Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-10-03
GOLF TITLE HELD
BY RULING HEAD
OF ASSOCIATION
Declares Mitchell and
Diegel Had No Right
to Play 1t Off
MATCH NOT OFFICIAL
Association Will Have
to Rock Along With.
out a Champeen
(By Associated Pressl

l
| (By Associated Press|
| Nashville, Tenn, Oct. 3.-The
southern open golf tournament failed
to produce champion, according to a
statement issued last night by Pres
ident H. F. Smith, of the Southern
Golf association. He declared that
the play off of three holes, after Leo
DiegeI, of New Orleans, and Abe
Mitchell, of England, were tied for
the second time at the end of the ex-
ira SO holes, was an illegal arrange
ment between the British and the
Louisiana pro. Mr., Smith pointed
out that on that account the South
ern Golf association could not rec
ognize either as champion.
Mitchell and Diegel agreed to con-
soIdate first and second money, and
divide the $4,000 in equal parts as
their share of the purse, when they
were square at the completion of the
t36-hole playoff. The three-hole agree
ment was q private arrangement,
without the sanction of the Southern
Golf association, according to Presi-
dent Smiths statement He points
out that at least 1S holes should have
been played to entitle either to the
claim of championship
The statement by President Smith
follows:
con behalf Of the Southern Golf
association and the tournament com
mittee appointed to conduct the
southern open tournament at Belle
Meade last week we desire to state
that the event did not develop a
champion. The program provided for
la contest of 72 holes, medal play,
condition; "a tie or ties for first
place will be played off at 36 holes
on October l."
Messrs. Mitchell and Diegel, at the
end of the 72 hole contest were tied
for first place, each having scored
280 strokes. At the end of the play
off Of 36 holes on the first instant
they were again tied.
The score of 28O strokes for the r.
hole contest was the lowest returned
at any open tournament ever CON
Quoted by the Southern association.
The field Of contestants embraced
the most skillful golfers in the world,
and Messrs. Mitchell and Diegel each
each scored a victory over all of the
other participants, but each fed inI
this contest to establish superiority
of skill over the other contestant.
".At the end of the 36-hoIe contest
on the first the conditions and re-
quirements of the program were
complete. No provision had been
made for proIonging the play, or re-
newing the contest. The prizes for
first and second places were consol-
idated and divided equally between
the two contestants, this being the /
general practice under like condi-
tions. 7
"The contestants mutually agreed
to play three additional holes. So
far as the association and its tourna-
ment committee were concerned, this
action did not constitute an official
contest. Had provision been made
requiring continuation of the con-
test until a winner was developed, the /
contestants would have been required
to engage in a full round Of golf, con-
sisting of IS holes.
Attention is called to the fact that
these two contestants performed
most skillfully throughout the tour
Mr.. Diegel especially, aft
er starting his second round of golf
six down to Mr.. Mitchell at the end
of the fourth round, scored a tie with
him for first place. Mr. Mitchell
scored 6s, SO, 90, "a strokes .respec-
lively for the four rounds Mr.. Die
gel scored "a. 6st SO. SO strokes re-
spectively for the four rounds Mr.
Diegel was also four down at the end
of the 1s-hole round played in the
forenoon of the first, again tying Mr..
Mitchell as result Of the last putt
on the S6th hole.
The entire contest was conducted