The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-24
OSWALD KIRBY GETS
LONG SOUGHT TITLE
Wins Metropolitan Golf Final
From w. j. Travis, 3 Up
and 1 to Play.
EACH MAN PUTS POORLY
Fine Recovery From Road Ends
Match After Loser Makes
Determined Stand.

ESoLEwoop,. N. J., DAY 23.-oswald
Kirkby won the metropolitan amateur
golf championship to-day. something that
he has been striving hard but unsuccess-
fully to do for three years. In 1911 and
1912 he reached the final for the title that
he won to-day only to be trounced by
Jerome ID. Travers In the decisive tilt,
and last year the luck OF the draw put
him against Travers in an earlier round,
where again he met defeat, Jerry going
on for his third successive victory.
Kirkby won to-day bv defeating Walter
J. Travis of Garden City by up and
to play In the thrty-s!x hole final round,
played at the Englewood Country Club.
the new champions home course. De-
spite the fact that he was crowned king
OF the metropolitan a.-,ateurs by virtue
OF his victory over the odd man." who
incidentally suffered his first defeat Of
the season. Klrkby's way OF winning was
not convincing. II seemed as though the
championship was won mere as result
OF the Garden City veterans mistakes
than because of the home golfers good
play. Two up at the end of the morning
round and with victory at the first
hole In the afternoon to give him lead
OF three clear holes, Kirkby began to
waver, and Travis seizing the opportunity
squared the match Then he veteran
slipped back again through hi1 own poor
work and Kirkby found himself up
| with Ave holes to play.
The match should never have gone as
| far as IL did, but with victory within
his grasp Kirkby began to lose his grip
| again and II was not until the "old man
| practically gave away tho seventeenth
| that the match ended. Kirby did show a
fash OF championship, however, on that
| final hole. Travis began with tee shot
| straight down the course, and long one
too for Travis. Kirkby followed with a
| sliced shot that landed in the grave
| covered gutter OF the road that skirts
the course. "He has blown up altogether
said many IN the gallery, who had JUS
watched him throw away two holes In
succession but for once they were fooled
Kirby played a great shot that sen
up shower of gravel, and better thar
chat sent the ball flying through the ali
over the intervening trap. to come 20 res
on the edge OF the green. momen
before Travis had overplayed the greer
and when he reached his ball found |
lying a foot or two up the bank In tn
long grass. While he was studying hi
shot Kirkby, evidently encouraged b!
his good recovery, ran up splendid APP
proach put to within foot Of the cup
Travis realized that 1t was all over. blu
he played out the hole and took
Kirkby taking 4. and winning by VI
and to play.
When the match began In the morn
Ing II seemed as though the stiff win
would make It difficult TO play good golf
but as a matter of fact the wind did no
make much difference after ALL as mos
OF the poor golf was played on the put
ting greens where the influence of tn
wind was felt least.
The match began with a win for Ira
Wis, who holed n long putt for o
the first green. but his lead was onl
momcntary. as he took on each of tn
next three holes and lost every one q
them. That gave Kirkty lead to wor
3 with, and for the remainder OF the roun
I he played golf that was just good enoug
= 10 keep 1t. He was up at the tur
, and up at the eleventh. but weak
! ness In his short game at the tweift
r brought him back to up again. o
] both the fourteenth and fifteenth holes h
= had opportunities to increase his advar
tage, but missed puts on both greens. II
I best work OF the round was on the sis
n teenth, where he put his second shot o
the green with an iron and ran down
twenty-five foot putt for 3. He shoul
have been up when the round ende'
Q but missed a short putt on the hon
@ green. The cards:
b MORNING ROUND.