New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-28
Francis J. Ouimet Stands
Out as Golfing Marvel
of Brilliant Season.
HIS TRIUMPH IN THE
OPEN EPOCH MAKING
Triple Crown to Travers, Winner
of Amateur, Metropolitan
and Jersey Titles.

uho last Septem er won the national
onen championship at Brookline. Never
before in the history of American golf
had an amateur succeeded in breaking
through the hitherto impregnable profess
siona line. and the fact that he In so
doing defeated the redoubtabe British
professionals Harry Vardon and Edward
Raw. made the feat of the former Brook
line caddie all the more praiseworthy.
With Ouimet the national open cham
MON succeeding as he did, coupled with
J. J. McDermott. home bred. who had
held the title two preceding years, il will
be seen that Americas representatives
have gone a long way toward establish
ing their right 10 be classed among the
foremost golfers Of the world As far
hack as 1904 Walter j. Travis went over
10 Sandwich and won the British anna
teur. an offence for which the Scotch and
English critics have never forgiven him.
II will therefore be seen that the only
blue ribbon so far as British and Ameri-
can golf is concerned that has not been
won at some time or other by repre-
sentative of this country is the British
open championship
Ouimet's success the last year was the
more sensational, from the fact that he
had never before been regarded as one
OF the country's leading amateurs. For
several seasons he made a good showing
among the best OF the Massachusetts,
amateurs. but early in 1913 the Woodland
player developed form that caused great
hopes among his friends. lie won the
Massachusetts, title in impressive fashion.
so that when early in September he en-
tered the national amateur championship
at Garden City, not few picked him as
the dark horse.
The luck Of the draw decreed that he
and Jerome Travers meet in the second
round. This match will probably never
be forgotten by the gallery that attend
ed, and although Ouimet lost, he played
exceptional golf, the kind that would
have defeated almost anything in the
amateur ranks. Travers was invincible
that day, using his trusty driving iron
from the tee, instead OF taking chances
with wood
In that match Ouimet showed that he
had learned how to fight" a quality
that in the past seemed to be entirely
lacking in his makeup. When he entered
for the open at Brooklne he had no
idea Of winning, but for all that he
played carefully, always displaying ex-
eellent nerve and head work. From the
moment he teed up in the elimination
contest to the time when he ran down
the winning putt on the home green in
that memorable play-off Ouimet acted as
one devoid Of nerves. Where he really
excels Travers is in his ability TO score
consistently at medal play. Travers is
great at match play-man to man; Out
met is proficient at either style.
When Vardon and Ray came TO this
country in the summer announcing their
intention of competing in the national
open a majority of the professionals,
both resident and home bred, practically
threw up their hands. In other words
they conceded the championship as good
as won by one or the other Of the visit
Ing pair Such would have been the case
had II not been for the brilliancy Of
0uimet, and for that reason the name Of
this twenty-year-old amateur deserves TO
be written in large type when appearing
In the 1919 record tables.
II would be unjust to pass that memorable
occasion without further mention Of the
remarkable player who won the title for
the fourth time since 1907. When Travers
went TO Garden City his intimate friends
were aware that he was not at the top OF
his game, though none had any idea that
the player from Upper Montclair would
mo himself in the unenviable position or
having 10 play off for one Of the last
places In the qualifying round Once
among the first thirty-two, however,
Travers became another man, so TO speak
bowling over his opponents at match play
the same as OF yore. Unquestionably his
hardest match was the one against
Ouimet, previously referred TO. Fred
Hereshoff had no chance against the
Champion, who in their match putted
with an uncanny deadliness. In the final
Iravers wore down John @. Anderson, a
Massachusetts golfer, who earlier in the
tournament removed that popular though
almost always disappointing Western
player, Charles w. Evans, jr.
Trayers, il may be well 10 recall, at the
outset Of the season won the metropolitan
and New Jersey championships, so that
now the triple crown is his. This makes
the second time that Travers has ended
season as holder Of these three titles
There is some talk of his going abroad In
the spring and trying his luck once more
IN the British amateur championship In
the event Of his making the attempt ne
may be somewhat handicapped through
having 10 discard his beloved schenectady
putter, which is tabooed in Great Britain.
The chances are, though, that once jerry
thoroughly applies himself TO the task
he will be able 10 get some other weapon
to serve him quite as well as his present
putter.
Passing 10 the women. records sho"
that Uncle Sam has less to be PROUD Oh
for the reason that Miss Gladys Ravens
croft, former British title holder came
over here last fall and won the ROBERT
Cox trophy In that tournament over the
links Of the Wilmington Country CluD
Miss Ravenscroft made her presence felt
from start 10 finish. She began by WIN
ming low score medal In the testing rouhd
end little later Overwhelmingly defeated
her rival, Miss Muriel Dodd, the preseh'
British champion. In the final round MIS-;
Ravenscroft defeated Miss Marion Hoi-
Inns, Of Westbrook, in a match carried 10
the home green. The presence or MISE
Ravenscroft. Miss Dodd and several other
British subjects, including trio OF Cana