The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-24
GRICCS LOSES IT
But Topekan Put Up a Great
Golf Battle.
COnley of Brooklyn Wins
Transmississippi Match.
topeka MAKES A SHOWING
Golfers Here in Contest Right
Up to the Finals.
Griggs Weakened on Last Turn
at Kansas City.

Kansas City, Mo-, June 24.-To-
peka, after keeping her representa-
tives in the Transmississippi cham
pionship golf tournament in the con-
test from the beginning until the end,
finally lost the title here late Satur-
day afternoon when George C. Con-
ley. of Brooklyn, n. Y. captured the
honor from Frank Griggs, Topeka
Country club. up and 4 to go. 1t
was a great showing for the Kansas
capital. In the semi-finals she had two
contestants-but they were bracketed
with others and Griggs was left to
fight out the finals.
Griggs Weakened.
The final score in no way tells the
and tuck all the way, first Conley
leading and then Griggs. 1t was
grand battle for the championship.
The surprise of the day came when
Griggs weakened and allowed Conley
TO win the last six holes. Up to the
twenty-se- enth hole, the Topekan had
played a steadygame, and his break
down was wholly unlocked for by the
gallery. Nothing happened to un-
nerve him, he simply got off his game.
The Conley-Griggs match drew a
gallery Of 1;000@persons in the after
noon round. Griggs waged great
battle against his more experienced
opponent. At the end of the morning
GriGGs was 1 up. At the end of the
81 holes Conley was 1 up, and the
Brooklyn man broke thru, winning
the next five holes and the match.
Griggs n True Sportsman.
The Griggs-Conley match was the
only contest of the tournament which
resulted according to the predictions
of the wise ones. Conley was a slight
favorite in the betting. but the more
cautious ones held back for even
money.
ON the links, Griggs presents very
graceful spectacle with his athletic
figure. and is true sportsman thru
and thru. Conley, on the other hand
with his frail form, has been the
wrccker of many dope stories during
the present tournament and his ability
to drive straight for the hole has been
the feature of his play.
The present Transmississippi tour
nament has, without a doubt. been
composed of more sensational goll
than any that have been staged in the
last few year,. Making sporty course
like the Hillcrest links in seventy-four
is by no means a common occurrence.
This was done twice during the tour
nament. in addition to the record OF
thirty-fh 2 for the last nine holes be-
ing lowered to thirty-three. Officials
of the association are planning to be-
gin preparations in the near future tc
make the Transmississippi tourna-
ment to be held on the st. Louis Coun-
try club course in 1919, another sue
cess.
In all. a grand total of over $4,000
was contributed to the local chapter OF
the Red Cross during the tournament
Griggs's Waterloo.
Not until late in the game did hard
luck begin to wear on the Topekan
Below is the last six holes play, show
ing how Coniey won after the mattel
was square and after Griggs hat
played him to standstill during tn,
day:
Hole S, 447 yards-Conley's drive was II
topped his drive for 15O.yafd roll an,
this is where the Topeka boy broke, al
though he haIySd the h hole ThPt was tn
was a pretty brassie thru the fairgreen
Conley's driving iron sent a ball straigh
edge of a trap, short of the green. Griggs'
third was "a beauty to the green. Conle.
pitched past the pin Griggs's 20-foot put
hit the cup and hoped out. Conley con
coded the an, the hole was halved Mate
Eouare.
Hole o, 400 yards-Conley's drive was t
200 yards. 9reggs's second was to tn
right, fronting the green. and ConIey wa
10 within six feet of the cup. and Grigg
was short ON his third. Griggs missed
short puttand Conley conceded the g.. TIL
Hillcrestian holed his putt for par an
the start of the final rally was under way
Hole 10 6i3 yards-Conley drove 900 an
Griggs was thru the fairway with tn
brassie on his second and third. finishin
ond was an iron with a hook that HE
straight for the pin His third was
pitch high on the green; with long kic
to the green. but past the pin. and too
three puts. Coniey was down in tw
puts. winning the hole with birdie
Hole II, 100 yards-conley's prett
mashie shot fell on the upper part Of Il
was down IN 2 puts. While briggs too
after pitching his second to the greer
Hole l.. PSI yards-Conley drove in
trap 10 the left with lie at the foot {
the front tembankment. Griggs was we
down the, middle. Conley's out hit IL
Yards away. Griggs's second landed.
the front embankment of trap fronting
fell in the same trouble. Griggs's THU
q trouble. but Conley recovered with
Griggs was short on his holl-up and h
putt went feet past the cup. Comic
sunk his putt for DOGGY and the hol
Hole ia, $52 yards-conley had a loI
drive and Griggs was IN behind 25 yard
Griggs's second was to the right frontir
the green and Conleys was a beauty ire
10 yards short of the money. Griggs
third rolled past the flag 10 feet, viii
Conley curled pretty approach dow
toward the hole and sunk his putt for a
Griggs took > puts for 5. Conley u
Hole II, 316 yards-Conley got wonde
full drive 800 yards in the trees to the lie
of the bottle neck opening to, the gree
Griggs was 25 yards behind Conley al
pitched his second beyond the pin. Co
ley's approach halted within feet of q
flag. Confey's third hit the inside Of Il
cup End Hoped out. Griggs putted pa
the cup on his third and missed a $50
putt for 4. Conley was down in p
I and the match was over. Conley wi
ming, 6 ard 4.