The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-08
KIRBY RETAINS
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
In Spirited Match Defeats
Walker 2 and 1 for Met
ropolitan Honors.
PRESSED TO THE LIMIT
Veteran Leads Staten Island
Opponent by 2 Up in
Morning Round.
PRESSED TO THE LIMIT
By INNS BROWN.

80 BY INNS BROWN. .. ...f
; BRIDGEPORT, Conn, June Oswald
. KirlSby OF the Englewood Country Club
elected q new lease of another twelve
months on his Metropolitan amateur
golf championship here this afternoon
by repulsing the assault of young
lucien Walker of Staten Island. chal-
lenfer for thee rown Kirkby got the de-
cision by 2 UP and 1 to play.
But one should not make the mis-
take OF thinking that Kirkby cantered
through to victory In picnic style. II
was quite a considerable days work fer
the lanky Jerseyman. There were times
more than a few. when he was called
, upon TO step along at his best to stav,
on, the splendid bid that Walker was
making for the crown, the FIRST bid by
the way OF his golfing career.
II any there were among the consider
able gallery present who expected
Walker to wilt and wither away before
Che efforts Of the title holder they were
in for a big surprise. The youngster
stuck in there closer than knight Of
tho road to a free lunch counter. True
enough. at times he slipped slightly, but
inst when the gallery was beginning to
figure that the crash under the strain
was coming he would rally with an exhi-
bition that fully convinced them that he
bad himself we'll in hand.
erYouth Plays Like a Veteran.
None of the nervous, uncertain tenden-
cies that usually characterize the play
Of younsters In their first capering
around up In the dizzy heights Of cham
pionship activities were apparent in
Walkers play. He is very deliberate
player. studying every shot carefully.
surveying the ground and noting condi-
tipns generally calmly and lelsurely. To
watch his play 1t might be easily imag-
ined that he battles in championship
finals every day or so.
Throughout the morning round the
two whizzed along at a dazzling pace,
making but few mistakes. Kirkby
turned of the first nine holes OF the
morning round in 36. par for the dis
lance. But even this Melted him no
mere than lead Of two holes. He con-
tinued his fine work coming home. and
through the seventeenth he was one
under par for the last eight. This was
GOOD enough 10 get him another hole.
But he faltered on the eighteenth and
Walker slipped through TO cut his han
dicap down to two holes for resumng
hostilities in the afternoon.
So" Kirby Goes Out in 81.
The pair continued their giddy pace
for the outward half OF the afternoon
round, Kirkby going out in 81, one
above his morning card. and Walker
hanging up IS. one better than his
forenoon effort. However, Walker al
lowed Kirbky to increase his lead by one
hole, although he had wiped out his two
point handicap on the first two holes Of
afternoon play.
But travelling the final nine home. the
champion skidded, and for a time IL be-
gan to appear that he was finding the
dogged persistency of the challenger
rather oppressive On the eleventh and
twelfth he lost his ball and Walker ac-
eordingly got back two OF his handicap.
Once on the eleventh Kirkby found an
other ball and played 1t, then gave up
the hole when he discovered his mis-
take But he followed on the twelfth by
topping his drive into the rough. He
tried an ambitious brassie shot out of a
difficult lie and his ball hit a tree and
bounded far over into high weeds and
bushes, becoming hoplessly lost. Aside
from this lapse by the champion, the two
kept right along Mt their top speed.
Klrkby got lead on the first hole In
the morning with 1. where as Walker
needed one more. This hole had proved
a tough one for the challenger all
through the tournament. Walker evened
with a against on the second.
The next two were halved in par, 4 and
s respectively. Walker took tho lead
with a 2 on the short fifth. Kirkby got
this back with a on the sixth. He
Clipped in third to within two feet Of
the Gun and used but one putt.