The Washington times., 1913-08-23
NJ M'LEOD PLAYS FINE
GOLF At SHAWNEE
Columbia Club Professional
Ties With Present Cham
pion for Second Place.
By "CLEEK.

Fred Mcleod. the Columbia Country
Club professional golfer, is writing his
name in large letters on the annals
OF professional golf today. The past
national champion stands today tied
with the present open title holder, J.
]. McDermott, for second place in the
open professional golf tournament at
Shawnee Country Club. Water Gap,
Pa. where the tournament is now in
progress.
With Mcleod is George Sargent, Ca
madam champion, and Chevy Chase
professional who is tied with Tom An
derson, of Pittsburgh, for fourth place.
Alex Smith. who won the open match
at Garden City last week by a single
strok. jumped into the lead and handed
in IA for the days work getting " in
mis- first round and the same in the
afternoon.
McDeTmoIt, present open champion,
tied with Mcleod, handed in a card
of 149. while Ray and Vardon, the
BritisheTs, of whom so much was ex-
pcCted, failed TO get rid Of their sea
will require sensational golf from both
Englishren to better their standing.
.Practiced observers had not expected
easy as that would have proved after
the long drought. but it must be con-
fesseG the showing of both was lower
than had been fOreCasted.
Earoon is a notOriously poor sailor.
and both are feeling the reaction of
the plunge from the brOilinB heat at
Whitcchapel or Saturday To the chilling
damp of the. mountains. Vardon show
ed f2tigue in his every movement. and
several times sat down on tee benches
for an instant while waiting for the
course to clear.
His form is bent. and although his
face remains unchanged, his bodily APP
pearfancc is so different that those who
saw him thirteen years ago had to look
twice to be sure II was the best-known
golfer in the world Ray. who is six
or seven years Vardons junior, also
showed earmarks OF being tired by
seeking a seat at every opportunity.
While they are likely to finish higher
on the list today, II is scarcely possible
for either TO get better than fourth
place.
Sun baked golf courses upon which
the weakest driver often secures dis
tances far beyond what he deserves.
may account for many of the phenom-
email scores We hear talked about the
nineteenth hole. 1t Is an open question
whether or not the lightning speed OF
flint-like fair greens does not tend 10
handicap the average player more than
the corresponding advantage he gets by
reason of the added distance.
The half-topped tee shot that scoots
off for upward of 200 yards and the half
hit approach which gracefully scurries
up to the pin for the duffer mean moth
ing to the class performer who struggles
to control the antics of the lively ball
on a surface where a shade more bounce
may nullify all his efforts
To the expert seeking to pitch a mashe
shot dead TO the hole II makes all the
difference in the world whether the ball
lands upon soft bit of turf. or on a
hard baked spot and jumps twenty feet
in the air and maybe to one side Like
wise on the running approach over
ground just as hard and abundant in
side KICKS as when frozen tight in mid
winter, skill does not always get its
full reward.
All golfers have a lovely time at
this season of the year. when each
according to his light generally tries to
send the ball from the tee TO farther
out spots than at any other time No
matter what degree Of skill or strength,
there is always a relish in the strong,
perfectly hit tee shot.
The sun-baked golf courses make
brassie shots more difficult than were
the turf more luxurious. II is a far
different proposition to get a ball away
from bare ground sweet and fair than
20 nip one from a natural tee when II
rests on the top of fine bit of green
turf.
Pitched mashie shots from hard baked
ground are an entirely different matter
rom tnose OH of Velvety turf. In
stead OF playing down through the ball
ana INTO lhe turf one Is compelled TO
get the force Of the blow farther under
the ball at the instant of contact to
produce loft and the much desired back
spin.