The Washington times., 1922-09-07

A solemn crowd Of Boston and Mas
sachusetts golfers. who have followed
the career Of Ouimet for nearly ten
years, stood by and saw Francis"
lose a match in the tournament he
had set his heart on winning and
lose with the fine spirit and grace
which he displays no matter what
the outcome Of his matches.
In 1918 when Ouimet lived across
the street from the seventeenth fair
way Of the Brookline club course,
he gained overnight fame by beating
the master golfer, Harry Vardon,
and Ted Ray. in a playoff for the
American open championship.
That was Ouimet's greatest day
Of victory and triumph I'm Boston,
and when he lost to Knepper IL
was his day Of greatest disappoint-
ment.
Francis Ouimet has been 30 pop
ular in Bosten for ten years that
1t would be impossible to find in
this city a player who would be
against him in a match, even II he
considered that Ouimet had but a
slight chance to win. His host of
followers had hoped that when the
amateur championship came back
to Brookline Ouimet would be able
to win the title.
But the Boston golfers have
known for more than two years
now that Ouimet is not as strong
as he was a few years back and
have doubted his ability to stand
the severe strain Of the national
championship. They. were encour-
aged when he won the Massachu.
setts amateur title again this year,
but even this did not suffice to
make all believe that Ouimet was
strong enough to last the week out
in the national.
There Is no desire in Boston to
take away any credit from Ruddy
Knepper, one Of the really great
young players to be developed in
America in the past five years.
Knepper is a real golfer. He dem
onstrated 1t when he defeated w.
B. Terrence. Of the British team,
on Tuesday by making a sensa-
tional game, and fighting finish.
and today when he beat Ouimet
over the Brookline fairways.
But the telling Of an inter-
esting golf story makes II neces-
sary to state that Francis 0uimet
today does not have the same
strength as the boy who won
the American open title in 1918,
and the amateur championship
q year later, at Manchester. VT,
and who for many seasons has
played the most brilliant sort Of
golf.
Ouimet still has the shots and can
deliver them for time. But in Sc
we're and long tests, the last few
years. he has weakened after playing
two or three days under a hard
strain. He has not had the physical
strength to endure.
When he tires, his shots begin to
lack the snap that marked the shots
that made Ouimet an open and anna
teur golf champion Of America, and
won so many staunch supporters.
But Ouimet's golf shots at their
best never gained for him the affec.
ton which all Massachusetts golfers
have for him. Only a long and
faithful record as a game, clean
sportsman could win for any man
the sort Of following which Ouimet
has built up. No other golfer has
created such an intimate and fine
association among the golfers Of this
section as Ouimet.
When he met defeat on the seven-
teenth green, his mother. who still
lives in the house across the street,
was there to console him, even AS
she was close by to congratulate him
when he won nine years ago.
Ouimet may never win another
great match, but whenever and
wherever he plays, II there are Bos-
ton or Massachusetts, golfers close
by, they will be found following
their favorite and roofing for him,
for his is the most pleasing char
acter in Massachusetts golf.