Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-08
CHICK EVANS Is
KING PIN OF ALL
GOLFING STARS
Chicagoan Stands s Out
Above Travers and
Ouimet, Says Rice
HIS FUTURE BRIGHTEST
Rr GRANTLANn RICE


The many quaint turns of fortune that
have followed the careers of Americas
great golnng triumvirate, Travers, Evans
and oulmet-or Jerry, Chick and Francis
are more than passing rich with interest.
Their ups and downs form the star chap
ter in the golf history Of the United States.
First Travers was king. In 1918 he won
the amateur championship for the fourth
time, and to achieve this destiny he beat
Evans at Chicago and Ouimet at Garden
City.
Two weeks later at Brookline ouimet
reached the peak by winning the open
championship-th first American amateur
to reach this height. After that ouimet beat
Travers three times In succtsslon-twice in
the Leslie Cup matches at Brookline and
Baltusro and again at Ekwanok. in the
championship final.
1t was agreed, then that Travess' reign
was over and that ouimet had gained the
sceptre for an Indefinite period. Travers,
they said, was about through
And then, last June, at Baltusrol. Jerry
again reversed this decision by winning the
open championship, leading both Ouimet and
Evans by 15 or 20 strokes. SO Travers was
king again, with his two main rivals fading
into the mist. Jerry's defeat at Detroit was
not held against him, for he was beaten
by Marston in a miracle squirt that scored
Jerry was playing exactly par on through
the stretch.
The Shift Again
II you have followed this far you will no.
tice that for the last few years most OF the
glory had been built around Travers ana
Ouimet. Evans was beginning to lose his
place. His following was falling away.
driven back by his many failures to make
good in the big test Observe the situation
aNNa la lad
list, of amateurs. For the time being, at
least his tournament days are over. Trav-
ers tied down by business interests, has
played little golf and his game has fallen
off.
And Chick Evans is open champion--the
top man of the trio, where for so many
years he had been the last of the three
OF the three the future of Evans In golf
Is the more aluring-the brightest-whero
a year ago his case was given up by many
as hopeless one. For 1t may be-though
all golfers hope not-that Ouimet may not
be readmitted to the amateur fold; and II
may be-that business will cut In upon Trav-
ers' old effectiveness and block his way
to the heights. But with Evans the way lies
omen Th6ke isn't any barrier to his amateur
high road. And he still has the time for
enough tournament golf and for enough
practice to hold his game with the winning
grip.
The Up and Down
Yet so varied have been the fortunes of
these three that no one can say what the
next turn will be. If Evans should win at
Merton he would hold the throne room with
undIsputed sway. But as all three have
come forward at times when they were not
expected to shine with any brilliant glow
there is no way of telling what the years
ahead may hold.
Ouimet now is "a Evans is 81; Travers
is 2S. Under the proper conditions they
should have at least 20 years of winning
golf left, and in that 20 years enough cpl
sodes and rival interests should develop TO
make UP many volumes. For John Bull
won a British championship at 90; Hilton
triumphed when he was well above 40, and
Travers won both the American and British
amateur titles well beyond 40 So these
three should have only begun their great
rivalry-one that might equal In 20 years,
from the viewpoint of general interest. the
historic rivalries of Vardon Braid and Tay-
lor, who among them have won 16 of the
last 22 open British championships.
Who Is the Greater?
Ouimet won his open championship at
Brookline with a medal round of 304. AZ
least this score brought him into the triple
tie for the top. Travers followed at Bal
tusrol with n medal count of 297. Evans
completed the journey at Minlkahda with
total rounds of 2S6. Oumet beat the finest
field of the lot and Evans made the record
score-a brilliant match at an average be-
low 72. Since Evans also finished second
in the open at Midlothian his medal play
leads the other two In match play Ouimet
is on top among the three, although over
the complete stretch Travers rules with
four amateur titles. Here Is the count:
Travers against Evans, one victory, no
defeat Ouimet against Evans, one victory,
no defeat: Ouimet against Travers. three
victories, one defeat. This includes all
matches played In any tournament. So, OF
the lot Evans has never beaten either Of
the other two at match play Travers has
won two and lost three and Oulmet has won
four and lost one.
These records carry out the popular be-
lief that Evans is the best medal player
of the three, but that Travers and ouimet
lead In medal and match combination.
But there are also these facts to be con-
sidered Travers has had IL years Of
championship competition. Evans has had
eight years and ouimet has had only five
years
Last fall the three met at Detroit In :
four-ball match, with Bob Gardner rounding
out the list. This was the result: Evans
was up on Travers and up on Ouimet;
Travers was l up on Ouimet.