The Washington times., 1923-06-12
HAGEN At
BEST. IN
WITH Il
Golf Champions Comeback
Thrills croWd-Diegel, WASH
lington, Has Score Of 81.
BY ROBERT e. HARLO
international News Services.

1TROON, Scotland, June 12.-
With his back to the wall figu
frativeiy speaking Walter Hagen
Of New York; who won the Brit
iah open championship last year
rose to supreme heights here this
afternoon when he turned in
card of n, giving him q total 81
159. It was almost q certainty
that this total would quality him
for the championship round
Thursday and Friday to determine
this years golf champion.
Has All Old Skill.
Hagen had to bring to the front
all his skill today. Following his
distressingly poor score Of SO yester-
day, Hagen took Al for the out
journey today and few in the tre-
mendous gallery following MIN
thought he would stage comeback.
His card for today follows:
Out 49,. IS s 4 5 a 3 2 S Gil
In .......4 4 3 4 - 5 4 6-36-77
Weather conditions were unfavor-
able. In the morning a heavy rain
set in from the Firth of Clyde.
When the downfall moderated in the
early afternoon it was followed by
strong winds.
Yet some surprisingly good scores
were returned. From early indica-
tons it appeared that scores Of 1872
or better would qualify.
Gene Sarazen, the American open
titleholder. playing in the rain, turn
ed in a card of IS, for a total Of $50
for the two days.
Other American Scores.
Other American scores today were:
Leo Diegel, Washington, 50, total
159; Charley Hoffner, OF Philadel-
phia, 80, for 161; Johnny Farrell, Of
Quaker Ridge, N. T., II, total 1877;
Tommy Armour, Of New York, "a,
for 1852; Jim Barnes, of Pelham
Manor, 80, for 100; w. G. Sherwood.
Of Memphis, IS, for 1874, and Joe
Kirkwood, Australian champion,
and now an American resident, 76,
for 1855. Kirkwood displayed the
best effort of any Of the American
entrants. ..-
James Braid, British golfing
daddy, and winner Of five British
open championships, who showed
the way to the field yesterday with
a score Of 70, continued to hold his
advantage. his total for the two
days being 149.
Sarazen's score, although high,
was unusually good, considering the
rain. He was in difficulty shortly
after the start when he took an
eight on his second hole. He topped
his drive into bunker, requiring
two strokes to- get back to the
green; then requiring six more to
finally make the hole. On the
twelfth hole SaraZen drove his ehot
straight into the face of the bunker
and then had plenty Of room left
to play. but foolishly tried to carry
his shot, forcing him to, take q six.
At this stage Sarazen began to
display uneasiness. His irritability
was increased when his partner,
who was playing in difficulties,
kept him waiting to decide in what
manner to play his shots.
Toward the finish Sarazen found"
himself again, and, although he
was bunkered on several occasions
ind missed a, few puts, brought his
smile into play.
Sarazen's card for the second
round follows:
Out. 8 s s I 4 SIS
ln.'.' 3 8 6 - As 5-42-85
Diegei got into the rough on the
very first two holes, but thereafter
managed to have clear going. His
OUT, 8 44553 5-43
In, 3 5 49, 4 4 5-39-s2
me American hopes scared
wnen Johnny Farrell, the Quaker
RIDGE N. r. professional, came in
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