El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-25


/ the greatest American golf has
ever known. both on account OF
the quality OF golf displayed and the
number Of first class players who
competed for the first time IN nu-
merous tournaments held over the
single event Of major importance
which was won by any Of these
novlces, there were many OF them
who came into national prominence
just the same. First honors invari-
ably fell to the veterans
The feature events. the two ma
uonal championships. were unusual
" interesting, owing TO the fact that
Nardon and Ray we're on hand for the
open, and Cyril Tolley, British ana
teur champion: Armour, Wethered and
lord Hope quartet representing the
cream OF English amateurs. strove to
duplicate Hilton's victory Of 1911 IN
the amateur.
We're Not Taken Seriously.
While we considered q victory by
Vardon or Ray extremely likely in
our open, there were men like hagen.
Hutchison and Barnes and many 9th
ers almost as good who were looked
upon as having a slightly better
chance than either OF the Britons.
In short, the Englishmen were
not taken seriously enough,
though the odds were against
their winning. For some reason
or ofkcr. the favorites had a bad
time Of # all year, as they most
always do and the open was no
exception It was Ray who
breezed home a victor by a single
stroke over his couutrymans Var
dom as well as over Jock Hutch
fEon. Jack Burke and Leo DeiEeI,
IN what was easily the most eU-
citing open we have ever seen.
Warden really had the title seVTed
up. II Is an old story how badly
he FILTERED on the last few holes.
He had nothing extraordinary TO
accomplish then to win; IN fact, a vic
tory BY him was lar easier than for
The other leaders But then, a man
over so has not the vitality OF
younger men and this natural def
cheney prevented him from bearing
up under the strain bis fail was in
no sense due TO a blow up"
Jock HurehIsonss Position.
Most critics have overlooked Jock
Hutchison- His was the real show
ing OF the home bred pros" Under
the regular scheme OF holding The
open in the past, Jock won the event
hands down But It seems as II the
open e played under different meth
DDS each year. At Brae Burn in 1918
a qualifying round was held and q
certain number eliminated after the
first two rounds
Those remaining continued for an
other IS holes. 50 thar the man who
led at the end OF the first 10 vas
champion Had that same system
been in vogue this past season. Jock
would have crushed the field I do
not recall Just what his score was
for that distance. but his first and
third rounds we're record breaking
SIS. his second being another Won
derful score. It was Jocks final
round which proved his, undoinE, in
asmuch as he finished but q stroke
behind Ray.
Evans Best Amateur.
The biggest golfing surprise Of the
year happened IN our amateur when
England's four leading players. with
one exception, failed 70 qualify. This
proved one thing for certain, and that
is the abundance Of strength we
possess-
Years ago the suggestion Of
such thought would have
brought one a free pass to an IN
sane asylum. There are those
who flny Our scheme Of qualify
ing rounds but there Il apparent
u no other way to handle big
events In respect to the Brifons.
but one Tom Armour showed n
game strong enough TO compare
with former English EO-1era ike
Hilton Ball. Graham and Max
we'll There Is this 20 be said,
however. and II q that English
golf suffered n tremendous set
back during the war, whereas,
many Of our present stars, IN
eligible for service strengthened
their games.
Evans had a narrow escape IN his
match with Reggie Lewis and his
victory came unexpectedly. For
years Evans has been checked con-
lnually by inability 70 put At critical
stages Against Lewis he holed by
all odds the finest putt I ever saw
sunk a. critical stage OF a critical
matCE. when he ran down 20-footer
on a slippery sidehiu green when one
down on the final hole. He eventually
won "a the 4lst hole In what goes
down as The longest match OF this
event
Some Unbeatable Golf.
Il vas my lot to play him in the
finals and I never even looked a
winner. II Evans cannot putt, then
no golfer can He holed everything
In sight that day, while his game to
the green was the acme OF perfsc-
unbeatable golf and no one living
could have downed him that day.
With the exception OF Ned Ailis. a
fine player who reached the semi
finals, none but the veterans really
hand at the game though young in
years Woody Plat, BIZ FoWnes,
Bob Gardner Evans Jones, Marston.
White. Heron and myself, all vet
used the left punch to the pit OF the
"a