The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19

were on the average coming nearer to
the average skill of the professionals
as the average skill of the women Is
approaching. although it will never
reach that of the men. Perhaps the
best way to answer such a question is
to cite few facts as to the capabili-
ties of several Of the men who would
be chosen to lead such an amateur con-
tingent.
Fine Average at Hamilton.
At Hamilton. in the international
match playing over a course which had
par OF ~, the average of the ten men
was about 70, a figure which we very
much doubt would be improved on by
any ten professionals In this country.
The following week Edgar of Atlanta
averaged Just under 70, but Barnes in
second place was over 10, while the
many other crack pros from Canada and
the States were much higher. Every
amateur golfer that day seemed in
spired with the importance of being at
his very best. In the fourball matches
held in the morning the average of the
FIVE American teams was SO, another
record which 1t would have been very
difficult for the pros TO have beaten.
The scores made by the first eight of
the American team were 70, ~, II, "a,
as would be expected from the best of
the professionals. In no event ever
held over course of such high class
merit have we ever heard of such an
excellent string Of figures. Some have
said that these were made in match play,
which Is true, but there was a scorer
sent out with every match, as the Cana
dams wished the holes played out, and
the rounds are quite authentic.
fitrt han ha
brilliant record OF Robert Jones to prove
the capabilities of at least one golfer
who has shown his worth under the
strain and test of a game against pro-
fessionals. Jones finished in a tie for
second place in the Canadian open with
James Barnes in the splendid figures OF
PA for the ~ holes and he repeated
this grand play in the Southern open
championship. being but a stroke back
of Barnes, who won the title. In both
of these games Jones played the final
round with the professional who was
leading and it affected his game not a
whit. In fact, playing with Barnes in
the last round of the ~ hole contest at
Atlanta Jones scored II. strokes better
than his more experienced opponent
"Pros" Affect Amateurs.
1t has been the usual thing for ANA
teuTS 10 play STROKES WOTbe IMAM tnclT
regular game when In the company of
pros" The victories of Oulmet, Travers
and Evans offset this feeling a bit and
later developments have helped. With
the trio just named with Gardner and
Heron and a number of others, we
| feel that contest at match play be-
tween the ten best amateurs and the
ten leading pros would be a feature
remarkable for the evenness of play
which would result.
No one year can justify the state
ment that there has been real adj
vance in the standard OF the play of
any one class. but over a stretch OF
years, say a decade. the Improvement
is easily noted. Ten years ago II would
| have been idle to say that a dozen
amateurs, the best the country could
produce Of course, would have the
ghost of a show against a team OF pro-
| fessonals, but 1t is a different story
| to-day in view OF the great perform
ances in open events staged by the
amateurs since 1913, which include the
winning OF the American open title
| three times and lately the open cham
! picnship of Massachusetts, by that
powerful hitter, Jesse Guilford.
Wherefore we believe that the i'm
provement to be noted in the average
play of the amatures in the last ten
| ten years Is at least 25 per cent. against
a scant 10 per cent. for the pros. But
| in their behalf 1t must be remembered
that 1t is much easier for golfer to
| improve his score from TO rs than
for one to lower his average from Is
| to To- AS with the amateurs so with
| the pros in the matter OF new names
| and faces. Few cracks of the 1910
vintage are as good to-day as then.
| They don't believe 1t, however.