New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Miss Bjurstedt
Has Great Day
On the Courts
Morse Girl Victorious in the
Singles, Doubles and
Mixed Doubles
By FRED HAWTHORNE

Miss Molla Bjurstedt, national wom-
an champion, enjoyed one Of her typ
ical days on the lawn tennis courts
Yesterday, when she captured all three
final matches in the singles, womens
doubles and mixed doubles at the Es-
sex County Country Clubs annual
open tournament.
The dashing Norwegian girl defeated
Mrs. Rawson l.. Wood, former cham
pion OF Florida, in the singles final by
score Of 60, GO. In the mixed
doubles, paired with Harold A. Throck-
morton, Miss Bjurstedt defeated Miss
Strong and Dean Mathey at 6-3, IS,
8, and in the women's doubles, with
Miss Marie Wagner, she triumphed b.
a score of IS, Go, %.
In spite of the one-sided appearance
of the games score in the singles, Mrs.
Wood put up a surprisingly clever bat
tie against her famous opponent, and
a majority of the games were fought
out to deuce. 1t was Miss Bjurstedt's
ability to speed her net game up to
great heights at the needed moment
that swung the balance in her favor.
Has Great Control
The national champions terrific fore
and backhand drives were under splen-
did control, and she whipped the ball
over the net and down the side lines
with so much pace" that Mrs. Wood
had to cover her court, from one side
to the other. almost ceaselessly as she
strove to make return.
There were frequent flashing rallies
at the net, with both women volleying
sharply for the corners. Mrs. Woods
ground strokes have improved greatly
since last year, and her low bounding
drives were more or less troublesome
TO Miss Bjurstedt on the slow courts.
At no time during the match, however,
was there any doubt as TO the eventual
winner.
The mixed double final was the first
event Of the day, being played in the
morning, and along about the middle of
the struggle local shower of rain sent
everybody scurrying 10 the clubhouse
until the deluge was done. Dean
Mathews playing was, perhaps, the
best of the four on the court. He COW
cred a great amount of territory on
his side of the net, and his smashing
and volleying from all positions were
of high order. As soon as the last
point had been won, Mathey hoped
into waiting motor and dashed for
the railroad station, as he had an en-
gagement to play in the Red Cross ex-
hibitions doubles at Forest Hills in the
afternoon.
Brilliant but Erratic
Throckmorton was brilliant, if lit
tie erratic at times. and his smashes
went cannonading through the court
with tremendous pace. Miss BJurstedt
outshone Miss Strong in every depart
ment of the game. and her playing was
almost as fast as the mems.
The women's doubles match was
featured by extremely clever work upon
the part of all four girls, with Miss
Bjurstedt and Miss Taylor excelling at
the net in the early part of the strug-
gle. Mrs. Wood did some sensational
volleying from forecourt, and her pass
ing drives were beautifully placed.
Miss Wagner backed up her partner in
admirable style, and her errors were
few and far between.
The factor that spelled defeat for
Mrs. Wood and Miss Taylor. however,
was their lack of smooth teamwork,
particularly when the rallies grew fast.
In her anxiety to do her share, Miss
Taylor frequently encroached on Mrs.
Woods territory, with resulting con-
fusion. Miss Bjurstedt and Miss Wag-
ner. on the contrary, never clashed on
the court, and left few openings.