The Washington times., 1921-12-18
BEST
PROFESSIONAL
|. OVER CAMPAIG
Australian Proves Lowest scor-
or in at Least Fifteen British
Journeys.

INTATISTICS on the perform
- anceg of golfers in the British
- Isles during the season which
has Just come to an end give the
palm to Joseph H. Kirkwood, the
versatile Australian star, who took
part in the Shawnee, national snd
metropolitan open championship
Journeys and who also gave numer-
Gus exhibitions of his skill at vari-
Gus golf clubs throughout this
country. Kirkwood was the best
scorer among the professional golf
ers taking part IN. fifteen rounds
or more jim British golf tourna-
ments. H
Topping the Australians perform
ance, but not eligible for consideration
because Of the fact that his average Is
based upon only nine rounds. Is Jock
Hutchison, the Glen View profes-
sional, who, for the first time In his
tory, succeeded in bringing back the
British championship trophy to Amer
lean shores. -. IL.
The sensational golf that the genial
Chicagoan played while ION his ram
page at and around St. Andrews Is
shown In the fact that In the nine
rounds considered by the statistician
who has made the calculations Hutchi-
son turned In the marvclously low
Average Of 72.77. The fact that the
figures include his championship
rounds improves the quality Of the re-
! suit, but the test OF his average Ii too
limited to make 1t comparable to that
OF either Kirkwood, who had an aver
age Of "A. Is for fifteen rounds. or A. G..
HaSers. the young Lancashire play
err. whose figures are 74.14, based on
twenty-one rounds.
The latter, who was recently much
sought after by the Druid Hills Golf
Club, of Atlanta Ga. to take the place
of the late J. Douglas Edgar, had a
wide margin over the other British
homebreds.
Ted Ray Is High.
Ray, who won the American open
title at Toledo yea ago. had an aver
age of 1915 for twenty-five rounds
which would indicate that at least one
of the members Of the old quintet of
Ray, vardon, Braid, Taylor and Herd,
still possesses q mastery over brassie,
mashie and putter that has not been
yet usurped by the new triumvirate
of Duncan, Mitchell and Havers. In
Rays case the figures are based on
calculations which include two rounds
aggregate that tied for the last of the
eighty qualifying places In the cham
pionship. -
Following Ray comes Abe Mitchell.
who seems to hold the place OF honor
at the head OF the British fraternity at
the present time. He had 1853 for
| twenty-one rounds.
The veterans, Vardon, Braid, Taylor
End Herd, follow in order and came
within a range from q shade under to
trifle over rs. Duncan, 1.-THE British
champion In 1920, did not get below 76
and is preceded by ockenden and
Leach
One of the peculiarities about the
calculations is the fact that, with the
exception of Hutchistn, not one Of the
Ray-managed to secure the honors in
a big tournament.
1 They Praise Kirlwood.
British critics are profound In their
praise Of the work done by Kirkwood
during his three-months stay In the
British Isles, pointing to the fact that
T, In two instances only Mitchell stood
between him and the victory.
| "Kirkwood," says q British common
tsry, intends to return to this country
4
tween now and then to affect the com
plexion of his entry for the champions
rhip and other events. The probability
II that II the right offer IL made to him
In the United States we may receive
his name for the open championship
with the title of some well-known
American club attached thereto TIC
find him as companion invader, with
Hutchinson, Hagen and Barnes would
be a piquant development. but recent
events In America forecasts an even
stranger. from the Scottish. and par
ticularly Edinburgh point of view
state of affairs. The inclusion OF Rob
ert Cruickshank, not 10 long ago a
schoolboy hero Of a Braid Hills tour
nament in such a party has become
the possibility of an early season. The
}Lx-amateur, who was even q year age
O pillar of the Edinburgh school OF
u golf. has evidently arrived In playing
connection within few months Of