The New York herald., 1921-09-11
GOLFERS PREPARING
TO REPEL INVASION
American Stars Will Meet
British Champion at st.
Louis.
1876 PLAY ON SATURDAY
Entries Disclose Fine Field for
National Amateur Title
Play.
36 PLAY ON SATURDAY
ny KERR N. PETRIE.

ny KERR N. PETRIE.
Provided all are physically At and
all have their business affairs so
regulated that they are in a position
to follow up their entries by actual
participation, a group OF seven men
will be seen in the grim whirl OF the
forthcoming national amateur golf
championship over the links Of the St.
Louis Country Club who have ac-
counted for thirteen of the last fifteen
titles. This is a record that probably
never before has been equalled any
where.
1t can be said, moreover, that the
champion OF every year since 1904 is
to be present. with only two ex-
ceptions, and that il Eben NJ. Byers Of
Pittsburgh sends in his name the only
celebrity left out will be Harold Il.
Hilton Of England, who came here on
his successful invasion in 1911.
Since Ss04 the championship has been
played toe just fifteen times. this maxi
ing allowance for the two years OF war.
1917 and 1918. in which there was no
competitive golf. Jr 1904 and 1905 the
title was in the possession OF II. Chand-
Ter Egan Byers got It in 1906. In 1907
Jerome Travers succeeded to the throne
and still welded the sceptre In 1908,
retiring then to make room In 1909 for
Robert A. Gardner. then Of Hinsdale
and Yale
When Gardner dropped the honors
w. c. Fownes, Jr.. OF Pittsburgh, gath
cred them up in the 1910 tournament at
Brookline, Mass. Following that came
Hilton's successful quest, and although
the English star came back to defend
the following year at Wheaton. ILL.,, the
crown passed to Travers. who once
again successfully defended, this time
at Garden City. In 1918.
In 1914 Francis Ouimet took the title
away from Travers and lost It In 1915
at Detroit to Gardner, who took charge
for the second time. All this while
Chick Evans had been hammering away
at the door, but it was not until the
tournament Dt Merton in 1916 that Chick
found his way into the charmed circle
Following the hiatus caused by the
war a new champion loomed up in the
person Of S. Davidson Heron. who won
the title over his home course at Oak-
mont, Pittsburgh. Last year Heron
passed out Of the picture at the urging
OF J. Wood Plat. and Evans again came
to the front, winning for the second
time.
Thirteen Out of Fifteen.
From this 1t will be seen that Egan,
Travers. Gardner, Fownes, Ouimet.
~ -.
ribbon between them no less than thir-
times out Of the last fifteen. All those
mentioned are entered for the champion
ship beginning next Saturday and only
the entry Of Byers is required to make
It a perfect score. so far as American
winners are concerned, covering the
period from 1904
Egan has not played since about 1903,
In which year, after defeating Evans In
the semi-nnal, he fell a victim to Gard
ner in the last round. No long after
that the one-time great Yale star moved
to the Pacific Northwest and became in
terested In apple growing. From that
time to this, national championship golf
has known him not. Fortunately, Egan
has not been entirely lost to the game,
and now he Is ready once more 10 rush
INTO the fray as leader of the Pacific
Northwest forces.
ThA only fly In the ointment SO far
a. It concerns the alobe list OF cham
pions Is In connection with the Illness OF
Fownes, the player who whipped together
and captained the amateur team which
unsuccessfully invaded England this
year. Fownes came on to Philadelphia
less than two weeks ago to participate
in the Pennsylvania State amateur cham
pIonship but inst@d OF playing had to
60 to hospital ~ Baltimore for an
operation for what was reported to be
cancer OF the ear. The sudden illness
OF Fowncs has east deep gloom over the
entire world Of golf and II wishes have
any healing power the popular "Bfll'
viii be on the firing line at st. Louis.
All that linksrnen can do for the present
Il to hope that Fownes's illness has not
been so serious AZ at first reported.
Travers SIM Undecided.
1t has also been whispered around the
metropolitan clubs the last few days that
despite his entry Jerome d. Travers still
Is In two minds about the championship.
Jerome, 1t would seem. has been having
his share OF colds and even now IL try
ing TO clear the dregs of one of these
from his system. The doubt exists only
in regard to his physical strength. for
those who have been with him on the
links this summer assert that he is play
Ing as well as ever he did. perhaps
trifIe better--driving with greater ac-
curracy and power than when he was
winning championships and putting like
a fiend. they say.
Some or Jeromes friends fear that his
recurring colds have kept hin, from
building up his strength sufficiently to
sustain him I'm week of cilampio nship
golf. Evidently they would rather see
him stay at home than have him tire
and fall victim to some second rater.
Quite possibly OF course they may be
mistaken as 20 Travers's true condition.
And possibly. again, they may have for
gotten TO make allo vance for the Upper
Montclair stars fighting spirit. which
has pulled him out OF many bunker
when the odds seemed hopeless.
The decision IL with Travers. but
rolfdom Is hoping that the answer will
be an emphatic Yes"
Tho appearance OF all these former
champions. needless to say, has raised
interest In the event to tho zenith.
Something more has CONFERENCE.-The
entry OF the British titlchoider william
]. Hunter OF Walmer and Kingdown. the
player who emerged from cbscurity in
the great international meeting AT Hoy
lake In June.
Thomas u. Armour Of Lothiohurn.
Scotland, who reached the round before