New-York tribune., 1914-12-13
Ouin1et Again Best
of Amateur Golfers

Of the game, Fownes never hesltates TO
depart from custom, and that recalls
mis- experimenting a number OF years
ago with long shafted clubs. Fownes
is placed fourth on the list.
A comparison of the ratings Of this
"big four" with the leading quartet
year ago shows that 0uimet at the
top is the only one unchanged. Last
wear Travers was second and Evans
third, so it will be seen that they have
now changed places. Fownes, partly
because Of his fine showing at Man
chester, has been brought up from
tenth 70 fourth, thereby displacing
Warren X. Wood.
Though unequal 70 the task of wad-
ing through a championship field, Wal
ter J. Travis, the Garden City war
horse, can still give any one a hard
match Be il a stroke competition or
a gruelling match, Travis rarely disap-
points. Others with greater length
possess advantages, especially at the
long holes, vet Walter j. continues to
win tournaments. Three chief cups
were added to his exceptional collec-
tion Of trophies during the 1914 season.
Praise for Travis.
There are those who maintain that
the reason for Travis's more frequent
reverses nowadays, as compared with
years ago, is because Of improvement
on the part of younger golfers. With
out questioning the improvement the
ory, il also may be- pointed out that
the short game of the veteran is not so
deadly as formerly. Despite this,
Travis Is still Give one" even If his
putting has become more human. he
can keep out OF trouble better than
most, and when in difficulty there is
none who can tell him what to do. de
deserves fifth place.
A year ago on this list Warren h.
Wood, then Western champion, re-
ceived fourth place. Business Kept
this fine player from defending his
title and also from taking part In the
national meeting at Ekwanok. He like
wise appeared rarely in competition
anywhere, but as his game, according
TO advices at hand, is practically as
good as ever, the writer does not hest
tate to place him No. 6. 1t always is
a difficult job to place a golfer who
appears only on rare occasions.
On the other hand, Jack Neville,
the California player, who, after WIN
ming the Pacific Northwestern cham
pionship, worked his way eastward,
gathering in the chief cup at Lake
Geneva and the runner-up prize at
Schenectady. unquestionably demands
consideration. In the Northwestern
Neville defeated H. Chandler Egan, Q
up and TO play, in the 36-hole tinal
over the links Of the Seattle Country
Club. He lost in the Mohawk final
because Jerome Travers, his opponent,
was playing brand of golf that would !
not be denied.
On the Coast Neville has become
something of an idol, capable, in the
opinion of many, Of making a strong
bid for the national crown. IT Is 10
be regretted that he did not compete
ut Manchester. This Californian ala
have a try in the Western Golf Asso-
cintion tournament, qualifying well up
with a 36-hole score of loo, but losing
10 Edward p. Allis, Sd, in the second
round. Considering what he did the
Inst season. TO say nothing of many
local achievements in years gone by,
Neville gets seventh place.
Egan Back in Rating.
A decade ago II. Chandler Egan was
a name familiar TO all golfers. After
winning the national title in 1904 and
1906 Egan played less and less in
tournaments. with the result that there
were years when he was not reckoned
with at all. Since settling IN the
Northwest, the former Chicago golfer
has gradually worked his way back into
the tournament game, and the fact that
he reached the final against Neville in
the championship at Seattle speaks for
itself. On that occasion it may be as
well to remember that Neville estab-
lished q record of 60, four strokes
better than the par of the course. Egan
therefore once more returns TO the list,
and is placed at No. 8.
In according Fred Herreshof ninth
position one is compelled to hgure
more on his past than his present rec
ord. BY going abroad in the spring
the Garden City amateur had to forego
a chance at the metropolitan title, and
after returning home he never sue
ceeded in getting into his best form.
At Ekwanok he was put out by that
far driver Jesse Guilford. Even so,
there are few who have done so much
as Herreshoff since he was runner-up
to Egan at Baltusrol ten years ago. lie
is entitled TO ninth place, which is two
notches further down than year ago.
Because of John G. Anderson's eX-
ceptional showing last year the writer
I
the Massachusetts, amateur has met
with frequent reverses since he
reached the final stage against Travers
In the national at Garden City. In the
Massachusetts championship at Brae
Burn last summer Anderson was put
out by Vincent s. Lawrence in an early
round, and the first named met with
| similar fate at the hands of Roy Webb
in the national.
Anderson, therefore, is placed tenth,
one place ahead Of Eben NJ. Byers, the
Pittsburgher who won invitation
tournaments at Allegheny and Oak
mont during the summer. The 1906
champion started we'll at Ekwanok, dis
playing his unquestioned class when
he removed Evans. Later on. however,
Byers was helpless against the power
ful game of Trayers.
Fell Down in National.
Oswald Kirkby's claim to recognition
rests in his winning Of the metropoli-
tan and New Jersey titles. With
Travers and Herreshoff abroad, two
formidable hazards were removed;
neither can it be forgotten that for
the second year in succession Kirkby
failed to qualify in the national cham
pionship, something which told heavily
gainst him. Had it not been for that
the Englewood man would probably be
placed better than twelfth.
ID. f. Sawyer, one Of the best Of the
/ Chicago amateurs. played enough dur
| ing the last season TO come more or
less before the public eye. The only
reason he was not on this list a year
ago was because Of the infrequency Of
his appearances. This year Sawyer
won the Wilmington tournament, and
he also reached the semi-inal round Of
The Western chamnionshin. losing 10