The Washington times., 1917-02-14
SWITCHES IN GOLF
TITLES EXPECTED
Interesting Outlook During
Coming Season for Last
Years Champions.

When the curtsin II rung down
upon the golfing season of 1917. how
many champions OF last year will
have successfully. defended their
titles? 1t has been found that win
ners on the whole after gaining first
honors ind that they are unsuccess-
full In defending their positions on
the links During 1915 the only
champions who fought on the claim
ants FOR their crowns with any meas
ure OF success are two women They
are Miss Alexa Stirling, the Atlanta
girl who showed her superiority py
winning her own title in the South
ern Championship at Chattanooga.
and Mrs. 'ouentis +. Feltnsr. former
~ Miss Lillian B. Hyde, who retained
her metropolitan title.
In connection with the national
championships one cannot tell II any
OF the three will change hands dur
ing the coming season Although
Charles Evans. Jr, Is the proud pos
SCISSOR OF the national open and ANA
teur titles having displaced Jerome
Trayers In the former and Robert
Gardner in the latter. there IL q great
deal Of speculation as to whsther the
Westerner will succeed in retaining
either OF these championships. which
win be played over the Bras Burn
Country Club and the oakmont Couh-
try Club, respectively.
So far as the women's IL concern
ed. 1t seems as if Miss Stirling has q
good chance to keep that title, as "
10 said that there are few women
players who can beat her But golf
is 80 uncertain that II IL not safe to
predict q winner until the contest has
narrowed down to the closing time.
or at the very least the semi-hnals.
most as good as another.
DoubtfaI I'm the West.
The women's Western champion
ship. which was won By Mrs. F. c.,
Let's. Of Cincinnati. IL a doubtful af-
fair. 80 far as Mrs. Let's keeping the
title Is concerned. She played excel
lent golf In the national at Belmont
that Miss Elaine v. Rosenthal. the
former champion. will take part In
the 1917 contest. and IL looks as
though 1t would be light to q finish
between these two women.
During 1915 there were many up
sets registered among the 1915 cham
pions- Nearly q year ago Jim Barnes.
the champion Of the Professional .
Golfers Association OF America. start
ID things by toppling Alec Ross from
lis seat in the North and South open
he North and South amateur title,
ucceeding Fillmore n! 4.o0eson, OF
Pawling. who did not defend
Events Nearer Home.
Mrs w. ]. Gavin. the wellknown
Englishwoman, took Q hand In re-
lieving Mrs. vanderbeck OF Philadsl-
ohia of one OF her titles by winning
the Eastern women's champIonship
at the Eastern County Club. in Aassa-
chusetts- This competition was at
hfty-four holes medal play. and Mrs.
Vanderbeck did not compete. Then
there was Hamilton K Kerr Of Green
wich, the Connecticut State champion,
who did not play up to expectations
for his title over the Greenwich links
and failed to qualify in the first ak
teen. Reginald Lewis then went
through the match play field In I'm
pressive style Jesse Guilford, win
ner OF the Bay State amateur event.
did not have to defeat any champions
Of past years to gain his title. and
his chances for victory during the
COAaihB JG1T AOoA BOOu-
Walter Hagen Of Rochester, ma
tional open champion Of 1914. sue
ceeded GIL Nichols for the title in
the metropolitan open at Garden City.
Hagen had q struggle before he won
firm honors. ~ the event ended in q
tie with Jim Barnes and Charles
Hoffner OF Philadelphia.
Another PIayoR.
Michael Brady OF Oakley took the
Massachusetts, open away from
Hagen. winning after q playoff OF a
tie with Patrick J. Doyle, the former
Myopia professional who Is now
located at the South Shore Field Club.
Defaults in a measure won champion
ships on more than one occasion. The
winning OF the Western amateur was
such a habit with Evans that when
II became known that Heinrich
formerly OF Worcester, Mas,
had won the title At Del Monte
number OF golfers inferred that the
best players in that section OF the
country were not on hand because
they refused to make the long Trip
to the coast However. Schmidt won
apd tba Ufp ~aa hard Aarnad