Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-16
HAVERS PROVES
MASTER OF HAGEN
IN TR00N GOLF

Troon, June 15-(By A. P.)-Arthur
Gladstone Havers, a young English
professional, who has played golf
ever since he was old enough to hold
a club, today won the British open
championship Of 1923 by a margin of
one stroke over Walter Hagen. who
came from the United States to de-
fend the title he acquired one year
ago at Sandwich.
Through the sound and sturdy ef-
forts Of Havers. Great Britain has
won back its own cup from the
Americans. who held it for two sue
cessive years. Playing every round
of the az holes with remarkable
steadiness, Havers amassed a grand
total Of only 295 strokes, five less
than Hagen made to win the trophy
last year. Hagen ended his y hole
battle today with 296 strokes record
ed on his card.
Third place. as well as second
place, went to an American, Mac
Donald Smith OF San Francisco hav-
ing score of 297, including a 60 this
morning that broke the record for the
old Troon course. Joe Kirkwood, the
Australian who now makes his home
in the United states, came in fourth
with 298 strokes. he also getting a GO
during the day. Johnnie Farrell of
New York, was in eighth position
with card Of 30s. George Aulbach,
the other American. was further down
the line with a 329.
Between 10000 and $4,000 specta-
tors, many Of them from lands over
the seas, watched the last two rounds
of the competition. Fully two-thirds
Of them kept their eyes on Eagen in
the last hour of his gallant struggle
to overtake Havers, who was leading
him by two strokes when they went
after lunch for the last eighteen holes
Each took Sc to reach the turn at
the ninth hole, the outward journey
being made with a strong wind be-
hind the bail and a clear sky over
head. Hagen missed a tiny 12-inch
putt at the ninth, SO he still was two
strokes behind. Havcrs, with only
nine more holes to go. Then he be-
gan his real battle; but he had
dropped even further behind at the
while Havers slipped his ball into the
Gun for birdie three.
BY the time Hagen had reached the
eleventh green, however. Havers had
tapped his final putt into the home
hole, SO, the champion knew exactly
how hard a task lay ahead of him
over seven holes and into the wind.
A three at the fourteenth, where
Havers had taken a four, helped Ha-
gen along a little, but it was at the
sixteenth that the American made
the first Of two inspiring attempts
to do the impossible, and almost sue
ceeded
His third shot to that hole made
longer by the heavy facing winds
had dropped into the crowd on a
mound. Hagen made a marvellous
effort to sink a chip shot off that
mound. The ball went into the air.
landed on the green and rolled
straight for the cup. 1t seemed the
impossible was going to be accomp-
lished. but the ball went straight
over the Gun and rested a few inches
away. SO Hagen had to be satisfied
with a perfect par five, instead of
miraculous birdie four.
Hagen now needed threes at both
the seventeenth. which is a short
hole. and the eighteenth, which is a
par four. to tie Havers. His drive
off the seventeenth landed in the
rough several yards off the side of
the high table-lilSe green. He pitched
perfectly and sank his first putt for
the required three. Now there re-
manned his last hope-that OF 0et-
ting birdie three on the 18th.
Hagen sent a terrific drive down
the fairway. but his second shot.
blown to the right by the northwest
wind. landed in bunker Surely it
was all over now. But the crowd that
had seen Hagen's desperate and de-
termined effort to sink his chip shot
at the 18th. knew he would make
another attempt to perform the i'm
possible-to get out of a bunker and
into the cup ten yards away with one
shot. He did make the attempt, and
it was another good one. The ball
rose over the high face of the bunker
and fell upon the grass. 1t rolled in
a direct line for the hole, but it
stopped one yard short of it. All
was over. Hagen had lost his title
and Great Britain had recaptured
the trophy. 1t mattered not what
Hagen did with his one yard putt:
but nevertheless he sank 1t for
four.
A few IF fbo spocfofor forcotf,,l