The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-16

cost John Black, Oakland, Cal, pro fessional, a tie for first, and these strokes, with a missed putt few greens earlier. kept him from win ming the title. He finished stroke behind Sarazen in tie with Bobby Jones, youthful Atlanta amateur, for second, while William Mehlhorn of Shreveport, La, was fourth with 2s0, and Walter Hagen of Detroit. Brit ish open champion. fifth, with 2s1. Jim Barnes of Pelham Manor. N. r.. defending his title, was hopelessiy out of the running. finishing well down the list.
 Only. one of the three Britons fin ished among the first IF, George Duncan tying for sixth with Leo Diegel of New Orleans. Jones was the only amateur in this list.
 An American Victory
 Sarazen's victory came in typical American fashion, for he was hardly considered even a possibility at the start of today's play. and had 70 fight his way through from place in the rear He did 1t with an ex- hibition of golf that has seldom even been approached In a titular con test, for his final IS holes werd made in 33-35-6S-2 strokes under par and one of the only two scores to break par in the two days of play. This 6S equaled the course record in competition and tied Hagen's low mark of yesterday.
 When Sarazen tied in this card 1t seemed reasonably sure that he would be the winner, but the crown did not settle firmly to his head until many hours later, for out on the links playing desperately wers three golfers, two of them listed 4l. cho striving to cut strong of 2s8 mark and snatch the victory out of Sara zen's hands.
 Jones Threatened
 First, Bobby Jones threatened the Pittsburg player, for Bobby had par 70 in the morning, a 36 on the first afternoon round and needed only a par 36 on the last nine to tie. Bobby had fine chance to do this until he. reached his seventy first hole. This hole, later to prove Blacks uemesia, also was too much for the young southerner and his five against par four put him out. A short approach followed by a short run up was Bobbys troubles.
 Then the statisticians figured that Walter Hagen could tie with a 6s for the afternoon. He took 35 on the first nine and then fell down completely.
 Saraxen Modest
 With only John Black between him and the title, Sarazen sat on bench in the locker room insisting to his friends that he covld not win.
 How can l win?" he asked Leo Diegel. Pm just a kid. just bean professional three years. and what little l learned was caddying out there; it's the best in the world Of course. l hope l win But it's too much to expect, even if you did tell me last spring when l won the southern open championship at New Orleans that I was sure to capture the national championship"
 Black Cracked
 When 33 against par 34 was re- ported for Blacks first afternoon round-meaning that he could shoot 3S on the par 36 final nine and tie Sarazen-it began to look as if the F1ttsburg player was right in being modest. But Black, A years old. southern, northern and central Cali fornia champion, low yesterday with 142 and reputed to be at his best when under fire. failed in the pinch, where the little fellow from Penn sylvania had improved in the crisis.
 When the California man put him. self out Of the running at the seventy first, newspaper man rushed to the locker room and told Sarazen he had won.
 Sarszen's Celebration
 He jumped from the bench. turned handspring and let out a yell few moments later he was carried out on the shoulders of some of the thou sands who gathered round and given cheer after cheer
 Reaching down in his pocket Sara zen pulled out a roll and took off $l50 in American money
 This Is for the kid who helped me win.' he said, and handed it to his caddy
 Tbe tournament produced record breaking golf. All of the prize Win ners, the first 12, finished with scores or 300 or less. This is two strokes less than the BOP score with which Hagen won the British championship.
 Youth Wns Served
 The tournament also brought a new era in professional golf, for 1t found all of the old guard--Hagen. Barnes, Hutchison. Evans, Mitchell Duncan and the many others whose names are by-words in the golf world-swept out of the run ming. A boy triumphed over age and experience, while another boy was tied for second and only one veteran -Black--realls pressed the winner And Black is comparatively unknown except out west.
 Sarazen was 21 years old last February. He was born in Rye N Y. and it was around that vicinity that earning little pocket money as a caddy, he picked up his golf knowledge. George Spariinr m a xxth l. was the only real teacher he ever had. Sarazen is scarcely five feet. five inches tall and weighs only 14s pounds.
 Asked If he was married, the new champion laughingly replied:
 "Goodness. no, but just bring on the girls and be sure and tell them I'm single"
 And when the many feminine ad- mirers flocked around they agreed that little Gene was just about the pest looking golf player they ever saw.
 Walter Hagen. when he won the open title some years ago, was only years old-Sarazen's age in years put the present champion is a few months younger than Hagen was when he captured the title
 Sarazen's game throughout the tournament was remarkably steady ana frequently brilliant Of the eiEht sections of nine holes each, he p'ayed three in less than par, two Tn par exactly. and the rest slight " over. He had only one bad nine. ms frst out this morning when he tcok 40 against the figures of a. which signify perfection. He 6ar- rowly missed some butts and sev- erai times barely got into traps-al- ways with bad lie. Twice he was I 1buR1A1edtS Sf& wah xhe facG he sspe n<y