The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-16
JOHN FARRELL LOW QUALFIER
  Five Pros Tie For Sec ond Place In Golf
 Meet

FRENCH LICK, Ind, Sept, 15.- John Farrel of New York today proved to be the best golfer in the elimination rounds of the national professional championship, not only leading the thirty-two survivors, with score of 140 for the 36 holes, but setting course record of 6S in the morning round and record of B for the first nine holes of the 6,471 yard links whose par is 38-36-72.
 His total was only one stroke bet ter 5than-st that of five other players 6Ee of whom, Mike Brady of New York, equalled the course record in the after- noon Tying Brady for second place at Al were Walter Hagen, British open champion, whose score of B for the second nine in the morning for a 70, Bobby Cruiskshank who scored one of three sixty hines, Francis Gallet, who had rounds of 71 and 70 and Harry Hampton of Canton, Ohio, who was the only man west of New York City to get into the first six places.
 Gene Sarzen of New York. defeated in his title, shot 69 in the morning but slipped off four strokes in the afternoon to win seventh place with 142. This was one stroke behind the total returned by Charles Hoffner of Philadelphia, who scored the third 69 of the day on his second circuit of the links.
 It required score of 150 or better to survive the medal rounds. But most of the favorites survived for match play.
 The championship course is very hilly and the fairways are not only fast, but many of them run down hill so that even on par five holes, good drivers are able to get within iron distance of the greens. The greens were soft enough to hold trick shots well and the players who could cut their shots close to the pin were able to capture many birdies.
 This permitted the players to slip one or two over par at times when their ball slipped off side hills and yet make up the deficiency on succeed ing holes.
 Hagen owed his position in tie for second place to an extra long drive on the ninth hole in the first round. He drove so far on the 348 yard that, although his ball travelled more than $50 yards, the last 100 yards were down side hill into the road. The two strokes he suffered on account of this misplay, if avoided, would have given him a 39. He had a chance on his final nine to top the field in spite of this but his butter went stale and the took three butts on several greens. Farrel, as youngster who has been showing signs of championship for some time, earned his honor all the way. In addition to taking three strokes off par on his first quarter and one stroke on the second for his 6S, he nipped another stroke off perfect figures on the third quarter and only the missing of likely putt caused him to go one above par on the final lap. Not only was his total of 14O or four under for the 36 holes remarkable in championship golf but the fact that eight, players finished the double round from one to four strokes below perfect figures made the qualify ing round unique in major tournaments.
 In the, matches at the 36 holes the de- fending champion Sarazen will meet Fred Mcleod of Washington, D. C., who was national open champion many years ago. Farrel is paired with Neil Christian of Yakima, Washington, and Walter Hagen, the British champion will meet Tom Harmon of New York.