New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-21
NICHOLS DEFEATSVARDON
ENGLISH CHAMPION DOWNED BY THE
PHILADELPHIA PROFESSIONAL
IN FLORIDA.
LBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Hotel Ormond Fla, Feb 2o-Harry Vardon met
his first reverse here to-day since arriving in this
country, being beaten by Bernard Nichols pro-
fessional, Of the Philadelphia Country Club, up
and to play. in a So hole match.
II was the unexpected that happened, and Vardon
at the end of the contest had nothing to say. At
the end of the mornings play Nardon stood up
with a s. his credit for the last round
stroke better than F1nlay's record for the course
made last year but in the afternoon Nichols hit
up a terrific pace, playing golf that was better
than perfect; and Vardon although he tried his
best, could not win hole, far less catch his OPP
ponent.
A crowd of two hundred saw the finish. "WilT'
Smith caddied for Vardon. and Willie" Hoare
carried Ntcholls's clubs Vardon outdrove Nichols
by FIVE yards going 10 the first hole. though both
were long. Nichols had his second with mid
iron the left edge of the green. and Nardon
playing a similar shot the hole halved in
four. Going to the second. pulled drive into the
marsh gave Vardon the worst of it, and Nichols
in perfect play took the hole Luck favored
Nichols on the third green, his approach put
ming up the hole and. curvng sharply, went
down. three Vardon's TIE next two
were halVed both playing pretty golf. At the sixth
both were over the green their seconds and
Vardon putted to a yard from the cup. 1t looked
like half but Nichols from his lie in the soft
sand eighty yards away calculated his putting
that his ball rolled true the sanded green into
the cup, TO the applause of the gallery. Nardon
looked at this with a surprised smile.
Vardon again pulled from the seventh tee, his
ball getting bad lie in the rough. Vardon's third,
put, missed the hole and went two yards past.
Nichols down in four. Vardons put on the like
thinning the cup.
All the drove for the eighth. Vardon
got the worst of it, landing in unpayabe ground
and losing stroke playing Nichols sliced
into the woods but local rule enabled him TO
oils 10 hole in four, Vardon requiring two more.
Nichols, 1 up, played carefully he
Nichols getting better ball and into good lie.
A beautiful twenty yard approach laid Nichols
three, TO four for Vardon. He had been short
with his mid iron
sixth consecutive holes. Nardon trimming the hole
for a half at the tenth, and the eleventh again
making a sensational ten yard put down from the
edge Of the green in the soft sand.
lead. Even play halved the twelfth. Nichols
second a sixty yard approach the green. From
the poor lie his drive had given him Nardon's
The critical point came the fourteenth Nichols
struck telegraph wire with his drive but his
third was straight away. Eardon pulling. though.
10 a better lie Vardon's third an approach, was
he was stil two yards from the hole Nichols.
playing off two trimmed the hole Vardon
putted 10 the lip Nichols. with two for the hole,
played safe and. taking both strokes won on the
like, and the match was HIS up to play Fol-
lowing is The medal play:
MORNING ROUND.
vsrdon:
G9' .. :.:::::::.:.tt
Nichols
f Out . ....::::::::.s 4s+9
vardon: i-''N00N
Out ...: ::::::::.s s4ts+'' "a
Nichols
2s' :::::::::::::::t ss.s'4 s-''