Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-10

PHILADELPHIA. September O.
The greatest honors in the history Of
OF the Edgcwatcr Club, of Chicago,
when he defeated his fellow-townsman.
Robert y. Gardner, Of tho iinsdale
Club. UP and to play, in the final
round Of the national amateur golf
championship tournament at the Merton
Club course here to-day.
Already the holder of the open cham
pionship, which he won at Minneapolis
III juno, hc is the first player In either
America or England to capture both
national titles in the same year.
The largest gallery which has wit
Cluimet defeated Ray and Nardon in
tho famous play-off at Brookline in
1919. was present.
There was close To 10000 present for
the finish on tho thirty-third green.
Not the least inconspicuous member
OF the gallery was the mother of the
winner who followed the golting for
tunes of her son throughout the entire
thirty-thrcc- holc battle.
The match was II mixture Of cham
pionship AMI mediocre golf, particular
IL in tho forenoon round. After luncheon
The pair played q game which was little
short OF perfection until Gardner
cracked under the strain AT the twenty
ninth hole.
Going 10 the twenty eighth Evans
pulled his tee shot into trap while
Gardner was well down the fairway
Evans WAS forced to play his second
short and bis third was on the green
but tw"n;y-iiv" yards from the pin
Gardncr's second was on about three
yards nearer the hole, and it an
poarcd that each would take two puts
Gardner thus squaring the match
Evans sank his long putt. however, ana
the gallery went wild
81
Evans was - TO 3 for Gardner
From the eleventh tee Gardner hit
til" longest shot of the match. reach
ing the green. $50 yards away. Evans
laid his second dead and they halvcd
in three
Evans was IS coming in to 80 for
Gardner
The PLAYERS started the afternoon
round at o'clock. Gardner went out
and for eleven holes was but one over
par. Gy playing such splendid golf
he reduced Evanss morning lead from
10 IN. The crowd was on edge and
expected to sec a great finish. but Gard.
ner weakened
The best played hole of the match was
the twenty seventh. Evans had the
honor and laid his iron seven feet from
the pin. Gardner was not all done.
for he cot his tee shot inside of Eyans's
ball and but three feet from the hole.
O.
Gardner made last stand on tho
fourteenth, halvinE in four. but he gave
up the waffle on the fifteenth. taking
three 10 reach the edge of the green.
His drive was in the rough and his
second not out. Evans got a we'll
PLAYED four for the hole and the match.
"At las; | have won the national
amateur golf championship. but am
not yet able to realize it," said Chick
Evans after the match was over
"ill last night I tossed in bed think
ing ! might lose this great oppor-
tunity. but it was my week evidently,
and ! have been very very fortunate
Yesterday morning when tho weather
was so hot ] began To fear that I
could not last through the week Then
a rain came up, and to-day the air
was most invigoratine
'ln that tremendous gallery were
trany who had seen me many times
come near victory. and many among
them Thought ! could never win. For
that very reason, my success seemed
swccter.
ct was pleasant to receive the con-.
cratulations OF Jerry Travcrs Billy
Fownes. Johnny Anderson and many,
many more, and ] thank them through
this medium for all their good wishes.
Mrs. X. y. Gardeners congratulations
touched me deeply. | have never seen
any ono show a finer sporting spirit.
She watched her husband win his dini-
cult matches this long week and ac-
ccpted his defeat to-day with charac-
tcristic checrfulncss
"NOw, as TO the match: No ono can
guess how nervous I was when I first
started out. Actually my legs were
so wobbly when finished a shot that
was afraid some one would notice
it, ! have II huge respect for. and a
great fear for, Robert Gardeners game.
Three strokes on the difficult first
hole helped my spirits considerably.
and, strange TO SAY. although Bob.
got even very often. he was mover up.
III the afternoon I lost three out OF
the FIRST tive holes and was feeling