New-York tribune., 1901-10-07
GOLF.
MANY PLAYERS READY FOR WOMENS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
PRELIMINARY ROUND TO START To-MoR-
ROW AT BALTUsROL LINKs-soME OF
THE PROMINENT AsPIRANTs
FOR THE CUP.

National championships for women are hardly a
novelty in this country but the contest which is
TO decide the feminine supremacy Of the golf links
this week bids fair to outrival anything or the
kind held in The United States The entry
list is the largest posted. The course is one
of the best in the country and the competitors are
the pick of dozen States. No tournament has
opened with greater prospect OF success. 1t VIII
etart Tomorrow the links of the Baltusro Golf
Club Of Short Hills N J., and continue through
abe week.
Eighty-two asprants for Miss Griscom's title
have thrown down the gauntlet-the largest num-
ber IN the associations history. 1t is a banner
sntry. and the field TO start may be expected also
70 be a record The next largest entry was In
naSe when seventy-eight sent IN their names. Last
year there ffty-eight starters out of sixty
x.ree entries when the championship was played at
Ehnnecock Hills. AS indicating the spread Of
Hclf among women players in all parts of the coun-
sry II should be added that in 1895 when the first
championship held. only dozen faced the
ordeal
The conditions of the present contest call for
eighteen holes each morning Of the week En-
durance will thus play important part in the
struggle, for five days going over course like
that Baltusrol is test Of physical strength as
well as skill at golf, and the girl who survives
6aturday's finals will well deserve her title For
She winner there is only gold medal. but the
club from which she comes will be entitled to the
possession of the $1,000 challenge cup presented by
the late Robert Cox NJ p, in 1886. This cup Is
held only until the next championship The run
ner up is to receive a silver medal and the third
and fourth players bronze medals.
Some pressure has been exerted since the size of
khe entry list became known TO have the executive
tommittee hermit thirty-two to qualify instead OF
ixteen but although such action on the part OF the
srornnttee would be in line with precedents estab-
sished other tournaments it is not thought likely
khat the step will be taken. There are several op-
sections to IT. the chief which being that it would
<ntail another round in a tournament already try
Eng enough those who take part and that fur-
kzhermore, it would disarrange the programme for
1.-THE week There is much behind the protest that
Asxteen IS too small number to take from ned
of eghty-two but the same time it is not claimed
ply any that extension of the elgibility limit
s~ould alter the final outcome. The sixteen who
ssnake the best the opening day VIII pe 'he
tonly ones entitled continue in the subsequent
frounds the championship.
A curious feature of the entry is that of last
e,ears players only twentyfour have had the cour-
lege 70 face the ordeal a second time Eleven OF
khcse twenty-four qualified for the match play. and
1t is fair TO presume that the next champion VIII
be evolved from among that number These eleven
kare Miss Frances C. Griscom, Philadelphia; Miss
|JkRuth Underhi1 Nassau Country Club; Miss Gene
kieve Heclser, Essex County Country Club; Miss
k1.unice Terry Ardsey Club; Mrs. n. Pendleton
Rogers Hillside Tennis and Golf Club; Miss Mar
tgaret Curtis and Miss Harriet P. Curtis. Essex
sscounty Country Club. of Manchester. Mass Mrs
LCaleb F. Fox. Huntington Valley Country Club;
Mrs. z. A Mance, Lenox Golf Club; Mrs Henry
f,roulrnin. Merton Cricket Club, and Miss Beatrx
f1Ioyt Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
The most notable absentees Mrs A De Witt
acochrane Miss Grace Keyes. Miss Wickham, Miss
Parrish and Miss Livingston, all of whom qualified
last year.
sYhe contest VIII much open this year than
ever before. 1t has demonstrated that among won-
golfers there is no marked superiority such as
exists among Prior to the Atlantic City
-champonship Travis and Douglas were chosen
against the field. and would be again if second
tournament to be played. but among women
st is different. Frances Griscom holds the title of
champion, but there half dozen women now
ixpractising BaItusrol whose game is at least
good as hers Miss Hecker. Miss Margaret Curtis,
Miss Hoyt and Mrs c. f. Fox all players Of
championship form, and it is no easy matter even
sor the shrewdest judges TO predict which will have
ifhe cup.
For general all round quality of play Miss Heck
ser and Miss Griscom, perhaps stand first. Miss
Hecker is the champion Of the Women's Metro
poftan Golf Association, OF this city, an honor she
has held for TWO seasons. and enters from the
Essex County Country Club. of Orange. In last
years championship Shinnecock Hills Miss
Hecker beaten by Miss Eunice Terry of
.Ardsley, who is one Of the prominent competi-
Of the present week, but that defeat may be
partially explained by the fact that the Essex
County player was overgoIfed and suffered through
her unfamillarlty with the Shlnnecock links. Miss
decker has shown her strength in no uncertain
Miss Griscom enters from the Merton Cricket
neither is her brassey play, but both OF average
merit ana quite good enough TO cause trouble TO
exceent. and IL she repeats last years victory it
The most uncertain factor in the race atii is Miss
Peggy" Curtis OF Manchester, Mass. who has
heen growing more Formidable with each succeed
sans Of any paSer m the @ c6antr It m to
M ss 1 hem feet ept or az MAKES axe er o5 e e It pulls
,he tee There is great power behind her stroke. al
ton Of driving with Miss Griscom the champion
will be beaten. Some OF Miss Curtis's inpetuosity
of last season has gone. and she is playing fin
fshed game Certainly, if not in the finals she
will take most important place in the tourna-
Miss UnderhiI. who held the mpionship in
her success SINCE that year has been handicapped
1s extremely deadly, however. and in this respect
she is likely TO prove dangerous TO the other lead
thre. Years os from 1885 to 1883 IS Also 5Oa
competitor In whom the golfers in and about New
YORK % N nx fe ss mas s pGs
season. but she is still a prominent figure among
snars rs' Of honor. at Baitusroi. conspicuous
.gea but 5ne these nd G the
players OF that country Miss Bessie Anthony, as
the sasa @ Of The Mss nseny somss
from the, Glenview Golf Club near Chicago, but
ehsmpionap nna year sses Il unifey 1ha eSe
Entered with her from the sam. club is Miss Eiiz
abeth congdon who ,,- has been winning several
ses western e Anna
Ss the westward Ho Golf Club Of Galewood. N;
MOe o Club ana MISS sf cspenr s Of TIVE
S~1r Ser practice &C rounds at Batusrol she possesses
style that should make its impression this week.
6hlnnecock but neither gained place In the d.
Prsctieaily the same course that over which
the men play VIII be used for the tournament. as
e for Of
wes shs ssTS Safe Seo peen the seme ee i
oeceesary, and the tee in each case has been