Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-27


playing the game than ever before In
the history Of court play. Taking the
season altogether IL was successful
one from every standpoint. and the
season hrodelI out ole new cham
pion apo saw the decline OF 4 popular
idol.
Richard Norris Williams. a Harvard
man. captured the premier honcrs
from William Johnston OF San iran
cisco i'm the final match for the Am
erican title. Many believe that poten,
TALLY Williams is the greatest player
in the game, but Notwithstanding this
viewpoint, he @as not forced TO meet
the dangerous opponents in his battle
for the title.
Maurice Mclaughlin, the Califor.
MIA comet. failed TO flash across the
horizon OF tennis this season, and in
his last match the critics saw the de-
cline of one Of the greatest racquet
wielders the game has ever seen. Nc
I4oughlin played in but few Journeys
this year, and consequently was not
given a ranking.
Church Stars
One Of the big surprises OF the year
was the showing made by George
Church OF Tenafly, " j.. who was in
terc0llegiate champion for two years.
Church, who viii play here during the
Carnival, was one OF the leading stars
of the year. and was given ranking
OF No. 3, Just behind Williams and
Johnston. He was the player who put
Kumagae out of the running.
Japan sent Ichiya Kumagae to Am
erica, and the Japanese wonder made
good with a vengeance, being ranked
In the first ten, an honor that has
never before gone 10 an Oriental.
Lfndley Murray, the former Stanford
halfsmiler, was another star of the
year, being ranked fourth for the sea-
son, Murray defeated Church in the
semi-finaI round of play for the cham
pionship.
Throeknnorton Improves
New players to make showing this
season were Harold Throckmorton.
who will come to H0nelulu In FebrH-
airy; c. S. Garland, Joseph Armstrong,
Roland Roberts. California continues
to send out q number of excellent per-
formers IN the game, and again had a
number of representatives In the first
ten ~
The appearance Of Kumagae in the
national championship this year at
Forest Hills caused much excitement
In the tennis world, and his great play
throughout the year invited the atten.
ton Of the lovers Of the racquet game.
KuInagae is small man, almost as
small as William Johnston, but he has
tremendous driving power. and his
place shots from the back court are
almost uncanny. 1t was expected that
Kumagae would play here during the
Carnival tournament, but the plan fell
through, owing to business reasons.
Endurance BIG Factor
Endurance has counted much in ten.
mis-, and Kumagae and Murray have
both proved this Both were long dis
lance runners, and II has been their
uphill fight and wearing down OF OPP
ponents which has given them much
of their prestige on the courts. Other
Japanese players are coming to the
front, and IL is understood that next
year viii see at least three Japanese
players touring America.
Just a few weeks ago Maurice Me.
Loughlin played in partnership with
Strachan against Johnston and Grit.
: fin in San Francisco, and although
Strachan played great tennis. the
doubles champions showed finesse
about their play that was remarkable.
Mclaughlin gave glimpses of his old
dash, but he was only the shadow Of
the Mclaughlin OF old.
Comet Has Fallen
Reports received from California
show that at times the California
Comet showed q dazzling sensation of
yolleys at the net as of old. mixed
with the wristy shots. full of thought
and the dynamic smash which gave
him world honors and made him Ia
nous throughout the four corners OF
the earth, and on these occasions the
crowd cheered to the echo but these
plays were butt flashes of lightning
against the dark picture of the cham.
pipn's failure. The dash OF the man
who won from Anthony Wilding and
Norman Brookes on successive days
was gone, and critics on the mainlanu
believe that Mefsoughlin win never be
himself again. 81
Church Isn't Broke +
George Church who will come TO
Honolulu in February. need not worry
il ne smashes a racquet or two. Al
together this young Princeton grada.
ate has about $20.0e0.000 IN his own
name. which is quite sum in these
days of high cost of living. Many be-
lieve that in another year the player
with the bullying bank roll will be-
come the national champion.
The powers that be in tennis are
busy discussing two plans for next
year. One is the laying down of a
definite line for amateus and profess
SIGNALS. player who directly pro-
fits by selling tennis goods will not
he allowed to compete, and this may
mean the farewell of Mclaughlin.
Bundy and Strachan, who are now en-
gagged in the tennis goods business.
The other plan is to regulate the
entrance of players in the national
championships. This year number