New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-03
GOLF.
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP TO BEGIN TO
DAY AT oNwENTsIA.

ur-SpREp PLAYERS GATHERED FOR THE
srer-GGLE-PossIBLE VICTORY FOR HOME
PRED sK1LL-How THE MEN WILL START.
Another royal championship. the fourth in the
history OF American golf begins this morning on
,bA links Of the Onwentsia Golf Club. near Chi
c,ro Whether the result will be fourth victory
t,- foreign bred skill is a question which is rack
ing the mind OF the American goling world Three
zines have the players OF this country, In spite Of
their advantage numerically, been forced TO award
the championship title to a man schooed on the
,,rte abroad VIII they again succumb. or will
come picked man overwhelm the small allen band?
THAT is a query that has constantly been reit-
Grated through the long preliminary season and
e n, the lips of every man in the big Chicago
gathering. Certain 1t is that whoever is hailed as
the winner will have TO play faultless golf
CHANCES OF AMERICAN PLAYERS.
From Denver to Boston and from Buffalo 10 the
Oar South no one entitled 10 recognition is miss
ing from the list. North, South. East and West
are REPRESENTED by their ablest players some OF
them famous wherever golf is known. some OF
them still TO undergo their first championship ex-
nerience but all OF them. big or little, keen TO
UNFOLD the reputation Of the home-bred game
twelve months have vast improvement IN
tho quality Of golf shown by American players
noticeable in the West, but still more noticeable
here and while II would be rash prophet "Ho
would predict the downfall Of Douglas. there mas
never been a time when the chances or these ma
tive exponents OF the game appeared more bright
H. J. Whigham. who held the championship our
ing 1896 and 1897 is abroad: Charles b. Macdonald
who won the Newport contest in 1885, from "hich
tho present championships have sprung Is ac-
knowledged 10 be outclassed by the better men
now in the West, while Of Douglas 1t can only be
said that thus far this season he has show MOTH
ing which would enttle him to a leading place
Reports from Onwentsia last week. however, in
djcated that Douglas had gained some of his former
accuracy and under the stimulation or the actuaI
fray he may develop unexpected strength HOW
ever pleasant It would be to claim the honor OF
victory for some home-bred man. It must be &C
knowleiged that Douglas at his best Is the most
finished player in America to-day. For the sake
OF speculative interest It may be well to mention
some OF those who may meet him In the present
struggle and among the first come Hartman
Reid and Travis. in whom Eastern golfers have the
utmost confidence, and who are certain TO acqult
themselves credtably. no matter what the final
result may be- Others who are also expected TO
reflect credit upon the clubs in this locality are
Arden NJ Robbins. st. Andrews; James A. Tying
j. Insley Blair jr., and w ID. Vanderpool MOTIFS
County Golf Club; II. p Toler. Baltusrol; Alfred
+. Norris. Dyker Meadow Golf Club Jasper Lynch
Lakewood and H. NJ. Billings. Ardsey Al these
may expect to gain places among among 'Ne 'h'i
Walter McKitrick. OF ST Louis and Phelps B.
Hoyt OF Chicago. will have the honor of opening
TO leave the first tee at 80 O'clock and succeeding
pairs will follow them at Intervals OF tour ihinutes
There are 1l2 en(rles which means That n. 4.
Toler OF Baltusrol and Nicholas Longworth. Of
Cincinnati the last couple, will not get away until
Hoyt will be started on their second round. With
the utmost dispatch 1t Is d OFF to see now d 5ns
II there any such delays as characterized the
Norris County championship a year ago, 1t may
be almost two hours later. One thing must not
be forgotten. however, and that Is that the pres
ent tournament takes place at a time or year
when the davs are long whereas at Morris County
last September Foxha T. Keene and his partner,
who finished "A little after o'clock had their way
lighted TO the green by lanterns Al this brings t
up the old question of limiting the entry list which
no committee thus far has been willing to tackle.
GOOD PLAYERS HAMPERED.
Tho senseiess scene Of players Adding along. with
no object other than that OF disqualification. Will
probably be repeated each year until some vigor
GUS club takes the matter up and fights for reform
Out OF the l12 men at Chicago only thirty-two will
be qualified for the actual match-pay rounds
Hall Of the others are a burdensome drag the
play. When a man lacks the good sense to see that
he adds nothing to the tournament and hampers
those who do. It is time ne should be ruled out by
hard and fast laws. 1t may be argued that this Is
a National afar and that every club in the asso-
cia ton is entitled by right TO send what representa-
tives IL it but this should not license every
'duher' who sun believes in miracles to make a
As It happens a number OF the best men in the
field are paired to-day with partners who cannot
Arden NJ Robbins is coupled with an unknown
Westerner +. c. Green; Walter j. Travis has
other uRknown II Watson, as PaTtner While
ordinary skii Ali these men however. should have
difficulty In qualifying. but the week brings
the severest test OF endurance OF the entire year
even these small annoyances should be obviated.
must be traversed twice each day. that the win
will have tramped about thirty-six miles when
viii be able 70 pick the thirty-two eligible and
happy men. and their names will eagerly be awaited