New-York tribune., 1921-05-02
Pelham Links
Star, Disabled,
Leads Rivals
Bandaged Neck Fails TO
Check Noted Professional
in Best Ball Contest
By Ray Mccarthy

crack professional golfer, playing with
handaged neck, managed to score we'll
enough on the Bciicclairc Country Club
course at Bayside, L. l., yesterday af-
tsrnoon to give his team & victory. He
and Aleck Smith, noted professional
who has just returned from Belleair,
Fla. comprised the winning team. They
defeated Walter Hagen, former nation
Al champion. and Gil Nichols in best
ball match. The margin Of victory was
IMP.
Nichols and Smith arc rivals Of old.
They were mostly In the Iimslight
back In 1905. when Aleck won IT, -
tional title, and in 1910. when the same
Aleck was again champion.
They are rivals still, and, although
their game Is not quite so keen as 1t
was then, they yet carry punch.
Hagen and Barnes need no introduc-
ticn.
Barnes In Fine Trim
These pairs Of rivals had a merry
struggle of it over the Belleclaire
course before large gallery and gave
fine exhibition of golf play. Barnes,
in particular, played we'll. He was hit
ting the ball finely and scoring easily.
One wonders just what he will do when
slI of the boils have disappeared from
his head-piece. He has been incapaci-
sated since the last week of March and
is just beginning to play again.
The big fellow got tremendous dis
tance on his drives, as he has been do
iag since the first Of the year. Only
Jock Hutchinson seems to be rivalinp
him in this respect at present. Barnes
was also playing his short game effec-
lively.
Hagen was somewhat off form on his
driving and in his iron play, although
he performed creditably 90 most of the
holes The former champion is in need
Of practice. He can stand a lot Of
drilling, and will probably go to it this
month He has the physique and
thrives on hard work.
Provided Hagen regains his former
deftness within the next month and
Barnes recovers his good health. the
chances of the United States in the
British open tournament in June will
axe on rosy aspect.
Nichols Shows Old vigor
Gil Nichols was .arruping the pill
With all the vim and vieor he showed
several years ago, but his steadiness
vas missing. 1t was the same with
Smith.
Barnes and Smith went into the lead
on the second hale. After halvinr the
first in fours, Long Jim got home in
TWO at the second and down in two
1or bird four. The others took fives.
Hagen squared the match ON the
fourth, when ne laid his approach dead
and got bird three. Barnes took a
four and the other two fives. The re-
naming holes on the outgoing journey
Coming in, Barnes and Smith both
gol threes on the twelfth, while their
tpp9hehts were consuming, four
strokes, and sgaln took the lead Hagen
and Nichols 10th played the thirteenth
poorly also, and took fives each. Barnes
and Smith, playing down the main
line, got their fours and a lead oF
two up.
hagen got beautiful birdie three
~ 1ne fIfteenth,. again laying his ap-
proach dead, which cut down the lead
o. his opponents by one hole. but
S1rnes and Smith managed to halve
.ae remaining three holes and emerged
victorious fy one up.
u was announced by the manage
e ment OF the Belleclaire Club yesterday
slas Barnes and Hagen had been
booked to meet the English experts
ueorge Duncan and Abe Mitchell in
tdmber 90. se 'ep-
The cards: