Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-26
EASTERN PROS TO
ENTER OPEN EVENT
Tom Mcnamara Declares All
Prominent Professionals in
Country Will Compete
in Western Tourney.

cih HiiIdteul NOlI championship
tournament the only important golf
championship of the year in the
United States, as the United States
Golf association cancelled its tourna-
ments on account of the war, leaving
Chick Evans to hold over his dual
title. All the eastern professionals
and several leading amateurs, accord
ing to Tom Mcnamara, of New York,
former champion, will meet at the
Westmoreland club, Chicago, on Sep
tember IL to IA to contest for the
open title.
When Francis Ouimet, recognized
as an amateur by the Western Golf
association, captured the amateur
title at Midlothian recently following
the decision of the United States Golf
association to abandon championship
play, further attention was called to
the open meet planned by the western
body for September. This event has
for several years been national af-
fair, and the title was captured last
year by Walter Hagen of Rochester
at Milwaukee, with Jack Hutchinson
then of Pittsburgh and George Sar-
gent of Minneapolis tied for second
place and James Barnes Of Philadel-
phia close behind. The title in 1915
was carried off by Tom Mcnamara,
then of Boston, with Alex Cunning
ham of Wheeling, w. Va, in second
place and Sargent, Hagen and M. j.
Brady of Boston, next in order after
the seventy-two hole contest at Glen
Oak club, Chicago.
East Predominates. So
The western open title has not been
won by a western Golf association
territory player, except Smith and
Hutchinson, since it was made a
medal play affair FIVE year ago, and
in all the tournaments there has been
a larger representation of eastern par
golfer than of western players of a
similar rating. Z
There have not. been as many
scratch amateur players entered. how
ever, as there have been in the ma
tional open meets, although Charles
Evans, jr., National Amateur and
Open champion, won the event in
1910 at Beverly club, Chicago, when
the play was at match. The premier
amateur of America, then only 20 years
old, made low medal of II and de-
feated George Simpson, Chicago pro-
fessional, in the final round and 5.
Evans competed at Glen Oak two
years ago, but was off his game and
did not make a showing.
Ouitnet to Enter.
While the event has been more
strictly a professional championship
than the National Open meet, it is
likely that Ouimet will compete this
year. The Boston amateur, who won
the National Open title by defeating
Harry Vardon and Edward Ray in
1918, said he intended to play in the
coming Westmoreland tournament,
unless unforeseen contingencies pre-
vented. He is reported to be among
the first ones drawn in the selective
draft lottery, and this may prevent his
participation.
Evans, early in the season. decided
to devote his golfing activities this
year to playing for the benefit Of the
Red Cross and similar war organiza-
tons, but he may yet decide to enter
Robert Gardner, twice National ANA
teur champion, has enlisted for war
service and will not compete. Tom
Mcnamara, as spokesman for many
eastern professionals, while attending
the amateur championship play at
Midlothian said:
"All the best eastern professionals
and, l believe, goodly number of
amateurs, will be at Westmoreiand
for the open tournament. Golfers in
the east are pleased with the stand of
the Western Coli association in stag
ing tournaments, feeling as President
Thompson of that body said, that
golf keeps men perpetually and pleas
antly prepared In addition. as en-
try fees and ordinary cost of cups are
given to the Red Cross, the players
feel that they are doing their bit for
the country by playing in the meets.
Of course cash prizes are to be
awarded at the open championship.
but likely these sums will be turned
over for war purposes by the win
ners; and, in any event, the leading
golfers will be carrying out Presi-
Hdent Wilson's idea that athletics
should be kept up"