New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-06
MRS. BEARD WINS TITLE
Succeeds to Championship Not
Defended by Mrs. Wightman.
BEATS MISS POLLY SHELDON
Captures Women's Singles in
Middle States Lawn Ten
MS Tourney.

Mrs c. y. Beard defeated Miss Polly
Sheldon in the final round Of the womens
singles Of the Middle States champion
ship lawn tennis tournament yesterday on
the turf courts Of the Orange Club. at
Mountain Station. y. j.. and thereby sue
ceeded 10 the championship. as Mrs.
George Wightman. nee Hotchkiss. did
not defend. Mrs. Beard. who has
come 10 Eastern courts from Chicago
this season, was splendid in her low
ground strokes both off her forehand and
backhand. a sweeping follow through
of the racquet gave her surety Of aim,
50 that she defeated Miss Sheldon a So.
81. g
This was the first Of the titles Of the
twenty-sixth holding Of the tournament
n be decided Mrs Beard in the first set
found the alternate soft and hard returns
Of Miss Sheldon rather pulling IT took
her some time to get the range of the
court, end although she played Miss Shell
don closely the latter scored the set after
once touching at deuce.
Then IL was that Mrs. Beard began TO
put more sting into her shots and forced
Miss Sheldons position and passed her
so often that the latter wa&timid about
coming up to tho net to volley. The two
worked along, with some swiftly played
rallies in the second set until Mrs. Beard
forged ahead at As and at 81 taking
the set on the next game In the third
set Mrs. Beard worked her passing shots
after coaxing Miss Sheldon to come up on
short returns. She had this set all her
own way, losing only two games IN It to
win the championship
Wallace F. Johnson, the former national
Intercollegiate champion. Of the Univer-
sity Of Pennsylvania, arrived IN the final
round Of the mems singles by way Of
eliminating Holcombe Ward, the oldtime
national champion. The score was 81,
SIS. Before this match Ward had fin
ished up the split set match with DIT.
Ewing Taylor, the former Harvard star,
winning the deciding set at IS This
made the complete score read -. GO,
s-S for Ward Johnson, however, re-
fused TO give Ward opportunities to work
his deadly smashes. lie had Ward dig
ging low shots out Of the turf most OF
the time. meanwhile compelling him TO do
lot Of running. Once he had Ward fad
ing Johnson came up to the net and
quickly made an end 10 the match John
son will now meet Alrick II. Man, Jr, Of
Yale. for the right to challenge Walter
Merrill Hall for the title and cup.
Both Of the semi-finals in the doubles
were decided, Harold H. Hackett and Lyle
F. Mahan defeating c. Frederick Watson.
r., and Wallace f. Johnson, 6-3, 81,
and Ward and George Miles defeated Ed
ward : IL Prendersast and Neal c. Ste
vens, 1-6, e., g.
The summary follows:
Middle States championship. wornen's sin
sles (seml-final round)-Miss Polly Sheldon
Final rou T Cen G n e. B feIaS' defeated
Miss Polly Sheldon, 81, Ga, Go.
y. Beard. challenger defeated Mrs. George
Wightman. holder, by default.
Middle states Championship. mems singles
Ewing Taylor, 10. 90, 6~8.
semi-nnal r9und-walisce- F; Johnson &c
MIDDLE States championship mems doubles
Ctnird round)--Edward s. II Prendergast and
Neal c. stevens defeated a. NJ Hydo and
F. Hyde by default; Harold II. Haoie-t and
lyle 2. Mahan defeated BENJAMIN NJ Phillips
and Alrick II. Man. 5r.. 7--5, 6--1.
lyle E. Mahan defeated G. Frederick Watson,
!r, and Wallace +. Johnson. 6-3. az; Hol-
eombe Ward and George ". Miles defeated
Nens, 1-0. 60. GO.
Middle states Championship. mixed doubles
lhrEt rounl)-Mrs. b. O Edgar and lindIcy
Durham defeated Miss Leslie HiI and j 4. II.
Hopkins by default
Second round--Nrs j. a. u. Hopkins and
Halstesd Iyttle defeated Miss Dennlng end
Gifin, O.. q: Mrs. r. 3. Nef and
Spencer Miller tr, defeated Miss Eleanor
souther and Edward S. II. Prendergast BY
oefaut; Mrs. 3. c. Edgar and Lindley Dun
tam defeated Mr.. and Mrs Hocombe Ward
x default; Mr. and Mrs. G. y. Beard defeated
Miss Polly Sheldon and p Il Hunter ~
cefault
ssmi-hnal round--Mrs r. =. Nef and Spen-
.s Miller. tr, defeated Mrs J. a. II. Hopkins
bhn Halstead Lyttle. 60. e Ct