The New York herald., 1921-10-05
BY KERR N. PETRIE.

Spec.dl Despatch to The NEW YORK HERALD.
DEAL, N. j.. Oct. 4.--That shadow Of
doubt and misgiving which beset tho
women's national golf championship the
moment the entry Of Miss Cecil Leitch
was received several weeks ago became
o veritabie storm cloud Of menace with
the playing Of the first round Of the
annual title tourney OF the u. s. @. A..
to-day on the links Of the Hollywood
Golf Club. And, strange to relate. II was
nothing that the British champion ac-
required of her In workmanlilte and
thorough fashion. that brought the sim
lister unge to the lowering ntmbus.
Rather was It the fact that he cham
pion's sister, Miss Edith, coupled with
Mrs. Latham Hall the former British
runner up, drove through whatever
smoke screen may have hidden their
talents heretofore. and removed from
the tournament two of the strongest
contenders. In Miss Gienna Coiiett Of
Providence and Mrs. William A. Gavin
Of Beileciaire. holder Of the metropolitan
championship.
In the medal round Of yesterday, when
she tied with Miss Coilett at IS. Mrs.
Hall gave sufficient warning Of what
may be expected Of her. Even at that
1t was not. generally felt that on top Of
her opening furry she would flash q
game OF sufficient iustre to dim the
briiliance Of Mrs. Gavin's sound golf. In
this case the reserve Of match power
was on all fours with the initial display
OF medal strength, for Mrs. Hall survived
tho nerve wracking test Of q substantial
lead gradually diminished. held on
grimly even after her opponent In . last
desperate rally had squared on the eigh-
teenth green, and kept her head through
another brilliant squirt on the nineteenth.
finally to emerge with colors flying on
the second extra hole.
Forecasts Go Awry.
But II there may have been finger
ing shadow Of doubt as to Mrs. Gavin's
ability to hold Mrs. Hall there 10 no
question but that all forecasts werc
awry when II came to estimating the
strength Of Miss Edith Leitch.
Evidently there II some virtue IN be-
ing the sister Of a great champion.
While watching Miss Cecil golf students
had overlooked the talent on the other
side Of the family. Miss Leitch was
only down once against the Providence
lass. who holds the Rhode Island and
Boston district championships. and that
was at the very first hole, which was
won and lost In to 6. On the second
Miss Leitch squared by virtue Of putt
Of Some eighteen feet in length. Two
holes further on the same player won
q hole that looked to be going to her
opponent, getting down in one putt after
pitching her tee shot to the rough. short
and to the right OF the green. and after
that she was never caught
~
was case Of hope deferred. Hole after
ful Miss Collett traiied along telling each
other that Miss Leitch could not pos-
aby last.
Form was bound to tell In the long
run, they said. These swirling drives.
powerful brassies and long crisp irons
were certain to take effect sooner or
later. The English girl could not for
ever pitch dead to the pin or hole out
In one putt. 1t was not In the nature OF
things.
Miss Collett and Miss Leitch on that
fourth hole had done something that
laid bare the very soul and kernel Of
the match. although at the moment the
oniookers were not aware of II. Miss
Leitch. II has been remarked. placed her
second close from the rough and holed
the putt
Inaccurate Short shots.
Miss Collect. on the other hand. made
such an excellent tee shot that the effort
was rewarded with round OF applause.
The ball lay right on the edge OF the
green. on the short rough II 10 true, but
20 well placed that Miss Co'lett used q
puttcr for her second shot. Playing up
hill, she allowed too much and ran me
ball six feet over. This one she missed.
All the way through II was just about
the same thing. Miss Collctt had many
chances. but whatever she gained on the
long game she invariably lost on the
short. until II gradually began to be
borne In upon her admirers that perhaps |
after ali they had been expecting too
much. They had forgotten to take into !
confederation that vital question Of ex-
perience.
Miss Collects swing is 80 graceful. 90
powerful ana fvil Of rhythm. her iron |
playing so crisp that one Is 'ulled INTO |
false idea Of her greatness. One In |
stinctively looks for perfect shots and |
par figures every time and forgets that |
these cannot possibly come until there
d. -