New-York tribune., 1906-06-30
TITLE FOR ALEX. SMITH
WINS HIGH GOLF HONORS.
Makes Open Tournament Record IN
National Championship.

| Lake Forest Ill June 2s-Alax Smith, the Mas
sau Country Club professional. the open cham
pionship the United States Golf Association to-
| day. over the links of the Onwentsa Golf Club.
He went round to-day in 70, 75-14S, which, added
10 his first days play of 147. him total of 25
for the y holes. This lowers the record for the
| tournament by four strokes. He led his nearest
competitor Willie Smith. the open champion OF
Mexico. by seven strokes, while Willie Anderson,
the title holder last year. had to be content with
| fifth place.
Alex Smith has now won the triple crown Of
the golfng world. He earned the national title to-
! day, he the Western open championship over
| the Homewood links last week and is the present
| champion of the Metropolitan Golf Association Of
| New York. He has been a prominent figure IN the
national open championship before he has been
the runner-up to Willie Anderson three times.
The conditions to-day not favorable for low
scoring particularly in the afternoon when a
olindng rainstorm serious handicap to the
players Alex Smith was of earliest start
erS and did not suffer perhaps as much as some
of the others. He finished in deluge of rain how
ever but for all that able to turn in a score
OF 20 for the last eighteen holes. He played
throughout the tournament with remarka BILE skill
and surprising steadiness His long game was
brilliant while his approach shots left him little TO
do on the greens. His putting was consistently
strong.
Nothing could better show the versatility of Alex
Smith or his ability quickly to adapt his play to
changed conditions on a golf course than the
weather and course conditions to-day During the
morning the greens were lightning fast with a
strong south wind prevailing. Before the play at
the first hole had been completed in the after
noon the storm broke. and the round was played
under conditions that tried the skill of the players
to the utmost
Smith took 80 for the first nine holes. higher
figure than he had during the tournament. but he
played the last nine holes in S6 making the last
three holes in .. 3 and (.
Willie Smith. the Mexican open champion with
two rounds to-day of "A each, took second honors
with a total of 302 strokes. pulling up from fifth
place. James Maiden, of Toledo and Lawrence
Auchterlonie. Of Glenvew tied for third honors
with 3O5 each.
Willie Anderson. the title holder last year and
four times winner Of the national open CHAMPION
ship, finished fifth. The wet greens were too much
ior Anderson this afternoon and he took 81 strokes
o,6 Aiexan6er Ross of Oakley finished sixth. with
SO: and Stewart Gardner. Of Garden City. seventh
with Sll while II. Chandler Egan, the amateur
eighth and ninth places. with 312 each Jack Ho-
bens, of Englewood N j. finished tenth, with 314
played brilliant golf to-day. and in spite of the
handicap of course and weather, made the thirty
round of THURSDAY The other amateurs finished
Willie Anderson. who was only two strokes be-
hlnd Alex Smith at the end of the first thrty-sx
holes was a disappointment 10 his many followers
In justice to him, however. it must be said that
he the course in the height OF the storm,
and suffered from the i'll luck of the game He
lost one more stroke to Alex Smith in the morn
ing round, when he needed "A 10 Smiths g.
record of 299 made at Cleveland two years ago.
When Alex Smith came in to-day with the new
was warmly congratulate on all sides. His finish
was one of the most brilliant ever golf
course as he played perfect golf at the last three
The leading follow