New-York tribune., 1921-09-12
Birmingham Is
Miracle Man
On Golf Links
Wykagyl Player Goes Around
Course in 20, Breaking
Record; Dispute Ensues
By Ray Mccarthy

Thomas V. Bermingham, star golfer
OF the Wykagyl Country Club, broke
all records for his home course yester-
day afternoon, when he went around in
the fine score Of 70. AS a result of
his record-breaking performance one
OF the warmest little debates ever en-
gagged in by the members of this club
developed. At the time of going to
press no decision had been reached.
The Wykagyl members, feeling that
something different in the way of golf
competition should be arranged and
that some real action should be started,
announced at the beginning OF the
season that the golfer having the low
est score under par for the course
should be awarded prize of $500.
Par of the Wykagyl links, which is 72,
had never been broken, and the mem
bers wondered If it were possible to
lower that mark. The members
started something all right when they
made the announcement of the $500
competition.
Many Take "Whirw
number of professionals have on
various occasions taken whiri at this
purse. Frank Mcnamara, the stalwart
professional of the Cherry Valley club,
was the first and only player to get
under par. On one fine day late in
June he blazed his way around in
seventy-one strokes and up to yester-
day had a toe hold on the purse.
Elijah Horton, the professional of the
Wykagyl club, turned in II recently,
but his claim was disallowed because
he had failed to make q formal an
nouncement of his attempt to try Tor
the record
Now, Birmingham is fine golfer,
the best in fact of any in the Wyagyl
Club. He ranks with the leading play
ers in the Metropolitan district and II
he were able to get away from busl-
ness to play in the various tourna-
ments he would probably collect MS
share of first prizes. lnvarlaoly nc
wins the individual medal competition
held each weekend for the club mem
bers and on Labor Day, playing IN top
form he lowered the amateur rec ord OF
the course of rs, made last year oy
Jesse Sweetser, by getting IA.
pected he would be the one to put IN
q claim for the record prize. All OF
the others knew they had but little
chance, for most of them have their
troubles breaking 80. Bermingham,
himself, probably had no idea he would
break the record. else he would surely
have said so when he started out yes
terday in foursome, composed OF
Charles Y Benton Hudson River Club
star; W. s. Johnston, also of the Hud-
son River Club, and George Luhman,
of Wykagyl.
Young Jesse Sweetser Yale star. and
the Youthful star of the professional
ranks, John Farrell, of Quaker Ridge
were in advance of Birmingham strug,
Cling for the prize. They hnlsnec
with scores of rs and rs. respectively
This was his card:
Out ,s
psF psrming i;i;.i...4s ham ! ! 1 ! S-ss
Bsrningham...5 ) 4 3 8 4 5-s4-7'
Inasnuch as Birmingham had not
announced his intention of trying fo1
the prize, some of the committee mem
bers felt he could not put IN claim
But many of the others were OF the
opinion a formal announcement was re
ouired only of visitors. When they
made the rules regarding the compe
tition the committee had not thought
of one of their own members being the
prize winner. Now they are in q quan
dary and are still trying to figure out
whether or not Birmingham has the
lead for the prize. The contest closes
in October.