New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
National Title Held by
Robert A. Gardner Will
Be at Stake.
Nv FRED HAWTHORNE


s,ld gathers on the twin courses OF the
80, Cricket Club in Philadelphia
:. few The annual invitation affair
-.- the National Golf Links Of
,u,,iea. on the 18th, 18th and 10th
:, his month. and the annual tourna-
ut. a, Stockbridge August p to 20,
I'D q, the RumsOn Country Club
: q. same week about comprise the
81, a, hxtures that will give the ANA
,.ur. their final grooming for the great
won't Of the golfing year.
:. NIGHT be said, then, that the men
- are figured as the most likely
..na;Sates for the amateur crown OF
,sIs are about entering the home
i,.S,.b and that from this time on
~ viii be tuning themselves up for
the final test Lrdo.
1.,.sting even 10 attempt to pick
Wv sinner at Merton. Golf always has
. voted for its freakish turns of
1900 and its liability to upsets.
This season has seen more upsetS IMAM
n., snd those who have been looked
w, performances have fallen by the
I",,Ss while less well-known players
80. showed themselves into the lime
Nrht in & manner that has been as
ropecr;ing, to say the least
Kirby Coming Back.
Starting right at home here in the
Metropolitan district, we can think OF
NO amateur who has played more briil-
;sntly and consistently thus far in the
season than Oswald Kirkby, New Jer-
sew and metropolitan champion. In
1918 Kirkby made a poor showing LOT
soifer Of such sterling worth. lie lost
bis metropolitan title and failed 10
,how NJ for the national at Detroit.
The Englewood star got away 10
GOOD start in 1916, however, and be-
sides showing fine golf IN numerous
four-ball competitions, stripped MAX
well Nsrston Of his New Jersey cham
pionship laurels after q memorable
match at Englewood. kirkoy's next
triumph was AZ Nassau, when, coming
through a great field and under playing
conditions Of the worst, he retrieved
his second title by taking the metro
politan championship from Marston IN
the final round.
Although the New Jersey golfer has
not wandered far from his own fireslde
this year, he has given evidence by
these victories that he will be one OF
the most formidable candidates for the
national honors. Never has he dis
played such mastery over his irons, and
the manner in which he laid up his ap-
proaehes is only TO be compared to the
work Of that other wizard of the ap-
proseh, Charles G. Evans, jr., of Edge
water better known as Chick and the
national open champion.
Krkby will probably be a starter at
the National Links and his perform
ance there will probably afford a good
line on what may be expected Of him
at Merton, two weeks later.
Travers a Puzzle.
So little has that great golfer, Jerome
Dunstsn Travers. former national anna
teur and open champion, as we'll as
previous holder of the New Jersey and
METROPOLITAN honors, appeared in com
petition this season that il would be
foolhardy to attempt to analyze his
chances. The man who has been hailed
as the greatest amateur America ever
produced has confined himself almost
exclusively 10 exhibition matches IN
four-ball competitions.
Wall Street is q far cry from the
links. Jerry has learned, and the man
who would be a par player Of the mar
ket must sacrifice some of his skill at
the Scottish game. Travers may whip
himself into shape between now and
the time Of the national, and if he does
there is nobody so foolhardy as to
leave him out of the reckoning, but the
chances seem to be against his attain
ing the form that won him the ma
tionsl open at Baltusrol last year.
There is a host of young golfers just
behind Kirkby and Travers in the met
ropolitan district who may spring the
sensation that is half expected at
Merton this year. Philip Carter, North
and South champion, whose golf at
Pinehurst last winter was the talk Of
the golfng world, is always a danger
Gus obstacle to be hurdled. 1t is true
that this fine young players showing
tlnee then has been Disappointing, but
he has enjoyed a needed rest from
tournament competition, and perhaps
will have regained his early season
form by the time the national is up
FOR decision.
Marston. who won the recent tourna-
ment al Ekwanok; Henry j. Topping,
winner at Ardsley and Garden City:
Reginald NJ Lewis, Westchester and
Connecticut champion; Gardiner
White, Of Flushing, who has put up
some brilliant performances this sea-
son; John &. Anderson, Of Siwsnoy;
Roy D. Webb, Englewood; Frank w.
Dyer, Montclair and Nelson Whitney,
Shinnecock Hills, are others from the
local section who figure prominently.
Gardner Unknown Quantity.
Gardner, a thousand miles away. al
though the champion, must remain
more or less an unknown quantity mere
IN the East until the tournament gets
under way. At Detroit last year he
proved his right to the national honors
IN no uncertain manner, but what ne
val accomplish this year Is problemat-
zeal.
Evans, because of his victory at
hinikahds. in the national open, when
ne led the best professionals in the
country in the four rounds Of medsi
pay, will be favored by many when
ne tees up at Merton, and there rs rea-
son enough for this We saw Chick IN
each Of his rounds at Minneapolis, and
came away with the impression that
NE brand of golf he displayed there
would be good enough TO win in almost
any company.
Inc Edgewater amateur was not
only getting fine distance and direc-
Won with the wood. His iron shots
.sfe so perfect as TO draw unreseryed
summation from the pros and his
0rk on the greens was wonderful I'M
rovement over anything he has hith-
r'o shown. IL was Vardon, we be-
neVe, who once declared that Chick
=" the greatest man with his irons
mis country. Evans himself has