The Washington times., 1922-07-10

Only two weeks ago observed
with pleasurable surprise that more
than thirty superb young golfers
shot the Hillcrest course, in Kansas
City in less than eighty In the
first qualifying round of this years
Western amateur championship.
But here at Skokte, with the best
of the worlds golfers shooting a
thoroughly trapped and difficult
course, the scores are falling to, fig
lures that make one gasp. II these
players make such records in prac-
tice rounds when they are unac-
auainted with the poles, what must
the scores be when they set to In
earnest.
Frankly, / think the title this
year will be taken with score
better than any that has ever won
it heretofore, and away below the
score Of 800, which captured this
years British open championship
!. For Walter Hagen.
"a! - -
l did not play the course yester-
day, but spent the time renewing
acquaintances with the scores "a,
players who have arrived here from
everywhere, Jim Barnes, our open
CHAMPION, who, with Jock Hutch
ison and Walter Hagen was such
a factor in the British open th.s
year, told me today that he had
never seen such golf as Is Ue!ng
played here preliminary to the title
rounds.
Francis Ouimet, former national
amateur and national open cham
pion who is generally regarded as
the surest putter in the world, Is
again on the scene as contender.
: Ouimet always adds a thrill to
these championship meets and al
ways merits his large galleries. Ills
play rewards his following because
Ouimet's golf represents as good
golf as anyone can expect to see
anywhere.
He is consistently superior as a
player and he long since dispelled
any question that his remarkable
achievement when he beat Vardon
and Ray during the ''English in
,vasion" for the American open title
was in any sense due to luck.
Skokie is a fine course for Oui
.met's game. The Boston star would.
as l remarked once before, be the
worlds golf marvel II he had been
equipped with Jesse Guilford's legs.
Ouimet is not big and from the
effect on me when the tournaments
are over hilly courses, l imagine
that a similar fatigue disturbs him,
this course should be much more to
: his liking and 1t would not in the
least surprise me to see this years
title go to Boston with Ouimet.
Guilford, the "siege gun from
Boston," also Is on the scene.
while among the flying balls see
Bobby Jones from Atlanta and
all the other prominent amateurs
of the country. The only missing
face Is that Of Jerry Travers.
- former amateur champion, Of New
York. Jerry won the amateur at
Baltusrol. In 1918.
The officials of the u. s. G.. A.
are TO be congratulated on the ar
raneements they have put In order
here for the handling OF the meet
Ing. When II became apparent that
this years open was to be the
greatest of golf events these Off
cials acted in advance OF crush,
and thus avoided what might read
g., lly enough ndNC UcSOihO wy
much tangled.up job here.
: Our first qualifying rounds start
led today at a. m.
- Because of the size Of the field
there will be three qualifying
rounds Of thirty-six noles each. one
each day, Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. The twenty-four lowest
score players and ties for last place,
totaling seventy-two players and
ties, then play two thirty-six-hol
tournament rounds, one Thurs
day, the other Friday, for the
championship.
=, The play is by medal score, or
total number Of strokes required to
negotiate the seventy-two holes,
Thus it's every man for himself
today.