The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-09
VARDON WENT OVER
THE GOLF COURSE
Was Getting Acquainted with the
Links Preliminary to Today's
Exhibition-Men He Will Meet.

| What promises to be the most brill
| liam golf week in the history of the
| Scranton Country club will open to-
day with the Vardon exhibition match
Not even the most devoted agricul-
| turalist in this section has prayed for
| rain with more intensity than has the
Scranton golfer for the past few days
! Therefore, the little down-pour of yes
| terday has done world of good to the
Country club course, and has gladden.
ed the hearts of the greens committee
to corresponding degree.
Last year we had a visitation of fog
for the tournament, an immemorial
damper for Scranton. This year there
is a strike, while the prospect of links
parched and dusty loomed gloomily
before the local players. The rain has
changed all that, and today will pro-
ably see the largest gathering follow
ing the match that has ever been ap-
parent in this region.
The tournament preliminaries prac-
tically began yesterday. when Mr.. VAR
don went over the course in a four
some with e. S. Coke. of New York,
against Clayton Dixon. of Philadel-
phia, and j. II. Brooks, of this city.
The former won, four up. The match
was played simply that Mr.. Vardon
might go round the links and become
to some degree. familiar with his work
of today, which viii: be tremendous in
the heavy handicap of playing two to
one against four of the best golfers
of the Scranton Country club. In the
round yesterday, he made some drives
which fairly took away the breath
of the onlookers, so wonderful and so
accurate were they. He plays phen-
omenal long shot. having almost SUI
perhuman strength in his massive
wrists and hands. Oddly enough, he
laps the latter in the grip on his club.
and seems to gain some additional
force by this method.
Mr.. Vardons victory last week in
Chicago makes him, for the fourth
time, the champion of the world.
three times having now this distinc-
tion in England. and once in America;
the greatest record held by any golfer.
He is about 33 years old and started
life on a farm at Canton, England.
where he and his brothers had golf
course. From caddie to worlds cham
pion is big stride, but that Is what
this muscular young man has accom-
pished. Perhaps his chief aid to sue
cess has been a iraculouly true eye,
which never misleads him in a match.
The famous medal received at Chicago
is on exhibition at Florey & Brooks
The morning match of eighteen holes
will open at 10 O'Clock, when Mr.. VAR
don will play the best ball of II. Fl.
Watkins or A. q. Huntington. In the
afternoon at 2.3O he will play SINH
lar match against j. II. Brooks and
+. G. Fuller
Not only the Country club members.
but the public is invited to witness
the great exhibition match. \ fee of
81 will be charged adults; so cents for
those under 10. James Blair, ir., is
in charge of the admissions. Messrs.
Huntington and A. ii. Storrs consti-
tute the press committee.
The entries for the open tournament
are coming in rapidly. more than thir-
ty-five are already numbered and the
out-of-town players are numerous.
Eight beautiful cups and two meer-
schaum golf pipes are offered as
prizes, and are in the window of Flor
ey e. Brooks. The first pair of con-
testants will start off the links at
about $50 tomorrow morning. Tonight
the tournament committee and green's
will pair the players. The
consists of Messrs. ]. H,
Brooks. chairman; J. Fl. Torrey. James
Blair. jr, and A. Fl. Storrs. The best
sixteen scores will be entitled to quali-
fly for the Country Club, Of Scranton.
cup. The second sixteen scores to
qualify for the consolation cup.
Table d'hote dinner will be served
every day at the club. The entertain
ment committee will serve tea this at
ternoon. Entries for the tournament
will be received by the secretary, A.
g. Hunt, until 8 p. M. Friday.
Last night j. Fl. Brooks entertained
ut the Scranton club several men from
out-of- town who have entered for the
tournament. Among there We're: MIR.
Messrs. Coke, Warren and
Rrokaw, of New York: Hebbard, Hare
and Dixon, of Philadelphia.