Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-13
EVANS PROVED GREATEST IN
WORLDS AMATEUR GOLF CULT
OUercame Three Greatest Drawbacks Supremacy Eng
ncers' Classic: Putting Oumet and Nerve
to Come Our on Top
BY SANDY McNIBLICK

Dy
THERE are some who look upon the
i triumph of Chick Evans over Fran
els Ouimet In the final round Of the
greatest tourney ever held for the
amateur golf championship of the
United States as nothing short of q
miracle.
There are others who feel that the
! argument as to which is the better of
these two mighty stars of the links has
only begun, as they feel the test Ouimet
won last year at Oakmont from Evans
was just as crushing as that admins
tered by Evans to Ouimet on Saturday
at Roslyn.
But to those who followed the play
last week all through that bitter,
;ruelling grind, shot for shot, there is
only one answer.
! Chick Evans unquestionably proved
his right to stand alone in the amateur
class Of all nations for this year Of
grace. 1920. He beat Bobby Jones in
tho western amateur and won that
title. He finished first of the amateurs
in the western open and but three
strokes behind Ted Ray. the winner.
lie entered the amateur over bathing
course where only the grandest fnesse
of ball and club would come through,
where was entered also the greatest
array of stars, In number and class,
that ever competed in national ANA
teur championship anywhere.
The four greatest players of Great
Britain, which included their champion
and the champion Of Scotland, had their
chance TO head him of.
The champion of America, the cham
piou of France, the champion of Can
ada were there. and scarcely single
notable amateur of these United States
was absent.
The Golden Crown
7 But is was fated that Evans shoult
stand where he is today, for he uu'
queStionably proved his right to tn
golden crown of the ancient game
and he proved it with every clup III hi
bng against one OF the finest amateur
that ever played. Francis Ouimct.
= 1t would seem that there We're thre
p decisive stages through which Evan
. passed this year to his greatest tri
= umph.
It Cuimet chose through the sunny day
h of a dormant summer to enter on
It front porch" campaign, caring naugh
for the heated battles being waged OF
a links through the stretches of tn
e country. while Evans was deveiopln
Is his shots and stamina, steeling his sou
= In the white heat of competition In tw
e OF the great events of the preliminar
h season, the western amateur and tn
Is national open.
IS The time has passed when any or
d man can win our amateur championshi
ID BY playing in this one In test withor
IN any previous seasons experience agaln'
ID the barrage Of the stars.
This was the first stage for Evan
70 The second came Wednesday when
Vi was carried to the forty first hole
no that spunky Connecticut golfer, Regg
m Lewis, considered at best a l0U 10
H. H. shot. Yet Evans himself was 100 to
NJ shot after they had opened their q
IN IN on the fifth extra bole. He was CALI
Sn upon to play two miraculous shots
y" succession to live through another nigh
1t looked as though the hand OF ia
es was to lift Evans bodily out OF the Pill
We then and there. >,
Sc But with his back TO the wall, Eva
H. showed them all where maybe even
to Vardon or Ray would not have su
ts' vived, for he made these two Shots.
N, And as he sank the putt that won I
irl match and fiopped to the green kicki
he his feet in the air for the thankfulnt
lly Of the moment, he had been tried in t
he balance and not found wanting. lie b
Of proved the durability Of his soul and "
ready for the rest Of the journey. Th
a saw in him a reincarnated golfer,
lin vived and ready for whatever was
.he store.
'ge Bets Laid
.ne As that huge twilight throng stream
ier away from there back to the clubhol
IKE many mind had resolved that here v
VII the next champion, and many
:, was skinned to bet on 1t.
llle The third stage was reached over
mp first nine holes of the morning round
Ion the title.
Tho Facing Ouimet on the first tee, Ev'
ard faced the favorte. He must have sen
INK it in the throng gathered to view
axe battle. He must have sensed the col
ar dencc OF Ouimet himself, for the Bos
rt- idol was the picture Of unconcern
ease. Evans must have been haun
hia by that other match at Oakmont wi
ace they said he had been outgamed at
d crisis.
will There must have been combined O
]. with the knowledge that he should h
Joe his own through tho green with his w
Ith, and iron the dire thought that on
Ter, green's the great test would come,
for that here was his own great
iff- weakness.