New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Keller Defeats
P1att in Fine
Squash Rally
This Pair Feature National
Tourney; Championships
Excite, Despite S Defaults
By A. C. Cavagnaro

Columbia Club player, inserted con-
siderable zest into the annual National
souash Tennis Association champion
shin tournament when he toppled over
livingston Platt, Yale Club, in the
opening rounds of play on the Squash
Club courts yesterday. However,
Keeler accomplished his victory only
after a gruelling and uphill fight that
neeessitated a third game. Platt won
,bs first game at 1o-o, but succumbed
IN his rival in the next two straight
games by 16-16, 15-11.
Keeler's crafty playing and his
ability to employ change of pace
to puzzling degree proved an attack
hat the hard smashing Platt found
difdculty in handling. Platt through
out the match placed much depend
ence in collecting aces on his terrific
smashes and lightning returns to the
back walls. Keller displayed good rae
ouet work and his fine position play
and slow lobs over the tell-tale found
platt at times unable to reach the
ball.
Platt Starts Like Winner
Platt clinched the first game early
when he gained a lead of 9 to 0
through his pressing methods and
hard "klls." Finding it losing game
10 match his smashing game with that
of Platt, Keller reverted to a change
Of pace, with which attack he Jared
much better. However, the lead held
by Platt was too wide to bridge, with
the result that the Yale man had soon
won the game.
Again in the second game, Platt got
of in front. He was handling the
slow driven ball of Keeler with sue
cess and soon held an advantage of
10 aces to 6. Keeler then used low
ing the ball, the Columbia player man
aged to set the game at 13-all. PLAY
for the extra FIVE aces was nip and
tuck. and featured by long rallies for
the points, but Keller was the steadier
in the pinches. and defeated his rival.
Both men set a faster pace in the
third game, with Keller always util-
izing an effective "kill" shot whenever
N position. and which generally gave
him an ace. His low driving was
puszling to Platt, who forfeited many
aces IN driving the ball into the tell
tale. In short order Keller had COL
lseted an advantage which Platt, al
though rallying toward the end, could
not overcome.
Five Wins by Default
There were five defaults in the six
teen matches scheduled, but despite
this the contests that were decided
furnished considerable interest and
thrills for the spectators who crowded
the galleries. John W. Appel, jr., of
the Harvard Club, recent winner of the
NATIONAL handicap tourney, eliminated
william Adams, Yale Club, by a score
of l5-s. 15-9. The showing of the
inexperienced Adams against Appel
was one OF commendation. Adams feat
afed ms work by a large number of
gels' but his undoing was his in
ability to contend with Appel's smash
ing cross court shots and fadeaways
to the back corners.
Major R. Z. T. Riggs, who returned
recently from France, played a smart
game although defeated by Harold
iepey, Princeton Club, by score of
!o-ll, 1916. Major Riggs is far
rom his best form, due to his lack of
nse'ice, but he compelled Tobey to
ign, to the very end for every ace.
~ IN, sne second game Major Riggs actu-
s;s ss;is ied MS opponent by 13 to II, but
ms unsteadiness permitted Tobey to
g, 'ne game and eventually win.
a. me comeback performance was
nat ,ns, Of Milton L. Cornell, Columbia
pl, pplaD, VINO defeated Harold D. Harvey.
h.Aeetoh Club, after a slow beginning,
" q score Of 12-15, 15-12, 15-5.
Inc summary follows:
es,ssssl smsasl National Squash Tennis Association
F-1ig3'a,,'p Il NIP lournament-Firs. round (upper baIN
stn-s. iDasis, HzrYard Club defeated Prentice
rznrs cnstfafd Club. I5-l0. 15-5: n r Tor
Nssvi,s 'ssssnt y,nt A. e.. won by default from G. J
wef hy' sis islc Cub; II. w. Cafhart Yale Club
Cha, aslsut from ]. c. Tomlinson. IT,. Yale
drssp, y, T., n. Wander Poel Squash Club, won by
fsIs fs1 9iss, ssofa Sproul. Yale Club; T. j. Clapp
ysIs cus won by default from Donald MacKay
Lr.rs,ea Sso' ~ D. heeier. Columbia Club. defeated
Ha,atts, Htt,'ea y Plat; Yale Club SIS. ls-~ie l5ll
sssa s,tStsy s,toeey Princeton Club defeated Il. T. r
I'll vfisiShts Casino. Ill l8-Ig: G. Hiais
Ksi,.~i@@Fe i@e Cub. non by default from Stuyyesan,
sS"Fisht. Yale Club. IVY '''a"'
bs - e.!s aound flower haif-E w. Putnam. colum-
ca e1o defeated Irving H. cornell colnrahi.
tfss,s% iy-s; II. II. Mixsen Princeton Club
lis a. l. Grinneli, Harvard Club l5-if
as<st.d i9; w.1i'9,; j. w. Appel. 3r. Harvard Club,
xJ x,snls'a x"ns's'a Adams. Yale Club. l5-s. 15-s.
ers1ers p,1pD squash Club. defeated A. D. Nit.
m. Va ,sf,ncsson asson Club. l53 i5-7; S. H. John
I'll we we aiuo. won by defaul. from J. i, Cor
as{ssfs~ Sioo; Milton l.. Cornell. Columbia Club
is-is "a n u Harsey Princeton Club. la~"i5
q y. -; A. Il. Eils. Harvard Club defea fe,.
I, Snr'se. Squash Club, i5-i0 lii is.
Cssgr., na,aisiey. Columbia Club. defeated n &
nss'Afa Club, li-i5. i5--6. I5-5.