Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-04
Several New Workers
Favorites Ag ain st
Field and Westerners
in Particular-Ander-
sons Record
Nv SANDY McNIBLIcK


- roR1 n impetus will be given Philadel-
| IN phia's supreme chance to place local
we'll up in the running for the amateur golf
championship of the United States. or else
wet. wet water will be thrown on this city's
chances at Merton today.
II FIVE or six Of the citys best players
qualify and the pairing tomorrow is taVor-
| abIe there many be chance for the long
| ,,ra ved for golf sunshine to beam on this
city.
All the preliminary argument is being
| thrashed out today over the 30 holes at
| Merton Not till the dark hours OF the nlght
will the result Of the qualifying round oe
known: that is, who has won the medal
and who will be the 80 to pair UP In mateh
play for the title.
The Odds
Meantime the contest has been narrowed
down by the dopesters to a battle between
certain delegates Of the Metropolitan dis
trict and a select duo from the west.
There is scarcely any shouting over the
chances of a Philadelphia finishing In the
finals or even the semi-hnals. A few or the
radical local rooters are willing to take the
short end of certain eminently sporting
propositions that n Quaker golfer will come
far down in the match play.
But the out-of. town fans here to witness
the play and crane their necks in the midst
of the galleries will mostly all take ,the
cudgels for the western ambassadors. pro-
vided they are not just in from the metro
polls of New York.
In that case they will have 1t that a
metropolitan district golfer will be the
winner.
The field from this district In the going
today is SO strong. despite the absence of
Jerry Travers, that all the palms bend that
way. Oswald Kirkby. Metropolitan cham
pion, is playing the best game of his star
career this season. He Is playing his shots
with the essence of technique and the incest
touch.
He holds the New Jersey State cham
ponship, besides other honors, and is the
pride-in. general of the district this year.
He is backed In his sectional efforts by
Max Marston. who was the prime favorite
last year after he beat Travers. Marston
has shown a fine schedule of golf in the
five days preliminary rehearsal he took at
Merton. He started off slowly enough and
seemed Off on many shots.
Pointed Gradually
But he has quIckened up his game with
each rising sun so that he reaches the
actual play for the title in the pink of
fettle.
Reggie Lewis, another New Yorker, came
here for the national heavily touted as one
trct and his work. both of of the tees and
through the fairway. has opened the eyes
of all those that have followed tha play of
Gothamites in the practice rounds.
John c. Anderson. finalist last year, ranks
as the chief known quantity" of the
entries from that section and his steady
play makes him again this year one of the
most dangerous contestants in the whole
tourney. There are about six other metro
politans with fine chance to qualify and
they will do mighty things in the wedding
process of the match play. according to
their hackers.
The western contingent, on the other
hand, has the present ttle-holder, Bob Gard
ner, and the open champion of the United
States. Chick Evans With these two golf
mastodons to act in the role of lead on
men in the other-side contingent, there is
bound TO be an argument to the easterners
who would oust them. The only difficulty
which presents itself is the possibility that
the two may be drawn against each other,
and then there was only one"
Ideal Champ But
Despite the fact that Gardner is every
where acclaimed as the ideal of a cham
pion, for his grace OF STYLE for his length
Off the tee, for his beautiful. easy, lengthy
iron execution, and for his handsome put
ting, he is not given much of a hand this
year to retain his title.
This is not due altogether to the finger
which he infected while golfing and which
he is obliged to wear In bandages. II is
due to the fact that at Merton heN will
have to keep his long drives straight or
he will be in the worst of trouble.
He will have little chance TO make use
or his wonderful long iron shots, and the
beautiful green's at Merton will not put
any tremendous premium on good putting
Many think that Evans will wade right
through the field this year to the title. He
Is conceded to be the best amateur medal
player In the country, but at match play,
aside from the western matches, he has
many times had a sad time of it, II he
wins the amateur II will be the first time
the open champion has won the amateur
in the same season.
But calling the turn in golf is one NJ
the hardest of occupations and perhaps the
last reason stated against the chances Of
Evans may be Just the reason that he will
upset the dope this year
Best Ball-High Ball
Yesterdays play-ofr for American cio,ssr
trophy between John G. Anderson and n
II. Hoyt slwanoy, against Gardiner WHITE
and NJ p, Lewis, OF Flushing, brought ont
a brand-new record In golf according to
Walter ]. Travis. donor OF the trophy ana
Grand Old Man OF American golf.
Anderson did not shoot single one NJ