The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-06-29
Tournament Play Seldom Deter
mines General Superiority
of Players
LUCK PLAYS A BIG PART
IN GOLF TOURNAMENTS
Lee, Standish, Vincent and
Others Considered Better
Than Title Holder
BY RALPH L. YoNKER


As amateur champion. He holds
the title by virtue OF his work on the
Country club course, Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday when he got &
medal score that put him in the
championship fight and then defeat
ed all the men with whom he was
matched.
But In spite of the fact that Browr
is the duly recognized champion, he
is not therefore, the best amateur
golfer in the state. Tournaments
such as that conducted by the Coun
try club don't decide general super
iority of players: they merely decide
the superiority of one player at the
time and under the circumstances OF
the tournament
Golf IS a game that Is as unreliable
as baseball. There are many ele
ments OF good and bad luck that may
enter into the play. There are many
whimsical mental and physical states
Of the players at the time OF the con.
tests which have big effects on the
results. The man who can play golf
several degrees better than any OF
his fellows always stands a chance
% be beaten by one or HIS interiors
IN single match such as might come
In q tournament.
Golfers don't kick on this part of
the game. They like II. But they
do claim that IL makes It practically
impossible TO pick a champion in an
ordinary tournament. A long series
Of matches is really necessary TO de
termine superiority.
Here Is an example of how luck
enters into the game: Hopper OF
Kalamazoo came within an ace OF
heating Champion Brown in one of
the early rounds OF the champion.
ship fight. He and Brown we're even
up towards the end OF their match
when Hopper lost ball in tall grass
and thereby lost the hole. From
that time on he was not able to catch
up to Brown, who added one more
hole to his winnings, and beat Hop
per, 2 up and / to go.
Here is another example:
Wylie Carhartt, runner-up to Schlot.
man, to Lee and Saturday TO Brown
In Michigan tournaments, beat his old
rival, Howard Lee. Friday, something
that he rarely does regul -ly. Lee
had just beaten Jimmy Standish by
the overwhelming score OF up and
three to go. Carhartt beat Lee by
superb putting. Saturday he fell
down absolutely in his putting and
missed several easy chances, losing
TO Brown on the very branch that he
had won on from Lee.
Again:
Goodness and lack Of nervousness
is supposed TO be a great asset to a
golfer, especially in. gruelling play.
Carhartt is by nature a man who
takes things easily He started out
on the last Is holes Saturday with
his coat on and half-burned cigar
in his mouth. The band was playing
some lively music when he prepared
TO drive from the first tee.
This is driving OF to ragtime, Ell
Brownie?" he said to his opponent.
do you want the music stopped ?"
anxiously inquired Secretary Cald-
well.
Nav, love IT," said Carhartt.
But when he drove he topped his
bah and was lucky to get up close 10
Brown. Before he had finished the
match he had another cigar stuffed
4 carelessly in his mouth. Just before
he halved the hole that he needed to
win In order TO stay In the match he
kidded with friend and slapped him
on the back.
Brown, on the other hand, was ex.
tremely nervous and taciturn In the
morning when the gallery was small
there was one man who persisted in
moving around and talking when the
men were playing II there Is any
thing that gets the angora OF a finicky
golfer, II is this very thing. Brown
stopped and gave the man dressing
down for his impudence in disturb
ing the players of a final round OF a
championship. Carhartt only grinned
at him.
But In spite OF the fact that Car
hartt was all to the good on lack OF
nerves he failed to have the advant
age, his carelessness on putting more
than offsetting any tenseness that
Brown may have felt.
Brown was one of the dark horses
OF the tournament He was not con
sidered as a championship poesibility
when play started. After the first
round somebody asked him for his
picture. and he laughed at them for
wanting the photo OF dub.
Even though he has won the title
or champion, there are few Detroi,
golfng enthusiasts who would admit
him to be better player than Lee
Standish, Vincent, Stanton and others
Even Waldo, who failed TO qualify Il
considered better player thar
Brown.
But such is a golf tournament AND
because such Is golf tournament
the tourney viii always be interest
ing and will always be a cause o
many false predictions and many sur
prises.