Evening star., 1919-08-22

Jones Meets Fownes, and
PIatt Heron in National
Tourney-0uimet Beaten.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. August 22.-The
semi-flnal round of the national anna
teur golf championship started on the
Oakmont Country Club course this
morning with Robert T. (Bobby)
Jones of Atlanta paired with w. c..
Fownes. jr., a former national cham
pion. of Oakmont. while 8. Davidson
Heron of the Home Club met J. Wood
Platt, Philadelphia. Golf experts at
tending the play were not anxious to
express opinions as to the probable
golfers who have survived the three
rounds of match play have demon
strated wonderful skill, and while
Jones and Platt are favored by many
to meet in the final round Saturday,
others expect that the eighteen-year-
old Atlanta player will meet Fownes
in the match which will mark the
crowning of a new amateur champion.
Yesterday l. Wood Platt Of the
North Hills Country Club. Phila-
delphia. shot experts dope to shreds
by coming home a winner over Fran
els Ouimet in a torrid battle which
went over thirty-eight holes. The
margin was 1 up.
Ouimet's Defeat a Surprise.
The defeat of Ouimet was as SEN
sational a golfing feat as the con-
test that marked the passing of Evans
yesterday at the hands of his famous
Woodland rival. AS a setting to the
match a terrific thunderstorm burst
over players and spectators just after
the New England expert had squared
the contest on the home green, and
the two extra holes were fought out
in a pouring rain that drenched con.
testants and gallery to the skin.
The victory of Platt was a distinct
knockdown of all golf1ng form. But
1t wasn't exactly a real surprise to
several of the wise ones who have
followed the course of events closely
opened. That there was a let-down
coming in Ouimet's case following
his great round with Evans on
Wednesday seemed a certainty. And
IT may as well be stated right here
that the 6uimet who fell before Platt
today was a different golfing .equa-
ton from that which Evans encountered
the previous day.
And this doesn't mean to take any
credit from Platt. The youngster. en-
tered in his first national champion
ship. played good, consistent golf. He
wabbled toward the close of the thir-
ty-six holes, when he appeared to
have the match won. and allowed Oui-
met to come from behind in the fln-
ishing phases Of the round and tie the
count Once dropped to an equal
footing with the former champion,
however, Platt tore in with a per-
-fcrmance that left no room for Loose
play by the opposition, and he got the
verdict as a result Of Ouimet's first
slip.
1t was an intensely thrilling finish
that held the small gallery compared
to the crowd which watched the Ouf-
met-Evans fracas the previous day.
The two contestants had battlS
through eighteen holes in the fore
noon without advantage either way.
]. Wood Plat. conqueror Of Francis
Ouimet, is practically unknown out
side of Philadelphia. where for the
past two years he has ranked as one
Of the best. being second only to Cam
eron B. Buxton, winner of the Chevy
Chase Club tournament this year.
Platt is twenty-five years of age and
is the son of a wealthy Philadelphia
business man. He has played golf
since his boyhood days Eddie Styles,
crack golfer of the Quaker city. pre-
dicted yesterday that Platt would beat
Ouimet. Platt when at his best is
capable of beating any amateur in
the country, Styles says. and he is a
plugger from the start of the match.