The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-31

be IN all tine week OF the champ !Onship.
for golf then becomes business and
rivalry is intense.
The large number of entries made II
advisable to keep to the old method of
having slxty-four qualify the first day
and then thirty-two the next. with one
eighteen hole round at match play. Some
day this will be changed so that there
will be thlrty-slx holes for all the con-
tests and then the golfers will be salts
fled.
Just word about the course as 4
stands to-day. The prayers for rain, and
then some more rain, have been partly
heard and granted. and the benefits from
the heavy dew which floats down on the
course both night and morning have left
the links In such excellent shape that 1t
has the unqualified approval of every
player here. | have not heard single
word spoken against the championship
quality Of the course which Is worth while
noting. for these golfer folk are rather
critical persons after all The placing
of the cups in more difficult spots might
make the course several strokes harder.
but | believe that they are TO be placed
near the middle OF the greens regardless
OF the fluctuations. which is the fairest
way, as the unevenness OF the greens is
not generally found near the centre Of
the putting surfaces. The putting green's
all have the same texture, which Is not
only surprising. but also a welcome relief
to the long suffering knights OF the
pu,ter. In the fairway there are few
bald spots. but there is little chance of
getting bad lie.
The amateur champion OF 1914 will be
forced to play golf shots in the way they
should be played and play them better
than his opponents. Ekwanok offers a
good fighting chance to every qualifer for
match play. / think that II evens up the
games of two golfers. one with stroke
or two less than the other. because the
distances of the holes are such that a
slight superiority in one branch. except
putting. can be fully conhated.
There are ten golfers at Ekwanok to-
day who might well win this champion
ship and no fluke be attached to the sue
cess. ". G. Fowncs, Jr., has been aver
aging in the ncighborhood OF - since his
arrival n week ago, u. W. Corkran has
been putting I'm some good golf. warren
X Wood was never in better trim, Il. +.
Allis has made excellent rounds, Il. n.
Martin is picked by few to win because
of his recent victory I'm the open tourna-
ment last month. Fred Herreshoff and
Oswald Kirby are beginning to get back
10 their accustomed form W. j. Travis
Robert Gardner, Paul NJ Hunter. n. X
Kerr. T.. NJ Byors. Harold Weber and r.
r. Gortou have many a good fight left In
them before they become oulOokers. Then
there are countless others who are as good
as those I have just mentioned who may
and many will-take the places In the
qualifying stage OF some of their more
noted golnng peers.
There are more golfers this year who
seem to be on par than in any other
tournament ever held in the United States
So far ! have said nothing about the
three golfers who stand out above all
others in the amateur ranks In this coun-
try. Jerome Travers. Francis Oumct and
Chick Evans are to my way OF thinking In
a special class by themselves. yet | would
not dare to prophcsy that any of them, or
one of the three will win the title this
week These players have now become
greater golfing rivals than ever before
and their play this year seems to have
brought them TO n fairly level basis,
In a medal roNnd Travcrs would be
awarded third choice and the others would
looks 10 me as II Travers and Oumet
would be joint holders of the top po-
sitlon and Evans would go down to third.
] know that Evans In the Western anna
teur championship, recently played Mt
Grand Rapids, won easily over the match
play route but with one exception his
victories were easily won and he scored
his best when ne was leading by com
Portable margins Golf In that case be-
comes more medal than match play with
its accompanying fighting spirit
In one respect these three players are
allke-they play the approach shot up
to the pin in the way In which II must
be played at Ekwanok II the best results
are to he gained. Tho high lofting shot
is essential on this course. and that Is
why the superiority OF the three may he
in evidence this week. The turf here
is yielding and the duly lofted shot
has little or no run. while the run up
shot is far too hazardous TO attempt
even on the longsh holes. whore there
are no intervening traps In front OF the
green.
Travers's fall has a much lower trajoc-
tory than either Of the other two, but he
has stop to his shot which does not
leave him much in the rear in COMPARE
son, and in the wind, and there Is usually
one here, this will stand him in good
stead The higher elevation which is
Characteristic of tho mashie play of both
Ouimet and Evans will give them an
advantage over almost all the other golf.
ers In the play.
Travers has been driving very prettily
all week, but not AZ strongly PERTAINS
as Ouimet and Evans. who are generally
n hit straiRhter on the average. II would
seem that Oulmet and Evans should have
little the better OF 1t In the play IN
to the hole.
When we strike the putting greens the
situation changes, and here Travers and
Ouimct are in the lead and Evans is ont
or their class. Tho match play temnera-
ment VIII have its innings. and Jerry.
as usual, Will he in his element, closely
followed by Oumet. Looked at from
all angles, therefore. the outcome. as far
as these three golfers Is concerned, is
quite in doubt.
Is Foolish 10 attempt to prophcsv who
WIZ win the title, Cor the draw must
nrst ne seen ana dlcestcd, and the chances
weighed In the balance. Etwanok 10
course Of levcllng attributes. and a "a
or 80 may come 20 a handicap three mr.
FOUR man II he finds himself at the
top OF his game, In which case no mich,