The Washington herald., 1907-06-24

golf championship Of Great Britain last
week marks the close for the present sea-
son of an exceptional exhibition Of en-
thusiasm for British golf titles on the
part Of American players.
This country has been represented by its
respective championship title holders IN
every one Of the three big competitions of
Great Britain. in the women's champion
ship Miss Harriet Curtis. the American
national champion. with her sister. Miss
Margaret Curtis. were contestants. Then
followed the mems amateur event, with
E. NJ. Byers as a rival Of the most ex-
perienced British golfers, and last week
Smith met the ablest professionals Of the
United Kingdom.
Never before has America been repre-
sentcd by its golf champion In all Of the
British national contests The results,
however. have been disastrous 10 Ameri-
can golnng prestige: as a well-known
player expressed # the other day. the
less said of it the better"
II had hardly been expected that any of
The British titles would be brought across
the water and Walter J. Travis still
stands unique in being the only American-
bred golfer 20 capture a British cham
pi0nship. Sull. It has been believed. and
with good reason, that the visitors would
make a creditable showing, afording an
opportunity 10 compare their game favor
ably with the best exponents Of the sport
abroad. On the contrary, nothing Of the
sort was done Miss Curtis and Mr. BY
ers failed 90 get anywhere near the semi
finals in their respective events, and their
golf excited so little notice as TO be
scarcely mentioned by the British critics.
smith Never III.
Then Alec Smith essayed 10 do some
thing for the country Of his adoption. for.
while a Scotch-bred player. his game has
practically been developed here. and an Of
his honors have been earned on American
links. His career here during The past
year had been exceptional. for. I'm addition
70 winning the open championship at
OHwentsia last season, he also captured
the Western and Eastern open titles.
Believing that he had as good a chance
as any one to get place among the lead
ing professionals abroad. the Nassau
County Club Of Glen Cove. l. l.. where
smith is the professional granted him "a
leave Of absence. and he went over with
ample time to practice on foreign courses.
ana oil play a number OF excellent
matches In the open championship.
played az H0ylake. near Liverpool dur
ing the past week. Smith wss never up.
Ills customary steadiness and ability 20
keep among tine leaders were lacking. and
il is simply another case Of enough
said" when II is mentioned that he fin
ished twenty-f0urth
Although an American was not % be
feared, the title did 90 out Of Great Brit
ain. for Arn3ud Massey. the French golf
or, furnished the surprise Of the contest.
fully as much by the general excellence
Of his playing as by the fact that a
French golfer could possibly attain cham
pi0nship Importance.
Snsiie AT Frenchmen.
Golf 10 France has been regarded by the
veterans across the channel as something
10 be smiled at, but as true sportsmen
they accepted the unusual situation grace
fully and heartily congratulated the
French victor Nasseys total score for
seventy-two holes was 5l2. while Alec
Smith did g32 J r. Taylor. the ex-Brlt-
ish champion, was second. and Tom
Fardon was third
The absence Of Smith in England during
the annual open championship Of the
United States cost him that national title
by default and the honor will be held for
the coming year by the Bostonian and
present Massachusetts professional cham
pion, Alexander Ross. Ross is the pro-
fessional Of the Brae Burn course near
Boston George Low, Of Baltusrol. and
the metropolitan champion. tied for fifth
place. David Brown. another notable
Bostonian, and an eX-ChampiOn of Great
Britain. tied for eighth money. Willie
Anderson, the four times holder Of Amer
lea open title, was not up to hts old
time standard, and dropped lust below
the eiigibles for the ten prizes. Ross
score for the seveuty-two holes. PLAYED
over the links Of the Philadelphia Cricket
Club. was 5o2. Jack Hobens. Of Enrla-
wood. surprised his friends bv getting
fourth place with 800. making the host
showing Of the local professionals. ONLY
two amateurs finished the event-Jerome
D. Travers. the metropolitan champion.
and Or. Simon Carr. OF Philadelphia. but
they were so far in the rear as TO be for
gotten