Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-14
Sporting News Of the Day
AMERICAN LADY
COLFCHAMPION
IS IN ENGLAND

Will Try For Championship
u Title in Scotland on
May 80.
London, May 1.-tBy Mail -Miss
Alexa Stirling. of. Atlanta. Ga, Ameri-
as champion pms golfer now in
England as one Of the representa-
tives Of the United States Golf asso-
citation to compete for the British
women's championship title at Turn
perry. Scotland. onsMay 80, made her
first appearance in English competi-
ton recently at Stoke Poges in the
annual match between ten Of the best
women players and ten leading male
amateurs. Each woman was allowed
half-a-stroke a hole. Miss Stirling
was defeated by r.. III. de Montmor-
ency while the British woman cham
pion won her match from j. H. Toll
ley. who beat Robert A. Gardner OF
Chicago in the final round last year
for the British amateur championship.
AT English golfng authority writ
ing. in q london daily. gives his inn
preston Of Miss Strings game on
her initial appearance abroad and
compares .her style Of play with that
of the British champion, Miss Leitch.
as follows:
1.-THE real interest was centered in
Miss Stirling as the, chief representa-
tive OF the great American golf1ng
public. Her reputation and position
Miss Leitch in this country: both are
supreme in their own spheres. Per-
haps the gulf between Miss Stirling
and her American contemporaries il
greater than that between Miss Leitch
and Miss Joyce Wethred and Miss
Molly Grif1ths, to mention only two
English lady golfers who are advanc-
ing steadily to the standard set by
the British lady champion.
Having seen Miss Stirling play on
a course which is not dissimilar to
many Of the first class United States
inland courses. there can be little
question hat she is far superior in
sheer golfing science to any other
American lady who has honored us
with her presence. But that does not
mean to imply that she is the equal Of
Miss Cecil Leitch. Frankly. I do not
think she is, and for one very simple
s Miss Stirling lacks the
punch" to U.s. a somewhat indicate
but expressive phrase. that produces
length, and which is so characteristic
of Miss Leitch's game. 1 believe that
the British lady champion would
outdrive her by 10 to Is yards, which
makes all the difference in the world
when playing a full two-shot hole.
I'm the matter Of style they are as
xidely apart as the poles. certSinly
swing, but that Is the only point Of
resemblance. Miss Stirling takes the
club back slowly, gracefully land
rhythmically, without the slightest
sign OF jerk " snatch in the swing.
She brings the club down quickly, but
the pace is not fast enough at tho i'm
pact. The follow-through is complete
with the hands fairly high at the
finish.
Nov, Miss Leitch takes the club
back dangerously quick and brings it
down with he maximum Of speed,
with the result that the head Of the
club and the ball meet in a resound-
ing crash. With Miss Stirling it is
more Of a sweep than a blow. In Miss
Leitch's case the follow-through is
restricted. AS regards the grip, an,
important factor In ladies' golf, where
strength of fingers and hands has to
be taken into account. the methods OF
the two champions are quite different.
Miss Stirling uses the overlapping
grip with the left hand well over the
club, while Miss Leitch employs the
old Scottish grip with both thumbs
round the shaft.
III there are features Of Miss
Strings play which stand u above
everything else they are her steadi-
ness and accuracy. It may be. Of
distance to these attributes, and on
difficult courses, where nature and
mans cunning have full sway, this
plan ma meet with SUCCESS. TO steer
clear of sandy wastes. while your
more powerful and dashing opponent
Is getting into them, has won many q
championship.
Probably the shots in which Miss
Stirling really excels are the three
quarter iron and mashie strokes. She
hits the ball firmly and overs the nag
the whole way. Some Of these shots
were a real Joy to watch, because. al
a general rule, ladies r woefully In
efficient when an iron club Is placed
in their hands.
Perhaps it was asking a little too
much Of her to meet r. II. de Mont
morency, plus three, on a curse that
he knows upside down. For eight
Miss Stirling played amazingly well:
80 well, in fact, that Mr.. Montmorency
was fighting with his back to the wall
At this point she was 9 up, and the
issue, so far as Mr.. Montmorency wal
concerned. was in the gravest doubt
Then came an extraordinary, swif,
and astonishing collapse, and Mis-.
Stirling lost six out OF the next sever
holes, although she was in receipt Of
a stroke at four Of them. Tho pros.
pect Of q keen and desperate f1niaf
vanished like snow in sunshine.
Miss Sitting. who since her n.
rival in England has been playing Z
good deal at Hoylake and Turnberry
developed a blister on her left hand
during the match, which became NOR,
painful as the game proceeded. Thi
may have had something to do With
her otherwise somewhat startling col,
lapse. Anyhow, fshe complained o.
feeling fearfully tired when the gam.
was over.
Miss Stirling has brought owe,
with her countless dozens of q certain
quite candid, the ball she was usinl
was too heavy for her, although O
limit weight and size, and i agree Will
Mr.. Montmorency that she would thavl
done Infinitely batter with q lighte
ball. Her driving. although str1tgh
on the whole. did not altogether i'm
press me, for the q hat Their
was not enough carry In it. The bal
few 1T too low an altitude, and not
withstAnding that she WA CONSTANT!
playing for . hook, there was no
enough run on tho ball"
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