New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-19
TRIPLE TIE FOR TITLE
Alec Smith Hard Pressed by Two
Boys at Golf.
FIGHT GOES ON TOMORROW
Youngsters Furnish Surprise in
Play for National Cham
pionship.
[Ry Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

4
| PHILADELPHIA June 1S.-Two boys under
| twenty years of age, one homebred, hs-
ured in a triple tie for first place with the
| veteran Alec Smith, in the national open
golf championship tournament on the links
| of the Philadelphia Cricket Club to-day,
]. j. McDermott, until two years ago cad
die at the Merchantville Field Club; NC
| Donald Smith, of Oakland, Cal, and Alec
Smith, of Wykagyl, all returned scores OF
| 29S for the seventytwo holes.
| This is the first time record that an
American born professional has been 90
near the coveted title. although year ago
| at Englewood Tom Mcnamara. of Boston,
finished second There is yet chance that
the hitherto compact sequence OF scotch
and English victories may be broken, as the
players at present tied have been ordered
to settle the deadlock in an eighteenth
round here on Monday.
Mcdonald Smith is the youngest orother
of Alec and ii was only about ten days ago
that the latter predicted that the boy would
bear watching. When the nineteen-year
old lad left the other side he was regarded
as Carnoustie's most promising young
player.
With a total of 300. George Sargent, last
years champion, finished out of the money.
-
strokes over his winning effort at Engle-
wood.
All sides of the home green except on
the approach we're lined four or five deep
with spectators Fl. H. Barker ran down
a long put here for a 2 both morning ana
afternoon Barker had a 6 every time ne
pIayad the seventh hole and was only hve
times in the rough and only once out OF
bounds but he had no luck in getting out
of trouble, and besides was not putting
well.
Fred Herreshoff was always on the line
but putting was his hoodoo. VIII Ander-
son had two fine rounds and was just out
side the money, with 3o3, the score that
won for him in the open of 1904 at Glen
view Charles D. Thomas and George Low
had 305 the latter being well under so each
round, and with some luck entitled to
higher place.
McDermott, a stocky lad of twenty, who
plays in a Norfolk jacket of khaki, was
the first to post his 29S. He has a good
style and the disposition that makes golf
victors. He was for five years a caddie at
Aronimink and sixteen months ago got the
job as pro at the Merchantville Field
Club. which is in the Philadelphia Sub
urban Interclub League. Last fall McDer-
pro about Philadelphia for 500 a side.
At Englewood last year McDermott was
utterly out of it with 800. so that his chal-
lenge was not at once taken seriously, yet
ne made good by beating the one who took
him up by 10 and s in thirty-sx holes His
play was clockwork.
Macdonald Smith is a small edition Of
Aleck, nineteen years old. and a golfer Of
beautiful style. George Smith, who is
also on from California, is plumper edi-
ton of VIII Smith, but Macdonald is slim
and lightweight, who gets, however, a
long ball off the tee.
A dire. long game marked AIeck Smiths
morning round. and, going out in 43, he
had a costly mistake from the tee on
nearly every hole, besides putting badly.
An exception was one of the longest
drives ever seen anywhere on the 367-yard
fourth hole. He had half mashie only
for his second, but overplayed it into a