New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-24
Long Drivers Easily De-
feat Famous Opponents
in Driving Rainstorm
By Grantland Rice

ST. LOUIS. Sept. 23.--Two kings of
golf went to the guillotne in the ma
tional amateur tournament to-day, and
tonight their heads are upon the pixies
of fate. With driving rair beating
down upon the field "Chick" Evans.
amateur golf champion of the United
States, and Willie Hunter, amateur golf
champion of Great Britain. fell before
the stouter blades of Jesse Guilford, Of
boston, and Robert A. Gardner, of Chi
cago, who meet tomorrow to decide
whether the East or the West is to hold
the golf capital of America.
me mighty hitting Guiford, with his
Tar, high trajectory, stopped Evans by
the count of 6 up and to play, while
Gardner was up and to play, above
the rain-soaked figure of Hunter, who
struggled gamely to the last.
1T is no day for the wee ones" Hun
ter remarked as he started for the first
tee through the drenching, soaking
downpour. The black clouds above
were massed as far as one could see
Frequent flashes of forked lightning
famed back and forth as the thunder
sounded like the Western front. The
long course was soaked, while the run
ming water made accurate putting a
mere matter of chance.
Physical Power Big Factor
1t was day that put a heavy pre-
MUM upon physical power, and so it
happened that Guilford and Gardner
had the long, carrying wallops at their
command, which gave them too much
advantage to be overcome. They were
like the two six-inch howitzers blast
ing out the lighter field guns, and there
was little question as to how the tide
of victory would run after the morning
round.
Guihord, in defeating Johnston and
Evans, Ouimet's two last conquerors,
has more than avenged his Boston
teammate, and tomorrow the powerful
New England entry will make SUI
preme effort to bring the title back to
Boston for the first time in seven
years, since Ouimet won at Ekwanok
in 1914
In Bob Gardner, however, Gulford
faces a long-hitting, hardhitting OPP
ponent who has won two golf crowns
from the fields of 1909 and 1915 and
who will enter the final dash a slight
favorite over his Eastern rival. This
final melee will be battle between
two of the longest drivers in the game,
further proof that this is the age of
the punch. the era of the wallop, the
dynasty of swat.
1t is seldom in the history Of golf
that two kings are slaughtered upon
Che same day, but whatever chance
Hunter or Evans might have had to
reach the final round passed out upon
the tide of an equinoctial strom. Both
knew what they were up against, for
neither Guilford nor Gardner had any
fear of a water-soaked course.
Rule Works Against Hunter
1t was necessary also to make rule
that the mud could be wiped from the
ball upon any putting green, and the
advantage OF Hunters low approach
shots, which ficked away the mud in
transit, was thus ended Hunter de-
feated Bobby Jones on Thursday
largely through the uncanny accuracy
of his short approaches and his mag
nihcent putting, but to-day the Briton
had no chance to fall back upon the
keenness of his putting blade
Always struggling we'll behind Gard
ner when he reached the green it was
merely a matter upon both sides OF
rapping the putt and leaving the re-
suit in the hands of the gods. 1t was
almost impossible to tell whether an
approach putt would stop ten feet
short or go six over, and the wonder