The New York herald., 1921-08-16

British amateur golf champion, Will sail
for the United States on Saturday to
play In the American amateur cham
tournament at st. Louis in Sep
tember.
The above item Of news. cabled last
night by the Associated Press. invests
the forthcoming national amateur cham
pionship to be decided az the st. Louis
Country Club with a very high degree
of Importance While it had been un-
derstood earlier in the year that the
British were to do their best to return
the visit paid them by the team under
w. G. Fownes, Jr., American linksmen
recently had given UP all hope Of coun-
ter invasion after hearing that the Royal
and Ancient could not see it's way clear
to send to America a representative
team to participate in the Walker cup
play at the national links. and that even
Roger Wethered. who at one time was
considered a certain starter at st. Louis,
had found 1t impossible TO leave Eng
land this year
IL Americans had been allowed to
name the players they most would like
to see compete here the choice undoubt-
edly would have run strongly to Weth-
cred, who tied Jock Hutchison for the
British open championship at st. An
drews. and Willie Hunter. the player
who emerged from the great amateur
meeting at Hoylake with the honors
which 1t had been rather freely predict
ed would go to some member of the
Big Three of American amateur golf.
Nothing Is lost by the unexpectedness
with which the announcement of Hun
ter's contemplated visit comes upon the
American golfing public. OF all the
outstanding British amateurs he was
probably the last to be considered in
such q connection for 1t is well known
that his duties as a clerk In the British
postal service allowed him but one week
in the year TO devote to the pursuit Of
fame on the links.
II was stated at the time OF his win
ming the British championship that
Hunter contemplated the jump from
amateurism to professionalism and that
he intended launching out on his new
career I'm the United States. But II the
famous artisan golfer has such a step
In view 1t does not seem to be anybody's
business but his own. The fact remains
that he Is O bona fide amateur and wilt
be when he plays In the championship
at ST. Louis
It is quite possible, however. that
Hunter plans no such line Of action, but
merely is taking advantage OF a respite
from the routine Of governmental toll
occasioned by a change of employment
and environment, the news already hav-
ing been waited across the Atlantic that
he had left the south OF England to
accept a position with a firm in Edin-
burgh.
Interesting II is to note that Hunter
tu rn1a nh xra1 Iav a
he did during the now historic week at
Hoylake. His most recent success was
In a tournament at North Foreland.
where no won the chief honors despite
the severe handicap of playing from plus
five. or the performance In that tourna-
ment which, incidentally, was to com
nnemorate the great peace which Hunter
did so much to secure. II is interesting
to note that the champion played lot
Of truly scientific golf MS well as strong
shots. and, aided by the fact that he
holed out for a 3 at the $40 yard first.
for a 2 at the 10 yard fifth and for 1
at the $40 yard eighth, he reached the
turn in 80.
His putting, while sound in the main.
let him down at tho third. where, after
driving to within some twelve feet nf the
pin on the 3f5 yard hole with following
wind, he slipped SO far past as TO take a
4. With the ground still hard from the
long continued drought Hunter made one
or two indifferent wooden club shots
coming home, It Is stated. but on the
other hand no handled his irons to per-
fection.
Mr.. Hunter Is seen very little in
either of the big tournaments apart
from the championships OF the interteam
matches. which give a man chance to
show his, WORTH" laments one writer.
1T is a pity that he is located In q re-
mote corner Of England, with no less se-
v4ro n taskmaster than the Postmaster
General as the keeper OF his nose to the
grindstone. He has plenty of opportu-
nifty for practice. but little chance Of
ssllying forth to take part In events
that occupy several days.