The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-23
jim BARNES gains
OPEN GOLF TITLE
Brilliantly Consistent Play
Earns Victory by Margin
Of 8 Strokes.
tiHa
HIS TOTAL SCORE IS 289
President Harding in Gallery
That Sees Hagen and Nc
Leod Tie for Second.
HIS TOTAL SCORE rs 289
BY KERR N. PETRIE.

States regained possession of her ma
tional open golf championship cup to-
day through the fundamentally OF
Long Jim Barnes, professional OF the
Pelham Country Club Of Pelham, N. x.
In the annual tournament played over
the links of the Columbia Country Club
Jim led the fine international field over
the seventy-two holes of play with
total score Of 2s9 strokes and won
the trophy and title carried to Eng
land last year by Ted Ray by the
largest margin in the history OF the
American golf classic. Barnes scored
2S9, winning by no less than nine
strokes from Walter Hagen and Fred
Mcleod, who tied at 29S for second
place.
Although at the outset holding out
glowing hopes of living up to the
standard set last year at Inverness
both in play and keenness of COM
petition, the tournament took on a
strangely drab aspect toward the fin
ish, due to the marked superiority dis
played by Barnes. Starting with a
lead Of four strokes over the field as
the result Of the first thirty-six holes
of play Jim in the long run ran all of
his rivals into the ground. The chase
wasn't even what could be called "A
good one. In the morning Walter
Hagen set out to do whatever he
could to bring Jim to his senses. but
although he went out in a fine "a and
gave promise of equalling the record
established and then equalled by
Barnes, it did not worry Jim in the
slightest.
To begin with. Barnes had lead Of
eight strokes on Hagen, and as Walter
fnished in 70 and Barnes in 70 the lead
Of the Pelham. sharpshooters as the third
round began still was the huge one of
seven strokes. Hagen and Fred Mcleod
were 224 for the ffty-four holes and
Barnes PIT. Barnes had not been play
ing any too well at the outset OF his
morning round, but there was certainly
nothing wrong with him In the after
noon. Going out in "a. he played well
within himself coming home, and fin
1shed In ~, totallins @e5.
A Comfortable Margin.
Mcleod and Hagen could do no better
than "a each, and so Jim added Two
strokes more to his margin winning by
no less than nine shots. and with one Of
the lowest scores that has won the
honors in recent years. When Chick
Evans annexed the open honors at Min
neapolis In 1916 he totalled 2s6. Alex
Smith made this score to win at Onwen-
toia in 1906
Rather odd It is that Jim should have
managed to score so well over course
which has proved puzzle to many. and
to a few nothing short of nightmare.
Barnes's first championship has been
long in matelializng. for he has been
knocking at the door for years and lead
ing the professionals in minor events
consistently only to fall down time after
time when almost within grasp OF the
biggest honor of all. However. Jim Is
champion at last, and no one can say
that his honor is not well won.
II is worthy of note that Barnes takes
the championship back with him to Pei
ham Country Club. an organization
which opened its links officially only two
weeks ago.
d And while Barnes was spreadeagling
the field for his nine shot lead he would
have made it no less than dozen
strokes had It not been for the presence
of the former champions Mcleod and
Hagen. After these two there was a
zap of four strokes and then came Chick
Evans at 800. At 900 were Bobby Jones,
the young Atlanta amateur star: En-
NETT French of Youngstown, Ohio. and
Alex Smith Of Shennecossett, who won
the national open championship twice,
the last time about dozen years ago.
Alex has played finely all the way
through and. like Mcleod, who was title
holder away back in 1908. appears to be
serving notice on the younger school
that the old guard still has to be reck-
oned with.
Duncan Tied for Eighth.
George Duncan, last years British
champion tied with his playing partner.
Clarence Hackney of Atlantic City. for
eighth place at sos. After these two
came Emil Goeffler of Pttsburg at sos.
Alfred Hackbarth of Partridge. ILL.,. at
307, and Eddie Loose of Ravisloe. CHI
cago, at 30S. Hackbarth made the days
low score, finishing with a So and there
by tieing the record mark made by Jim
Barnes.
AS two amateurs figured in the prize
u
and Cyril Walker Of Englewood divided
the sum of the eleventh and twelfth
prizes, each with a score OF 800. Evans
and Jones will receive a suitable prize
in plate. but the value Of their trophies
will not be deducted from the profess
sional purse. And while Barnes with
his remarkable victory wrote a new page
into the history of American golf the
occasion was made historical in another
way, for the Chief Executive OF the
United States paid golf the singular
honor and the players the great compli-
mont of watching their expiring efforts
from a position on the first tee over
looking the home green.
President Harding later made the
presentation and In addition to compli-
menting Barnes on his fine victory
referred to him as an ideal sports
man. He remarked that he could speak
from first hand knowledge of the fine
qualities of Barnes, inasmuch as he
had played good deal of golf with
him at St Augustine last winter.
In reply Barnes thanked the President
for his flattering cuogy. the Columbia
Country Club and officials for their
Kindness and hospitality and conclud-
ing with the remark Personally this
has been the most successful tournament
that ever l attended"
Barnes was putting on the fourteenth
green OF his last round when the Presi-
dent arrived. Away up the valley on
the home green some pair was just
holding out but IL was clear that the