The New York herald., 1922-07-15
Gene Sarazen Ties British I'll
tie Holder; Bobby Jones
Stroke Behind Him.
HUTCHINSON OFF, GETS 152
Barnes, Duncan, Farrell, Mae
Donald, Shoot 149-
Mitchell 153.
BY KERR n. PETRIE.

ground out par and brides as relent
lessly as it smashed opposition and
pounded the reputation of other al
legged stars into the ground, Walter
Hagen, holder of the British open title
of the links. this afternoon became n
human being sufficiently long to bring
the national open championship being
played on the Skokie Country CLUB
links from runaway to battle royal.
With 6S in the morning Hagen
shot into the lead, far. far away from
such deadly rivals as Jim Barnes, the
title holder Jock Hutchison, former
British champion, and the crack Brit
ish professional pair. George Duncan
and Abe Mitchell. Barnes had a "a,
Duncan rs. Mitchell and Hutchison
rs each Hagen was the lone wolf in
the field. the killer With the battle
lust in his eye, he had accepted the
gage almost before his rivals had be-
gun to realize what the day meant for
them He had slaughtered his most
deadly foes apparently. Duncan,
Hutchison, Barnes and Mitchell had
been placed hors de combat.
"SmaII Fry" Not Considered.
Only a few of the smaller fry re-
,naineu to be dealt with at leisure.
John Black of Oakland, Cal. had
brought in II. That was the nearest
TO Hagen, and yet it was three precious
strokes away. Charles Evans. Jr., of
Edgewater. Laurie Ayton OF Evanston
and Gene Sarazen of Pittsburgh had
a each, and at 70 were John Golden of
Tuxedo. Bob Macdonald of Bobo Link
Mike Brady or Detroit, John Farrell Of
Quaker Ridge. A. Walrous OF Redford,
Mich. and Willie Melhorn Of Shreve-
port.
IL was hardly worth while consider
ing such players as Bobby Jones, tho
atlanta amateur star John Cowan of
Oakley. Clarence Hackney. F. r.
Drecker of Knolwood. who like Barnes
had completed the first round in a.
~ NO one wants to spot the great Hagen
- yen halr of half dozen shots these
--<days unless they have been out in the
sun. Even Barnes, it seemed, was be-
ing treated to a dose of his own medi-
cine. The talk turned to the manner
in which long Jim of Pelham spread
ton. and II was generally agreed that
it was Hagen's year.
But there is no telling what day or
n couple of hours viii bring forth for
those who dabble in stymies and the
Ike and babble of pars and brides and
socketed mashies. Hagen OF the morn
ing was something that stalked through
par with seven league boots and blew
the smoke of defiance I'm the faces of
his rivals. Even the Il OF Black seemed
so puny in comparison with the 6S OF
Hagen. Why gap OF only three
strokes should be so magnified it is
difficult TO say. But there Is something
so grand, SO ma agnificent and majestic
about a score in the sixties over and
above that there is Hagen himself. this
year the Napoleon OF the links
II did not seem in the realm Of human
possibility that Hagen could slip Here
tofore lie had won his championship COM
ing from the rear. Now he had 40 out
classed his field that he Just could not
help himself. The power OF his stroke
the artistry and the marveIousness o!
his game were compelling factors that
no longer could be denied Hagen's 6S
was Just what was to be expected oi
him. The II OF Black and the ever
fours of such az Evans. Sarazen ant
Ayton undoubtedly saw these players a,
the zenith OF their power Hutchison hat
w
should not the great Hagen marshal q
championship line Of figures each on,
beginning with 8?
hut 1t wnsn't to he.
But It was not to be, evidently From
the dizzy heights to which he hat
climbed In the morning Walter Hager
fell to the plains of normalcy. He wa.
not even normal In fact, for II com
n m ON IF Ea1 eroff
ing collapse. The machine that hat
purred so pleasantly in the morning be
gan to jar and rattle and creak. Ha
gen required 40 TO go out and 81 I,
come in. Very different. this. from hi
opening 34-34 four shots one way ant
three another. None of these wer,
10 be accounted for by III luck. Hager
had slipped. lie is still IN the fight. o
course--very much so--but that after
noon display by the great champion hai
changed the opinion Of those who ma,
have thought II was one man show.
Moreover, II has strengthened an,
stecled the nerves OF those who wer
nearest 10 him From lead of thre
strokes Hagen at the end OF the secont
round slipped back, yielding pride o
place 20 John Black OF Oakland. Cal
who put another II on top OF that OF tn
morning for a 36 holes total of 142.
Jonrh NtFoke btntUu unEfns
Even Bobby Jones. the twcnty-year
old amateur. who partnercd Hagen 4
tho morning and finished six strokes be
hind on the eighteen holes. seized upo
tho faltering champion and smote hir
hip and thigh in tho afternoon. lone
finished his thirty-six holes In 1f6.
single stroke behind the mighty Waite
out In 3b. Bobby was only one stroke {
the bad on tho day. At the tenth h
caught up. Driving for the home hol
the pair were deadocked Then Hnge
finisned with a 4, holding "A good put
for this figure. while Jones missed on
and took a 3.
Hagen was passed by one other playe
Willie Melhorn Of Shreveport. La. wh
lad played around I'm 10 on the fir,
ewnfcen. added n and beat the Britis
open title holder by a stroke. Melhor
WAS ono OF the American profcssioni
seam which went abroad last year.
Then, again Gene Sarazen OF II
Highland club OF Pittsburgh cam
crashing through TO Join tho parad
scoring 72 and 10. TO tie with Hagei
Jones stands next In line with his 1s'
and two shots IN the rear Of Bobby ar
ranked Chick Evans, Laurie Ayton an
Mike Brady at las. while Jim Barne