New-York tribune., 1919-07-12
Leading Pro
Cuts Hoffner's
6-Stroke Lead
Title-Holder Rallies and Has
294 for Y Holes; French
Is Second With 297

After finishing six strokes behind
the leader on the first day, Walter
Hagen, the national open golf cham
pion, not only overcame this handicap,
but actually won by margin of three
strokes in the metropolitan open cham
pionship tournament at the North
Shore Country Club yesterday Hagen,
total of 294 for the seventy-two holes,
ISL on Thursday and rounds of 72 and
II yesterday.
Emmet French. Of York, who finished
in SECOND place with 145 on the first
day, stayed in that position at the end
of the tournament, his total of 297
being a stroke better than Charlie
Hoffnef, the Phlmont professional,
who led the field on Thursday.
These three men get first, secord
and third prizes-S250, s125 and 500
respectively Others to figure on
the list were Will Macfarlane, of Port
Washington, fourth, 3O2, ST5; George
Mclean, Great Neck, fifth, a03, $50;
while Clarence Hackney, Atlantic City,
and Pat Doyle, Deal, with 304, tied Tor
sixth and seventh moneys, each getting
S35 Wilfred Reid and George Fother-
ingham divided eighth money, each
getting $3.50.
Also Wins Special Prizes
Besides the $3.50 and the gold medal
emblemat;c of the championship, Hagen
won the three special prizes offered
yesterday for the best morning, after
noon and thirty-six hole total, $50 in
all. Hoffner won $25 on the first day,
$40 for returning the best morning
round, like sum for the low total
of the day, and split $40 with French
for the best afternoon score.
Had he not been playing badly in the
carly part of his afternoon round
Gardiner White, the Nassau amateur,
would have finished in the prize list.
AS it was, he had rounds of "a and 78,
for a 72-holc total Of 307, which left
him in tenth place.
Conditions yesterday were ideal, al
though there was a sharp wind to
initiate against low scoring. Hagen
was paired with Louis Teller, the Brae
Burn professional, and they attracted
g large gallery, so that the inevitable
championship rope" had to be put in
use. The champions card for the last
thirty-six holes showed only two 6's, at
the third in the morning and the six
teenth after luncheon.
Only Two "6" Holes
Hagen pulled to the rough at the 476-
yard third hole on his first circuit,
needed two more to reach the green's
edge, and on the chip failed to get
closer to the cup than five feet. After
that he missed the putt for a 5. He
made the first nine in 36, and coming
home had sequence of nine straight
4's. Teller took 3S for the outward
half and 70 for the round, which left
him ont .of the running, as he had
taken 161 the day before.
A long putt at the second hole gave
Hagen there in the afternoon and
he played steadily to the turn. At the
lS1-yard ninth his ball ran about thirty
feet beyond the green, Teller being
about eight feet away from the cup.
On his next attempt Hagen rolled up
TO within 4 hairs. breadth of the hole
and had to be satisfied with a 8 there.
Teller making his 2.
Coming home, Hagen was one under
is for the first six holes, but slipped a
cog at the sixteenth, which he had
played beautifully in the morning. The
hole is of the elbow variety, SOL yards,
and Hagen tried an iron Shot, which
pulled to a trap. He was safely on the
fairway on his next attempt, but his
third shot, brassie, left him still
short of the green and from there he
took three puts for 6. He partially
made up for this 'fasco at the seven
tSeHtn, WneTe ne nOleu an elgHteeH-
foot putt, for a 3, stroke under par.
Hagen Forced to Play Hard
For time it looked as though he
sould "blow up al tive home hole. lie
pulled his drive to a fairly good lie
close to the mounds, and on his next
landed among the trees to the left OF
the green. From there he had to play
low, under branches, and to add to his
difficulties the bali hit the side of the
bunker between him and the green and
rolled back in the sand. On his fourth
attempt he overran the hole by fifteen
feet, but managed to get down tho putt
for 8.