and wrist shots Miss Hoyt dis
hole she covered fully $50 yards from the tea
distance that most OF her brother golfers would be
nine holes was exactly the same. 49, giving her
total or eight strokes less than her nearest
perfect long drive, followed by superb brassey
and mashie pitch enabling her to reach the green
there was nothing in her entire round that the most
critical could condemn, with the possible exception.
RRum 6 probably Explained her poor Putting on
the sixteenth she sliced her drive, getting under
willow tree and being forced TO play back The
he osS p a b Sa5e9 SeT ,or
misfortunes only TO be expected In an eigh-
teen-hole round and they detracted little from the
Next to Miss Hoyt came Miss Edith b. Burt. of
the P9iladepShia G0untry GIu6 Wh0 made 100 and
Essex County Country Club, OF Massac husetts. and
Miss GraSs Rs ns Go Golf M SqH
County Cm Club whose recent record Of lOs for that
lea s many no exefs e 2,
This morning the first round at match play Is TO
yesterday will alone be eligible play. The others
are out OF the championship.
Mrs r f. Zerrahn, OF the Brookne Country
Club. OF Boston. had her caddie John kendrick
Bangs but Notwithstanding the fact that she has
already participated In two previous championships
she also failed to qualify The scores OF the fortu-
nate sixteen given below in full:
Mis-. Bestrix Hoyt shinnecock Hills:
out :.::.....:.:.::::::.:::.s 20 90
Miss Edith p Burt; Philadelphia Country:
out .................: :.2 8 50 800
Miss Madeline Boardman Essex County Mass.
out ..................7 So
In ...............o q , u ' . " % "-0o-IVs
Miss Grace r. Keyes Concord:
out ....................5 81
In .....................b I '-ol-Wz
Mr.. William Sh ppen, Morris County:
out ....................s - ,os
Carol