New-York tribune., 1908-08-31
GOLF EXPERTS ARRIVE
YISIT PUBLIC LINKS.
Large Gallery Follozcs Champion
Mcleod at Fan Cortlandf.

Professional golfers the best in the land were
the centre OF attraction on the Van toruano1
Park links yesterday Experts from various
parts of the country made final practice rounds
the public course with view to gettihs III
the best possible condition for the two-daY open
tournament which begins there to-day putihs
the afternoon four-bal match IN particular
attracted a deal Of attention 1t had as prifici-
pals Fred Mcleod of Midlothian, the ne" open
champion, ard Dave Campbell as partners against
Herbert Strong. of Apawamis and David Robert
son. of Pittsburg.
The match proved close all the way round and
kept the gallery of fully three hundred persons
in suspense until the last put had been run down
she home green, when Strong and Robertson
returned the winners by | up. The best
individual effort of the quartet was Il by Strong
II. H. Barker. of Garden City. formerly
Yorkshire amateur, revealed championship form
in practice yesterday making the 1s-hoe circuit
in go This equals the course record 1T will be
remembered that Barker's brilliant playing In
preliminary rounds at Myopia last week claimed
end of attention. but he slumped badly when
put 10 the crucial test on Thursday and Friday
James Thomson. the Merton Cricket Club pro.
found things to his liking yesterday. and ree&ed
off a H. while Donald Ball. another Philadelphia.
had no difficulty in making the round In az
Altogether than half Of the sixty-five en-
trants practiced. and went the full round.
while others contented themselves with few holes.
considerable number refrained from playing at
all. preferrins to rest afte- their hard week at
Hamilton It was the general sentiment among
the professionals present yesterday that the COM
petitive record for the course made last year by
Gilbert Nichols would be beaten Temporary
green's were in use al last week. but the regular
green's will be In commission to-day TAey nave
improved wonderfully during the las. few days
The fun will begin when Park Commissioner
Berry formally opens the tournament by driving
the first ball at o'clock He will do his act with
silver mounted driver. which will be presented 10
him as a souvenir Of the occasion. After That the
pairs will leave at five minute intervals. The Pro-
gramme calls for seventy-two holes OF medal play,
thrty-sx holes to-day and like number to-rnor-
row.
Almost Immediately following the professional az
fair amateurs will take possession of the van Cor
landt links for three days. This tournament, WHICH
will begin on Thursday and continue for the re-
mainder of the week is growing in importance
each year. as the winner is generally regarded as
the local amateur champion. All bona ide ANA
teurs Of greater New York eligible TO compete
The field this week bids fair to outclass those OF
former years for among those who have entered
are Findlay S. Douglas, of Nassau, a national ana
Metropolitan ex-champion; Clifford A Dunning the
Nassau player. who the chief trophy In the
recent Deal tournament; George 7. Brokaw. of the
latter club; Claiming Floyd. of the New YORK Goit
Club winner of the Van Cortlandt tournament for
the last years; Robert Douglas, of the Scottish
American Golf Club, and host of others.
A start will be made with an eighteen hole medal
play qualification round the best thrty-two to con-
tinue ON at the match game. There will also be
+, cup for the beaten sixteen in the first round
The person with in the testing round VIII
receive a medal This will be the tenth annual
tournament. Following Is a table OF the Iorihef
winners and runners-up: