The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-30
DIXIE OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP TO.
 BE DECIDED TODAY.
Three Birmingham Golfers Qualify For Today's Medal
 Play Round at Nashville
By Associated Press

Nashville, September 29.-The end of two days of qualifying play of 1 IS holes each over the Belle Meade Country club course here to deter mine the GA golfers who are to play | a final 36 holes tomorrow for the open championship of the Southern Golf association. found few upsets in form. The veteran tournament players were plugging away at their steady, consistent game, with flashes here and there by the younger ele- nent that pops up from time to time, but more often finds the long grind over the 72-hole route too strenuous to withstand.
 The end of the se holes of quail flying play found the veteran of many competitions. Abe Mitchell, out In front by the bare margin of one stroke over Bob Cruikshank and Elm met French. Mitchell returning a score of 137, while the little Scot and his fellow occupant of the sec ond position had 1SS. Jim Barnes, who had failed to show better than par in his practice rounds, clipped two strokes off par today and added his 69 to a TO of yesterday for total of 1S9 and third place.
 Hagen Weakened
 Walter Hagen weakened badly on the homeward side of the course to- day, taking 39 after bettering par by one stroke going out, and finished with a card of 72, which had in 1t seven on the 475-yard fourteenth, and six on the 575-yard seventeenth. His 72 today with 69 yesterday put him in a three-cornered tie with Bob Me- Donald and George Duncan for fourth honors.
 k.y going around today in 6S, while Joe Kirkwood had trouble with his butter and required 74 strokes, giving him A total of 143. Clarance Hackney finished with IA, Johnny Farrell, 145 and 146 was shared by Jock Hutchison, John Golden, Willie Mehlhorn, Mike Brady and Frank Sprogell.
 Abe Mitchelrs score of s4 on the last nine holes, three under par, after his 35 going out, furnished one of the sensations of the day, and in- cidentally drew the largest following of spectators. He started we'll on the turn with a three on the tenth and all the way in played steady golf.
 Mitchell's Game Great On the eleventh 442 yards, Mitchell dropped a putt from the edge of the green for a three. After hooking his tee shot into the rough on the 406 yard twelfth, the Englishman came out beautifully with his iron. laying the ball 25 feet from the pin, but took the conventional two butts for a par four. Par figures were clipped off on thirteen and fourteen, all though his approach to the four teenth landed in the sand trap.
 Mitchell was again in the trap on 15, but came out with a chip to the green and barely missed putt for birdie two. He got birdie four on the 575 yard seventeenth. hole that has caused more trouble than any other on. the course, and sank an other birdie on the home green, chip ping his Iron approach over the bunker for a six-foot putt which he rolled into the cup.
 Cruikshank failed to hold terrific pace set on Thursday and he had to be satisfied with 72, six more than he required on his record making round the day previous.
 French off on Driving
 Friday Emmett French had a bad day with his wooden cl'ibs and while his drives did not lack distance they so often went astray that he was re- quired to play superior golf from the second shot onward. Included in his bad luck was a drive over the stone wall out of bounds on number five. and on the twelfth hole his drive was in the rough, but a good approach and a perfect 15-foot putt helped him hole in par. He turned In three bir- dies and one eagle for the round.
 Walter Hagen started the first nine like he meant to put himself out ahead in the tournament. Fin ishing the first nine with par five for a 83, it looked as if he would make bid for Bobby Cruikshank's record of yesterday, but at the un- lucky thirteenth he began to wilt. and fell down badly on the rest of the round.
 Long Jim" Barnes turned In the first low score of the day in his match with Bob Mcdonald. He made birdies on the ninth, fourteenth and