New-York tribune., 1910-06-21
ALEC SMITH THE WINNER
Takes Open Golf Title in Play-Off
of Triple Tie.
M'DERMOTT HANGS ON WELL
Finishes Four Strokes Behind
the Now Three Ply
Champion.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

genial professional of the Wykagyl Coun-
try Club. won the national open golf
championship for the second time over the
links of the Philadelphia Cricket Club to-
day In the play-off of the triple tie with
his brother, Mcdonald, and j. ]. McDer-
mott. the Merchantville home-bred. Alec
reeled off a IL McDermott got second
money with 75 and Mcdonald Smith third
with IL
Alec Smith now holds no fewer than
three titles the other two being the metro
politan open and the championship of the
Eastern Professional Golfers Association,
both of which he won last summer. Be-
cause OF his long and brilliant record ana
greater experience. Alec was always Ia
vorite to defeat his youthful opponents in
the play-off, and his golf was little snort
of brilliant
Prior to the start Alec contented himself
with a dozen nashIe shots for practlce all
so accurate that the caddie at the recelv-
ing end never had to move out OF his
tracks, just reaching out hand TO plch
Up each ball.
The Smiths played in flannel trousers and
outing shirts but McDermott, despite the
excessive heat, remained faithful to MS
khaki coat over white trousers ana Six
shirt
Hubert Jacques. president Of the Unlted
States Golf Association. acted as chief OIL
cial and a big gallery followed the players
The principals drew straws for the honor
on the first tee, Alec Smith winning ana
getting off the longest ball. fully 20 yards
This opening effort was duplicated ire
uuently by the Wykagyl pro as the
round progressed, and when all three balls
were on the line Alec generally had the
greatest distance, while McDermott usually
had to play the odd on the second shots
With his long and fast swing McDonaid
Smith was easily the most spectacular
golfer of the three, though he otter became
erratic Both he and McDermotl barely
made the first green on their seconds, while
Alecs approach left him SO little TO co
that he got an easy 4, the others taking ..
The Smiths had good drives from the
second tee, but the homebred pulled into
the rough. and the mistake cost him a 5
Alec got a par T. but his brother. thanks
to fine approach, saved a stroke and got
down In g. Although young Smith had the
best drive going to No. 8, an Indifferent
short game caused him to take 5, whereas
the other two got As, McDermott laying a
mashie shot dead.
An overapproach to the trap beyond the
fourth green cost Alec Smith a stroke, so
that he had to be content with 8, the
others getting As The strokes to the
turn read Alec Smith, 81; McDermott, SO.
and Mcdonald Smith, Il.
At the short tenth hole McDern1ott missed
a ten-foot put for 2. and it marked his
last chance to overtake the leader. The
Younger Smith supplied the excitement
then, however. by running down long one
from the green's edge for 2.
Mcdonald Smith had his hopes dashed
at the eleventh, where he got into trouble
trying to carry the bunker on his second
and finally ended a chapter of misfortuneS
by taking I. Alec had a fine 4 and Nc
Dermott 5.
Thereafter Alec Smith always looked like
a winner. The younger Smith mace pola
attempts to bring off long puts in an en-
deavor to overhaul McDermott, and falllns
in this the Scot twice missed the short ones
coming back The cards were as follows:
Aleck Smith, wykagyl:
fS Out t...:::..:.s .s q ! q 5s+7n 81
J. J. McDermott. Merchantville:
Out fn nt,...$$ 8 = ! 8 : 55S-75 81
Macdonald Smith, Oakland. Cal:
fn Gnt ....:..:::5 ..:::::.:.55 : g 5 4ss-77
It was match played squarely and fairly
with the utmost good fellowship. The
" Winners average for the full tourney was
8 over even fours. which probably Is
worlds record.
Aleck Smith won $500. the gold medal and
nossessior. of the championship cup NC
Dernaott won $50 and the Californian Sloo
On Friday, at the Wilmington tDell t Cout,-
try Club. Aleck Smith and George Sargent,
the deposed title holder, will meet VIII
Anderson and Gil Nichols in four-pali
match.
New York paper trade golfers have ar
ranged to begin twodays' tournament
this morning on the links of the Montclalr
Golf Club. No less than eight prizes have
been offered. and with q view to getting
line on the men the fun will begin with
an eighteen-hole kickers handicap So as
TO give the contestants every incentive there
will be a prize for the low gross. as well
as the best net, score
A weekend members tournament has
teen arranged by the Ocean Country Club
at Far Rockaway. 1t will start on Satur-
day, July 2, and finish on July 4. Conditions
call for a qualification round on the morn
ing of July 2.
JOHNSON E0RG0FS ALTO