New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-21
Francis Ouimet Beats Greatest
and Best of England in
PIay-0ff of Three
Handed Tie.
WILD SCENE AT FINISH
Touching Note Also Sounded as
the Youths Mother Crowds
Way to Her Sons Side
for a Word High
Praise from Vardon
tBy Telegraph 20 The Tribune. !

I
pionship of the United States here to-
! day by defeating such tried and true
veterans of the links as Harry Vardon
and Edward Ray. the greatest and best
/ that England can boast, in the play
off Of the three -cornered tie brought
about by the spectacular finish in the
gathering twilight yesterday.
Playing over the wet and soggy links
! with the precision of machine, this
wonderfully skilful and courageous boy
stuck doggedly to his two rivals, who
had proved themselves time after time
| in many hard fought match, until the
turn was reached.
There it was all square. Then picking
up a stroke here and stroke there
| this golfng prodigy made the huge
crowd gasp. as he drew out to win with
brilliant -, five strokes better than
| Vardon, the five-time champion Of
Great Britain, and six strokes better
| than the dashing and redoubtable Ray.
AS the last put was made, as the
| ball, true 10 the mark, slipped over the
wet turf and dropped into the cup. a
roar went up which shook the air and
rumbled away for miles.
Thousands OF dripping, rubber
coated spectators massed about Out
met. who quickly was hoisted TO the
shoulders of those nearest him. while
cheer after cheer rang out.
Excited women tore lunches OF
flowers from their bodices and hurled
them at the youthful winner. hundreds
OF men strove to reach him in order 10
pat him on the back or shake his
hand.
Among those who struggled TO get to
Ouimet's side was a little. plainly
dressed woman whose hair was
streaked with gray. She was buffetcd
first one way and then another in the
crush. but. persevering. she finally
stood almost directly under the new
champion as the throng swlrled and
eddied about. With hat pushed back
and with shining eyes she looked up
and called the one word. Francis"
Ouimet glanced down. and. catching
sight Of the little woman below him,
tore his hands from those OF his ad-
mirers and reaching down grasped her
uplifted hands.
What she said was lost in the tumult
OF the cheering. but those near heard
young Ouimet say:
Thank you, mother. I'll be home
soon"
The crowd, most OF them unconscious
Of the incident. swept Ouimet onward,
while his mother slipped TO the out
skirts. and. hurrying away across the
polo field, soon disappeared In the mist
en- the way 10 her home. just across
the street.
Ray and Vardon. whose fight for the
title brought out the possibilities OF
Oumet as a golfer. were not forgotten
in the joy and elation OF victory. Each
Englishman got three times three be-
fore the parade started for the dress
ing quarters. where the competitors
changed to dry clothing for the presen-
During ais ceremony. in which John
Reid, jr., secretary Of the United States
Golf Association, acted as master Of
ceremonies. both Ray and Vardon took
sportsman and golfer.
Ray said that Ouimet had played the
best golf during the four-day struggle
that he had ever seen in America and
that ii had been an honor to play with
him and no dishonor to lose to him.
Vardon brought cheers from the gall
lery when he frankly stated that they
had never had a chance to win with
Ouinet during the play-off. because the
lad played better golf and never gave
them an opening at one of the eighteen
holes
He congratulated Ouimet and Amer
lea on the victory and proved as pop
ular a speechmaker as he was golfer.
1t was not the actual defeat Of this
famous pair of golfers 80 much as the
manner Of that defeat that entities
Ouimet's name TO rank with that Of
Maurice Il. Mclaughlin. Harry Payne
whitney and others who have made
this country proud in lawn tennis. polo
and other international competitions.
The pride in the young Americans
victory was all the more justified be-
cause of the fact that he had won with
out fluke or flaw in his play, respond
ing in perfect form to test of nerve.
stamina and knowledge Of golf never
before required of a player in a national
tournament.
All through the final journey around
the 1S-hole course Ouimet never fall
.ered. In fact, his play might be termed
mechanical, so nearly perfect was IL
under the trying weather and course
conditions. He appeared absolutely
without nerve, playing from tee 10
fairway. from fairway to green. and
finishing each hole with splendid ex-
hibition of putting. His veteran oppo-
nents broke under the strain. leaving
Ouimet to finish as coolly as he had
begun.
TOR full and detailed story OF Onimet's
remarkable victory over Nsrdoh and Hay In
winning the open golf title, see nrst page
Of sporting section.
J.