The New York herald., 1922-07-16
SYOCKY Y0UMGSTER
STARTED AS CADDY
OF italian Parentage Took
Naturally to All Sport
Activities.
WON SOUTHERN H0N0RS
Scored Last Winter in Con-
vincing Fashion; Advanced
by Hard Work.
WON SOUTHERN HoNoRs

Twenty -year-old Gene Sarazen's
impressive victory in the United States
open golf championship tournament at
Glencoe. Ill. yesterday is being hailed
throughout the. eountry to-day as q
magnificent triumph for American
homebred golf but something of a
more personal nature enters into the
celebration the little town of HARRISON
N. Y, fifty-five seconds from Broad
way, is conducting In the hi1ls OF
Westehester to-day.
For Sarazen Is Harrison boy de-
spite the fact that he is now affiliated
with club in the Pittsburgh district.
Gene was born and raised In Harrison.
a little municipality on the outskirts
Of Rye, and the "Sarazens' boys vic
tory" was the main topic Of conversa-
ton among the villagers as they re-
turned home from Sunday services In
the Harrison churches this morning.
1t was only a few years ago that
Gene. stocky little Italian youngster,
was attending elementary school IN Har-
rison and alternating his spare time be-
tween caddyins and playing basketball.
Tho youngster's affection was pretty
evenly distributed between both. and II
1t hadn't been for the money he earned
caddying at the Apawamis Club. Rye.
he never would have managed to buy
himself basketball shoes and trunks.
Genes parents were not any richer than
any Of the other Italian neighbors and
they could not afford to throw away
money on game which they only partly
understood anyway.
For five or six years. Gene caddied
at Apawamis and played basketball
with the Aranac Arrows Of Harrison,
and then the war brought unsettled con-
ditions throughout Harrison and sur
rounding towns Unable to earn moro
than a pittance at Apawamis under
changed condi Gene went to
Bridgeport. Conn.,. and there secured a
position with the Remington Arms Com
pany, a munitions concern.
Sundays young Sarazen, at that time
only about sixteen years old. made a
practice of going out to Beardsley Park
where he could play golf on the Bridge
port public links free. Here he met A
Cuicf. another ex-Harrisonian and ex
Apawamis caddy, and Cuici outfittet
the youngster with complete set o.
clubs for the sake Of aud lang syne.
Every Sunday Gene was at Beardsley
bright and early. until one Sunday h
didn't appear at ALL He had been rur
over in an automobile accident and fol
nearly month he hovered between lifs
and death. When he did recover, hs
was untitled for indoor work, so C,1ici
MS friend in need. located him as 8
helper In George Sparling's shop at tn.
Brooklawn Club Bridgeport
Gene had Tuesdays off under Sparline
and every Tuesday was devoted to eigh,
hours of conscientious practice al
came so pleased with himself that he
asked Sparkling to match him with Cuici
tina State champion. for money stakes
Sparkling laughed the kid out Of the
scheme but months later Sarazen vindi-
Gated his private opinion by clim bina
all over Cuici in an eighteen hole affair
The Fort Wayne Qnd) Club offered
the Harrison boy professionals berth
at this juncture. and Sarazen grabbed q
train mt of the Pennsylvania station
half an hour after he had received the
offer. Playing from Fort Wayne, Gene,
- years old. entered his first United
States open at Toledo two years ago. and
finished in a triple tie for thirtieth place
with George Mclean and Charlie Hail.
the Alabaman Big Bertha
From that moment on the youngster's :
riss to the top has been phenomenal
The most notable recent victory accred-
tied to him was achieved at Jock Hutch
tson's expense In the professional golf
ers championship at Inwood last sum-
mer. Hutchison. then British open
champion. was defeated by the cocky
Sarazen. and 8. The next day Sarazen
1ell before the methodIcal brilliancy OF
Cyril Walker. the Engiewood entry.
This past winter Sarazen showed
flashes Of brilliant form down South and
wen the Southern championship In con-
vincing manner from classy field a a
climax to his sensational play.
He had not appeared In many compe-
titions since that time. however. with
the exception of the Pennsylvania State
open last week, prior to the start Of the
u. s. open. He finished In n tie for
second place In this meet with Emmet
French Emil Loeffler. the Oakmont
sharpshooter, won.
Sarazen Is sitting at the peak Of the
Eolfing world and II ne can keep his
head during the noise and glamour that
win now envelop him he should progress
far He has the shots nav and the poise
and concentration. and this combination.
plus youth. should eventually bring the
entire golffng world to his feet.