Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-16

1esSlOnalS from all sections OF
America begin the competition this week
for their match play title.
This is the only championship they |
have in this country which the pros |
decide by hole and net stroke.
There are two phladelphians in the
play. Charlie Hoffner. Philmont. and
George Sayres. Merton. Both are ex-
pccted to give good account of them
selves.
Hoffner meets Larry Ayton, the top
notcher from the other side who has
been in this country but few months
and has demonstrated golf of very
superior quality so far.
Sayres plays George Mclean. Great
Neck. n very difficult proposition in
match play.
Due to the select. almost hand
picked. class of the field which quail
fed. the play will be fast and furious
each day. and it will take the keenest
kind of golf to win the match against a
brother pro every day to the finals.
Sayres and Iioffncr both left Toledo
after the national open. rather dis
couraged over their failure to qualify,
in that classic. But the following play.
which both followed eagerly. was an
inspiration to them. and it's a safe bet
that both will play sound golf in the
match play this week at Chicago. for
getting the past
There probably never was an open
golf championship Of the United States
which America so much wanted
nephew of Your Uncle Sam to win or
really thought such n one would win.
Ted Ray. one of BritOn'S best. de-
serves, therefore. all the more credit
that he was able to win the title from
the eager pack. That it was won only
by the margin of u stroke makes no
difference. Two had already finished
with BOG, Harry vardon and Jack
product. Ray, knowing this. had the
golf to finish in 2o5.
1t was enough.
Winning Shot
The winning shot in golf as in every
thing else. will ever be the right shot
at the right time. What n golfer can
do and has done counts for little If not
produced at the right time.
Ray iproduccd, and American lovers
Of the game, in the physical form, of
u. s. &. \, officials. were the first
to extend the congratulatory hand.
The only possible regret to be gotten
out of the tournament from America
standpoint was that Leo Diegel. the
home bred, game to the core, but high
strung, battling his way in two pairs
behind Ray. with rca chance, was
not let alone to play his own game.
He had played rr> game to inter
mittent galleries. Thy haI studied his
game from the start and found in him
q hope should Hagen and the others fall
by the waysidc,
The day LrfOrr the Quniiiy'n" round
DicgPl had gone out with Bobby Jones
and others in four ball round and
had given brilliant exhibition of shots.
He led the first days qualifying round
and came in with ii huge following. His
was a showing that took out possibly
hundred fans from tho frs; Jay. brt
brought them in by the thousand.
And when h" caught Ray at tn"
sixty fifth flag not a man, woman or
child able to toddle out there was not
present to see him win the champion
shin. You could scnse in the air what
they expected OF hm as they narkel
fifteen deep in great aisles along his
triumphant march.
The Volunteers
Iaick Evans hrd dnI.hch his round
and probably thought to steady Diego
over the few remaining holes by carry
ing the keen young home bred's bag.
Dipgel COul0n reiuSP. by tnHl time ne
vas probably too much keyed up to
think anything Of it.
But Evans in the opinion of every one
who saw it. ovcrdid the job, Meant
IN all kindness, hopefulness and the
sincere desire TO see DIGGER win, Evans
brought down the ire of the pros and
veterans at the game, scattered profuse-
ly in that gallery. by the manner in
which he hung over Diegels every
move. lined up his puts for him and
counscled him continuously.
Others patted Diegel on the back as
he went to the tees. told him he had
II cinched." what they'd give him to
win and so forth, All very sympa
thctic. all very loyal, and all very fine
ut a football game, or n hght or some
thing
But how about the last few hol les Of
an international medal open golf cham
nionship. for mere yOungster, mind
and muscle at the straining point after
all that nerve racking tussle he'd had
TO get where he was?
lie couldn't forget his chance. They
told him. reminded him of it at every
shot inst when he needed every atom
of control every mite Of concentration.
aII tho even tempered, cool balance Of
a veteran with twice his experience.
But when man burst through the
rones, ran up to Diegel lining up
shot at fourteen, and told him excited.