New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-13
FOUR WITHSTAND
HEAVIEST FIRE
IN GOLF BATTLES
Evans, Kirkby, Hagen and
Barnes Prove Leader,
in Tourney Strife.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

Although the amateur golfers s,,,
yet 10 decide the ownership Of N.
tional title, that being deferred ,.,,
next month at Merton, they have -.
engaged in tournament play since Ca.
spring, and will largely stand 0, =
on the achievements they nave sl,,,I.
marked opposite their names A, 4,
the professionals, they are Just AZ
at the finish Of their tournament -,
for the season, and IL is not diHeyi,
select the best Of the lot, on their ~.
ords.
II is not our purpose 70 say that u,
golfer or that is better than hi, b
lows, but TO pick out the most prc-
nent among them, on the basis Of d.
tournaments they won in the seas.
Just drawing TO a close.
Il must not be forgotten that Jerc-.
d. Travers, greatest Of American an,
tours within the last few years, Ia
been a notable absentee from all ,ov,
nament competition this year. This a
once removes the only Jerry from ,s,.
sideration in this review. Should 4,
Montclair amateur enter at Merior n,r
month and strip the crown from B.,
Gardner. present champion, and IN "a
ing IL show that he is the Jerry Of sI
then ne would automatically move 70 :,
a place near the top, II not on ttar,T
pinnacle of greatness itself.
Case Of Gardner.
Gardner's case is much he san,
The great Hinsdale amateur, VINO 70,
the national title for the second the
at Detroit last year, has been 50 isf
removed from the din OF big tosrs.
ment competition this season that Esrs
he not the champion his name Eosl
be almost forgotten here in the Eas,
But Gardner had practically no tor.
nament training In 1915, only 10 IA.
across the horizon az Detroit aid lea!
the greatest amateurs in the coBniT
in the weeks gruelling test He nil
repeat, in which case there mus, bsI
new shutting Of the cards.
To turn to those who have bee;
through the fire of continual eompe,s
ton. Two amateurs and two pro.ss
SIGNALS started out above the res,
Chick Evans, the freckled faced young
man from Edgewater, H., had lOr;
been recognized as one Of the nos
brilliant amateurs in the United Snia
even before he won the national ops,
championship at Minikahda last Jait
No less an authority than Harry Var.
don, Of England, had expressed as
opinion that Chick is the greatest mas
ter Of the irons, amateur or profss'
sional, in this country.
Time after time Evans had tried q
mount the heights, only H. b. bea,.,
back. sometimes in the last trenes.
again early in the fray. Then can.
his great triumph at Minikahda. A
the end of the first day Of play Chri
led q field in which were Walter Hagsl
Jim Barnes, Bob Macdonald, Gil Md
oils, Jack Hutchinson, Tom McNamsrA
all names known to fame in the world
of golf.
The brilliant professional srrsY
made desperate efforts to overhaul ~
Aging Edgewater amateur on The Is;
day. but Chick held his lead b. =
safe margin, and finished with iaa.
of 2S6 for the seyenty-two hJlss q
medal play.
This accomplishment was sufic,,i
10 set Evans in n little niche all y
himself, and should he add 70 this b
wading through the formidable field .
Merton, there will be no question q
TO his right TO the highest honos /;
the links.
kirkby Represents East.
The East will have a Representative
at Merton. in the person OF Ossss
Kirkby, of Englewood. Metropolis
and New Jersey champion. who IS re
lied upon to bring the title back TO n
Metropolitan district, where il has no
reposed since 1918. when Travers De
feated John G.. Anderson in the ma
round.
Kirkbv began the season well ar
gave early indications that 1916 wa
20 be banner for him from
Colfing standpoint Playing his iron
with greater mastery than ever beior
and getting exceptional distance OIL %
tee, combined with splendid con.ro'
the Englewood golfer came into nil
first important victory BY defeating nl'
old rival, Max Marston. in TIE ms
round of the New Jersey state ehsn
pionship.
IL was only after forty holes ha'
been played that Kirkby was sole =
eliminate the Baltusrol star in mae'
that was described at the time as on
of the most sensational played oet~ee'
amateurs in this country. Later cam
4l,a Nan, faffrfs TRIUMPH .
Nassau, when, after a week OF plsyln
in rain and chill winds, he sent re
Herreshoff down TO defeat in the n ha
round and won the Metropo1"
amateur championship.
In addition 20 these achievement
Kirkby took part in various exnio,s;sv
matches, in which the soundness OF y
game was further eXempllned sha q
right 70 be regarded as one Of ~
foremost among the amateurs dehn''
ly established.
Taking up the question Of the "
leading professionals, there cannot
much division Of opinion II we hsH.
Walter C. Hagen and James NJ. bsth'
as entitled to the full glare Of the i'"'
light.
Hagen Shows Worth.
Hagen, always a consistent gohg.
did not reach his greatest heights .
the national open. although there
finished well up among the money W.
ners. but az Garden City last MOI.
he showed his worth by taking the ni '
ropolitan open title from as tne pc
as ever teed up, after finishing
tie with Barnes and Charley Honn'
at the end Of the seventy-two hois'
medal play. =,
on the play-ofr next day Hagen :. y
Barnes had a bitter struggle io' !.
lead. with little Hofner trying ~
neratelv 20 hang on. Barnes lo0A-