The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-20
AMERICAN TIES WITH ENGLAND'S
FAMOUS GOLFERS IN TOURNEY
YOUNG OUIMET DISPLAYS UN-
USUAL NERVE AND SKILL.
SOLE REPRESENTATIVE OF
AMERICA IN FINALS

tory here today when Francis ouimct
tied with England's famous profess
sionaI golfers, Harry yardon and Ed
ward Ray, In the final round of the
national open championship. Az the
result of his exhibition of nerve and
xoIfins skill he will he Americas sole
representative in the 1s-hole, three-hab
medal play of the tic which exists
tonight between the trio, each of whom
turned in a card of s04 for az holes con-
tested during the past two days.
Ouimet's performance today lifted the
nineteenth annual open tournament OF
the United States Golf association out
of the usual classification accorded
national championship and brought the
contest to a standard little short OF
other international competitions. OF the
half dozen homebred and transplanted
professionals not one could keep pace
with Ray and Vardon and all hope of
retaining the titual honors appeared
lost until Ouimet was found making
his lone stand amid rain and mud
against the two older players.
When the spectators realized that In
this homebred amateur. born and
brought up on the edge Of the Country
club course, rested Americas chance
of winning the championship they lost
that placid attitude and whisper that
ordinarily marks the golf gallery and
rooted and cheered Ouimet in manner
typical at baseball and football games.
The scenes that attended Ouimets
march over the last four holes never
have been equalled on an American or
European golf course
Enthusiasm ran the gamut from de-
ill fol
by great outbursts of cheering. When
Ouimet's second shot from the severn
teenth tee landed dead on the edge of
the home green 5000 spectators massed
themselves in a gigantic ring OF breath
less humanity about Ouimet and his
playing partner. George Sargent. The
American youth needed the hole in one
to win and two to tie.
He gazed long down into the bowl
where the cup lay dried his hands and
made a 35-foot putt that just missed
the hole and rolled three feet beyond
A sigh arose from the crowd and all
was still again. Ouimet looked once
at that little stretch of sodden turf that
lay between him and another ehance
for the title-gently tapped the ball and
stepped back to watch its progress.
slowly it rolled to the edge of the hole,
surled around the tip for an inch or so
and then dropped in for the four which
tied him with Ray and Vardon.
Instantly a tremendous yell went up.
The gallery swept past ropes and
guards and closed in on Ouimet in a
solid phalanx. He was lifted to the
shoulders of the advance guard and
carried toward the club house sur
rounded by several thousand cheering,
yelling golfers who forgot their golf
in the enthusiasm of being just Amer
leans cheering an American victory.
Many, not realizing that Ouimet was
an amateur, thrust bills of large denom-
nations at him. only to be met with
a smile and a shake of the head which
took the sting out of the refusal made
necessary by their mistake.
Ouimet's great battle against the Prov
ess of the two Englishmen, who already
were tied with 304 before he had half
finished his final round, was all the more
praiseworthy because of the frightful
weather conditions under which he was
obliged to play. 1t was raining heavily
before the forenoon round was started
and continued with but few let-ups all
day. The fairways and greens were wa
tersoaked and the rain beat down upon
players and spectators alike.
1t was hard on the English players.
but worse for the Americans, since Ray
and Vardon in particular have played
many matches under similar trying con-
ditions.
The rain beat the ball down during
flights from the tee and the heavy turf
took all the roll out of 1t. giving long
drives of the Ray and Vardon type an
advantage not to be lightly passed.
When the first pair started out on the
final half of the title journey the field
consisted of So players OF these three
were English representatives. Ray, Reid
and Vardon Louis Teller was the stand
ard bearer of France and the remainder
consisted of few home bred profession
ais and amateurs supported by number
of Scotch and English professionals en-
tered from American clubs. Reid and
Vardon were tied for first place with 147;
Ray and Strong for second, with 149; Nc
Donald Smith and J. NJ. Barnes We're
third with 150 and Ouimet led the fourth
place contingent with 151.
Ray was first to report at home with
card of 41-35-76. Other pairs reported
in rapid order but none reached Rays S.
mark until Harry Vardon turned in A.
37-7s. This tied the two Englishmen with
225 for "a holes. When noon arrived
the best American card was that of Willie
Hagin of Rochester, rs for 227.
The crown was disconsolate until the
report reached the clubhouse that Ouimet
was playing great golf on his outward
round and had turned for home with 49,
From that point on Ouimet had loyal
following He came home In steady style.
getting 36 for forenoon card of a.
which tied him with Ray and Vardon at
225 for "a holes
Right there the gallery began to sit
up and take notice. To pick up four
strokes on Vardon and two on Ray was
a feat that aroused the greatest interest
When the Woodland club amateur start
ed out on his afternoon round 5000 sloshed
over fairways and rough in his wake.
At the start he took five because of
two puts on the green. He got pars until
the fifth, where he took two to get out
of sand pit and two puts for six.
More trouble came at the eighth. where
he sliced into trap and took four to
1.-The green and two to hole. He turned
for home with 43 and many of the gal
lery lost heart for 1t was known that
Ray and vardon had finished and were
tied with 304.
Ouimet appeared to crack here. pulling
his shots and putting poorly. Fives and
fours were marked on his card until he
reached the fifteenth Then the Brook
| line youth arose to the occasion. He
took the sixteenth in par three. On the
seventeenth he holed for three, one un-
der par, and teed off, needing three
to win the title and a four to tie.
| 1t was climax new to golf in this
| country and even Ray and Vardon, who
were trailing along amid the spectators,
| gripped their pipes until the stems threat
| ened to snap under the strain of the
| clinched teeth. When Oulmet finally holed
| in with the four that tied him with this
great pair of golfers the two English
| men looked at each other and nodded a
silent approval that was followed a mo-