New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
Oui1net Earns
First Position
In Golf Rating g
Victory Over Evans Settles
Moot Question; Heron
Third Among Amateurs

AS golfers approach the home green
in their 1919 round the man in the gal
lery finds little trouble in picking GER
tain leaders who stand out prominently
in the seasons activities. 1t has been
the writer's custom for more than
twenty years to select at the end of
each season the leading sixteen players,
though this was discontinued during
the war. Now the old order is resumed
and in a way the task of placing the
favorites is more trying than ever, due
partly to their enforced idlencss in
competitive way and partly because OF
the rapid rise of those belonging to the
so-called younger school,.
In determining upon the leaders, all
around ability under a variety of con-
ditions, and, Of course, due considera-
tion to past performances. are prom
ncnt factors. The actual winning of
national championship naturally counts
great deal, though there may be good
tunate individual may not shape up in
the final reckoning as we'll as others of
known merit.
There is little doubt that such con-
dition exists at present. S. Davidson
Heron, the stocky Oakmont golfer,
won the U. S. G. A. title over his home
links, yet that one brilliant perform
ance hardly earned him the right to be
regarded as a better golfer than such
past masters as Francis Ouimet and
Charles Evans jr.
Doubtless most close students of the
game regard the two last named as the
unques1ioned leaders among American
amateurs at the present time. Unfor-
tunately neither man had a chance to
measure strength with Heron in actual
combat. though one wonders what
would have happened had Heron met
either of the former champions on the
day they clashed in their memorable
battle.
Triumphs by Putt
When Ouimet and Evans drove off
from the first tee in their match at
Oakmont it was agreed on all sides that
these two represented the best Amer
lca had to offer. Opinion was divided
as to which was the better golfer;
therefore, when Ouimet won on the
thirty sixth green by putt the margin,
slight as it was, was sufficient 10 JUS
tify a decision.
In some respects Evans strikes one
as being the more finished artist of the
two. Except for his weakness on the
greens, his game is wellnigh fawless.
On the other hand, Ouimet is strong in
all departments; a trife wild at times
with his wood, but able to recover in a
manner calculated to make amends for
a majority of his erring tee shots.
Oumet, therefore, although he won
no title other than the Massachusetts
amateur earlv in the season, is placed
way, Heron, who is given third posi-
ton, plays more satisfactory golf than
either of the leaders. Practically the
only opportunities afforded Of watch
ing him in competition were in the
championship at Oakmont, the invita-
ton meeting at Piping Rock and the
Lesley cup matches at the National
Links In the two tournaments he did
not appear to have a weakness, his
drives being unusually long aud
atralght, has approaches accurate, his
rccovcries masterful and his putting
consistently deadly.
On the other hand. "Davy" showed
that he was human when Oswald
kirkby defeated him in the inter-city,
and right there is called to mind the
uncertainties of championship golf, as
Klrkby, who earlier in the year won
the metropolitan title for the second
time, failed to even qualify at Oak
mont.
Jones in Fourth Place
Much that has been said of Heron
f''"o 5oeS IoI Dooov Jones, Ihe seven
teen year-old lad from Atlanta. who
fought i; out with the Pittsburgh man
~ the linal OF the national event.
Jones plays the came. ono club appar-
emily being as willing a servant in
his hands as another. If he has a
weakness IT is temperamental, but as
time goes on this becomes less no
ticeable. In addition to doing so we'll
at Oakmont Jones played fine golf
elsewhere and he surely seems des-
tined some day to gain the coveted
place at the top. He is deserving of
fourth position.
is still one of the best Like all long
drivers, he frequently gets into trou-
Bile, but his powers of recovery are SO
unusual as to always make him dan
gerous in any company. He is rated
a notch ahead of Jerome Travers, the
erstwhile wizard, who tried come
back at Oakmont, but without success.
Right after Jerry comes Kirby, as
good golfer as he ever was despite
his lapse at Oakmont. lie is followed
by Jesse Guilford, the massachusetts
open champion, who failed to compete
in the national
Then comes Max Marston, winner of
a, number of tournaments as we'll as
the New Jersey championship, while
tenth place is given to A. L. Walker
jr., the Richmond County golfer, who
won the intercollegiate and Vermont
titles and wae runner-up to Kirkby in
the metropolitan. Because of his tour
nament successes and generally good
golf, Gardiner w. White is placed e!ev-
enth, followed by Harry Legg. the new
champion of the Western Golf Asso-
citation. Tne last four places are Civ
en- to d. f. Sawyer, John G. Anderson,
w. {. toWnes jr and +. NJ. Wild in
the order named.
Evans First in 1916
In the 1916 rating Evans was at the
top. followed by Gardner, Travers and
Klrkby Ouimet not being dealt with
because of his ineligibility at that
time. New names on this years list.
! aside from Ouimet, are Heron, Walk
er, Legg and Villa.
For the sake Of comparison the old
list is given with the new one, as fol-
lows:
1913 1915