New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-26
TW0CLAIMANTS FOR CUP
HOPELESS GOLF T.1NGLE.
Open Tournament at Lahe5cood
Ends an Default and DiScord.
IBy Telegraph to Tie Tribune.

Lakewood n J. Dec 25-For the first time in
the history of golf in this country there are two
claimants for the CHIEF prize in the open tourna-
ment Of the Country Club of Lakewood, begun on
Saturday and finished to-day. Two sets OF golfers
PLAYED in the semi-dnal round to-day. and the war-
ring factions fought out to the bitter end. Who
wins the tournament? This is leading question
tonight. According the official returns, s. X
De Forest IL the winner, but the nutneers assert
that James G. Patterson is the man who earned the
trophy.
The incident Is likely to quite contro-
versy the club before it is settled and it is not
improbable that the matter may be taken even to
the United States Golf Association for settlement
as there are a number who maintain that there is
a delicate point at issue which should be taken
TO the court Of last resort
Although the golfers had all day Sunday to cool
off and talk it over they were unable to
straighten out the tangIe. which had its origin
Saturday, when De Forest left A c. Soper out
Of the first division draw after the latter had
pressed his unwngness to continue in that class.
Consequently both factions produced their semi
finalists yesterday morning One default after
other was recorded that only one match was
played. De Forest beating Middleton in the semi
final round
According the official returns the sen-fnalists
were Jasper Lynch Lakewood; ]. B. Deering. Apa-
wants; II. Middleton, New-Zealand and De Forest,
of the home club. Deerfng defaulted to Lynch
while De Forest defeated the traveller from far off
New-Zealand by up and to play When it came
10 playing the final round Lynch baked, whereupon
De Forest had nothing left to do but claim the
match by default.
BY a peculiar circumstance. Lynch, who had not
declared himself Saturday. included in both
draws. With the 'mutneers." he down to
play Soper- but the latter modesty declared him
self unable to give Lynch any sort of match,
and consequently defaulted. In the other half OF
the draw Patterson and a W. Black opposed.
Black has a style peculiarly his and while he
derives more exercise than the others in round of
the links he does not consider himself in Bats
class; result, another default. It then up TO
Patterson and Lynch To fight 1t out in the final
round what many claim to be a losing cause.
Be that may. Lynch who could not figure out
how he had a chance with Batterson. said to the
latter: You have it, Jim. by default Now let
US get together in r foursome.
Oh very we!' replied Patterson. the cup is
Not on your iife.'' came back the echo from the
De Forest camp
The situation at the finish to say the least,
a peculiar Here was Patterson. who had gone
from the round clear through the final with
out playing a match. while Lynch inquired as the
r1Inner-iIp in both divisions Another peculiar
phase is that the two winners both figure as losers
in the first round Of the opposite draws
LYNCH who had appeared in neutral role on
Saturday is said to have declared himself yester-
day afternoon being in sympathy WITH the
-'rAutineers." which probably explains why he de-
faulted De Forest.
Just how the middle viii be Strengthened out
no one seems know. but it is quite likely that
II win be the means of doing away with the present
system of one man power, and the formation OF
tournament committee, the same as in other cluos.