The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-29
TIE YEARS AMATEUR GOLF,
AN ARMY OF CHAMPIONS; WEST,
EAST, NORTH AND SOUTH.
Professionals Closely rushed in Open Con.
tests-Travis. Ryery and u. e. Egan
Lead IN Honers WOn-sOme OF the
Seasons Record ScOres-(srest Drives.

Amateur golf throughout the year has been
notable for the great number OF tournaments
and the large turnout Of players In each
event. which. with the widespread growth Of
the game In new fields and the increas ed in
vestments In the Improvement of long estab-
lshed links and cluhhouses make a bright
outlook for 1909. Including the amateur
and the open. there were forty-f1ve cha n p on
ships. exclusive Of those for women. in which
the contestants hailed from recognized as
sociations or interclub leagi's The tourna-
mcnts were held almost continuously from
March to November and appeal to players
IN districts many miles apart. The records
show that many OF the clubs represented in
their State or nsigh Dor hood associat on are
not members OF the United States Golf As
ISOLATION. a condition that will probably
be changed during the coming year. in view
OF the reduction OF the dues Of the allied clubs
and the movement under way to DIR W INTO
the National Union every golf club IN the
country. great or small The minor associa-
tons and leagues, however, are all in alliance
with the Y s G. A
The highest hon ors Of the year were gained
by Travis, who made a great record for our
amateurs in the open champion ship. not
only by tying with Stewart Gardner for Sec
ond place. but also In returning the card OF
rs. 7+-i49 on the second day. the best thirty
l.
holding the amateur title for two years Travis,
alter tying for the low score viii Ormiston.
at 70. was beaten at match play by Byers
who after being three down came home In
70. absolutely hawless golf. and won out on
the home green. Travis won the NJ. q. A.
title at Tuxedo gaining the gold medal with
70 and making % in the match play. when
he put out Douglas In the semi fin al. and
among his great performances In tourna-
: "a
Shinnecock Hills. Bysrs kept up his good
work after the amateur champion slip. win
Of the Rhode Island and Western Pennsyl-
vania associations. and tine first time for an
amateur in his country. an open champion
Egan. winner Of the Western Golf Associa-
ton Championship. was also successful in the
autumn Intercollegiate meeting. playing
champions ip was won by one of the youn ger
set, Louis james of the Glen View Club.
Allan KennSsd,y In the New Jersey cham
Seeley, who won the Connecticut title, tied
with Asop of Yale for the score medal at
and a Performance deemed to be 90 good good
that each received a medal. The best golf
by q professional In competition In which
eminent in the year 8 records. was Willie
Anderson s 90 on the second day OF the NJ q.
A. open event. This round OF the 5000 yard
course reads:
In. .,.....,....s ss4s $3.50
Some records Of the year by amateurs that
reveal the nigh standard they have at
tanned. aside from championship wins, are:
Pyne's II. at Morris County. In the fail inter-
collegi1te; Omissions IS. at Highlands. and
g. at Pittsburg; W. T.. Egan's 70. 7s-iH
at Lake Geneva: II. . Hollin's 70, 75-is4,
at westbroo Ira vis's7i. at Nassau, and Is,
Al Garden City. and Harold Webers TO- al
Toledo.
The development Of the season Of Ameri-
can invention Is the "hammerhead" alumni
mum putter. various forms OF the club having
come into use to supplement the older types
OF clubs Of that metal. The rubber-cored
balls, an innovation In 1901. were generally
used this ye'r Three great measured drives
ire on record: BY Herbert j. Tweedie at
Belmont of 800, yards. by George low.
from the fourth tee at Dyker Meadow, Of no
yards. and by Allan Kennaday. from the first
toe az Montclair, OF $50 yards, The last two
drives were made on the same day In May.
a strong wind helping the balls. and Ken
naday havin the aid OF n slight incline to nelp
the roll The latter performance surpasses
the recognized record drive OF Sal yards
o inches, by Freddie" TAFT. at St Andrews,
using the solid ball. II does not equal the
one said to have been made by the famous
hard hitter, Edward Blackwell OF 3s7 yards
from the eighteenth tee nj St. Andrews 10
the steps OF the Royal and Ancient. the ball
striking the steps and reboundinR. but this
Is not an authentic record