Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-09
MANY AFTER GOLF TITLE
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP WILL
HAVE STRONG CONTESTANTS
Outmet Expects to Come Back-Erans
May Get Hts Due-Conpiex
Question, However,


An expert combination OF the Del
phic Oracle, Solomonic soothsayer
and prophet of Israel might put
over winning guess as to the Amer
lean golf championships for the year
that waits beyond us.
But 1t isn't very probable that the
guess would BE- correct. For golf in
America Is reaching "a complexity. 20
far as champions are concerned. that
rests beyond all human vision. We
have had thirteen amateur champions
in twcnty-four years. aud We are now
getting new open champion each
season, no champion having repeated
since John j. McDermott won again IN
1912. 1t was McDermott In 1912. Oui-
met In 1918, Hagin in 1914 and Trasers
in 1915.
Last season, list at this snowbound.
windswept date, il was taken for
granted that Francis Ouimet would b.
the most dangerous factor In the anna
teur championship, and that Walter
tIagln would make hard drive TO re-
peat. But the 1915 records show how
far or the far'vay of prophecy our
drives were hooked and sliced For
the results show Jerry Travcrs never
rated a star medal player. az open
champion. and tuber, 4. Gardner, who
had played in only one small tourns
mcnt through the Early season. IS am
atcur champion.
In the realm o. amateur play Amer
lean golf has row reached point
where there are AT least ten men cap
able OF winning a cham pionship. The
two best match and medal amateurs in
The country arc Jerome -. Trarers ana
Francis Ouimct Ouimet slumpcd last
season, just as Travers did the year
ucforc. but tn" Boston star certainly
had slump coming after his campaign
ing in 1915 and 1914.
For 1916 Oui,nct is likely TO come
bacn a better golfer than H. ever was
before. No go!fcr who can win an
open championship aud "a amateur
championship Ia TWO years in success
sion is any naea In tic pan.
Ouinct has The shots ANA thc tenn
permanent He + grand soung golf
~ IN every detail and he is absolute
is sure to play far better golf this
season than he played las, yea. whe'h :
ar nc wins q championship o! not ~.
VIII nc :, factor i'll both the open ana
Inc .lmateui-and vital :actor at
that
4, this date a scar ago Tyayers was
Imposed 10 he slipping. 10 a"d lost
his third straight match TO ouim"t
"uci ne ltli AT "ttloh. anu W. '''''h g.
defeat had been the most decisive -.
tn. lot.
T-avers w,il nardl. - .,b, 20 retain
his open ti;le. Ills medal play ability
warrants no such predict ION la Tact
~. may not even he able 10 make to.
hrs, iivc But whcr the alu;,tc1r cham
pionship il started hc Viii anasn b-
coupled III III" betting Wtti cuitnet -
the ruling fayorite
l:u, the Ga, tina; Tvavc'< ana pui-
met one" enjoyed beyond tn hcld u
Amos; ro.e. Only no Ono A"s come
quito far enough to he considered Iust
i. good Viii uio q; last orims chieS
Evans his due!
cnick - hcGinuiuI 70 10 discour-
aged Two years H. suvc"aSitl now IN"
mas been dropped ~ tie hr.' round.
and ;hcs. two hard Diow. il..te taken
away some Of h,s coradfnre especial :
i tic con hdeuce ne oncc "nJ".ed While
PLAYING his Jnash!c sho,s
Tonp, Mcnamara, - ho.ioll I'D
tI.c best Gear among tie prcs !a-t
scasou. bot h.cEaaaiA4 NM. fin"
p.aycr. docsu., rank above .u"u laea ass
Writer liaaiit fIi %!chp... Mike
,;rad. Jim Barnes 800 Mcdonald -
,fv.ia. others
cor skill Ia the rut,,d states -
America has been .ucveasii.s 1t q tas;
elm each NcU' 80 IL taxes 80 expert
,i-uphet Ia -. that 1916 Nh lee the
hes. year vet. Tie veterans arc A;.llE-
inc on well AID Ill. %onm-cr school
has nov picked ~ Gsafu! tund o.;
experience. Mam$ cf tho leading
,oussns have been improved. .Nd thts.
100 has u"ipcd "a ;hc genera! d"Ne!-
.pmc'; of Tho game