Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-18
THREE GOLFERS CARRY
HOPES OF UNITED States
Hutchinson, Barnes and Ha-
gen Will Compete for Eng
lish Title.
NY Associated Press.1

NEW YORK. June 17.-Thrce OF
tho most nblc OF tho many form
liable professional golfers of tho
United states Will tee OF in the
qualifying round OF the British open
championship which opens tomorrow
at Sandwich, England. ovcr tho
ancient links OF the Royal St. Georges
Club here, In AN attempt to again
defeat the British at their own
game lin their own backyard"
1t was done successfully last year
by John Hutchinson. OF the Glen
View Club. Chicago. who. obeying his
heart after deciding first not to max @
the trip. has returned to defend his
title. With him are Long Jim
Barnes. OF the Pelham Country Club.
United States open champion. and
Walter Hngan. Western open cham
pion and titieholdcr - tho American
Professional Goifors' Association.
This trio IS The American Big
Three" Last year American pro-
fessionals and amateurs swarmed
over the course Mt ST. Andrews, en-
abled to compete By their friends
at home who took up, n nationwide
subscription to send them. This time
Hutchinson. Barnes and Hagan are
the only three American profess
SIGNALS OF repute there In contrast;
to the many British players who will
stream across the Atlantic later for
the American chompionship.
Hutchinson OF Form.
As the defending champion Hut
Crimson is tho cynosure. He Is rep
resented by his admirers as not in
tho same superb form he displayed
last year when ne won the classic
after thrilling match with Roger
Wethercd. nm amateur. Jocks card
was srrinkIcd with brides and mir
aclcs. II the ChicaHonn attains his
best form expert British opinion an
ticipnte that he may we'll carry the
crown again back with him.
Hagen is regarded as ono OF the
very best match players In the
United States. Hts principal reason
In going to Sandwich was TO make
tho first leg OF tho round the world
tour that he has planned with Joe
kirkwood, the Australian trick-shot
star. who. they do say. can make n
golf ball do everything except talk
n Scotch Lrogue.
Long Jim Barnes and Hagen
made the long est-distRnced profess
SIGNAL golfing tour ever undertaken
during the winter, cncircling tho
United States and playing principally
In the sunshine tournaments OF
southern California and the Pacihc
Coast. Should Barnes win he will
be the golf master of two continents.
Their progress to the final round.
however, Will not be without obsta-
cles. Thore are j. II. Taylor, Sandy
Herd, George Duncan. Abe Mitchell.
Harry Nardon. Ted Ray and list
OF British Rolfing luminarics that
blinds the eye. The odds are against
| tho Americans. hut odds don't mean
much in tournament between aC-
knowledRcd masters.
Tho British open championship has
hccn fixture of the empire sincc
| 1850 except for tho war years. 1914
to 1920. Willie Parker. at ia
| strokes. was the frat victor at Prest-
wick. where the tournament WAS
he'd for twelve years. In tho more
| than half century preceding names
illustrlous in golfnS history have
been carved on the mythical scroll
James Baird. in 1908. made the low
| est score OF the scventy-two-h ole
program since 1892 with POI.
Actual championship play will be-
gin June 90 after tho finish Of two
qualifying rounds. The winner vii,
score the lowest aggregate numbei
of strokes for four eighteen hole
rounds for total of sevcn,y-t
holes.