The sun., 1919-10-28
CLUB WOULD MATCH
HAGEN AND BARNES
Sunset Hills Golfers Offer
Purse of $1,000 to Bring
Them Together.
By INNS BROWN.

The highly discussed question as TO
whether or not Long Jim Barnes. the
angular Corn!shman, IL a better golfer
than Walter Hagen, and vice versa, may
get the benefit of a match test In the
near future. It Is possible that this pair
may be brought together for battle at
seventy-two holes that should go as far
ward returning a correct answer as can
be hoped for.
Out at the Sunset Hills Country Club
In ST. Louis, where Barnes is now To-
Gated, they believe firmly that Barnes
Is the better player. But they are open
to conviction. Wherefore a plan has
been set afoot to offer a purse of $1,000
for match between the two players.
Full conditions of the match are not
specified. It is not known whether
Hagen will be expected to play the sew
enty-two holes over the st. Louis course
or not Such scheme would appear to
work something Of hardship. Doubt
less other courses will be the scene or
part of the play at least.
Undoubtedly Barnes is willing to take
part in the match. 1t remains to be
seen whether Hagen will consent. The
open champion passed up the Profess
sIonal Golfers Association tournament
here when that event might have pro-
duced n thirty-six hole match between
the two. But since then he has appeared
against Barnes. Just a few days ago he
lost to Long Jim in a three ball match
in Detroit, with Donald Ross playing the
third hand.
Hagen Has Confidence.
Probably tho outcome Of that match
may prove an incentive to Hagen to take
Barnes on again Without doubt he was
somewhat disappointed in his showing.
since Barnes beat him eight strokes in
thirty-six holes. But whether he will
consent to the proposed Sunset Hills
match is q guess One thing may be
stated for certainty: IL he doesn't, 1t
won't be because he fears a match with
the Cornishman. One thing can be said
of Hagan and his golf. He is supremely
confident Barnes may beat him in
special match. but Hagen will have to be
shown.
In one way such a match would be the
finest test possible. Both have taken
part in the same tournaments on two or
three occasions this season, with honrs
divided. In the two main events. the
! National open and the Western Open,
| Hagen led by safe margin IN the
I former, while Barnes reversed the de-
cision in the latter But the element OF
personal competition was not so strong
| in either of these as it would be in q
| seventy-two hole special match. This
| trick would carry enough significance
and stir up enough enthusiasm to arouse
! both players to their best game and but
little room would be left for disputing
| the decision.
Several weeks ago It was pointed out
In these columns that a special match
\ between Hagen and Barnes would pro-
| a n
from a golfing standpoint. Attention
was also called to the fact that the
match would offer fine medium for
| publicity on part of any club disposed to
| stage 1t. Golf is poor proposition from
| the standpoint of commercialization. but
at that this match should produce enough
revenue from the gallery to provide the
purse under consideration. II played II
will no doubt draw a record golf gallery
for the Mound City.
wriEht's Outings Popular.
The annual golf outing sponsored by
George Wright. the veteran sportsman of
| Boston, is coming to be a prominent
| fixture in the links calendar of the Hub.
! Beginning some twelve years ago.
Wright has annually held a one day
| tournament. to which he has invited
| necessity mean that his guests all are
among the ranks of senior golfers They
are men who have been playing the
game for a good many years, whether
| or not they began young or at middle
age. or even older. They are veterans
from a Golfing standpoint. The tourna-
ment was held the past week at the
Wollaston Golf Club. Seventy-nine
players entered Several local players
took part, and one entry hailed from
as far away as Chicago
Members OF the Country Club OF De
troit have no end of confidence in the
ability of Leo Diegel. the young profes-
sional there. Since his fine showing il
a number of open events during the sea
1 son, members of the Crosse Point club
have come TO the conclusion that he car
hold his own with the best in the game
A few days ago a member OF that clut
informed Diegel that II he would chal-
lenge the winner of the Barnes -Hager
match he and his friends would back
the youngster to the extent of 81, 900 In
such a match. No doubt Barnes will be
ready and willing to accommodate him