Evening star., 1924-06-23
SARAZEN NEAR TOP
IN BRITISH TOURNEY
Hagen and Barnes Get Away
Badly in Open Title Qualify
ing Round at Hoylake.
By the Associated Press.

ps tHe Associated freSS.
HOYLAkE. England, June 23.-
Jim Barnes of New York took an 81
today for the first eighteen holes of the
thirty-six hole qualifying test for hte
British open golf tournament.
A field of 276 amateur and profess
sional golfers started the qualifying
test over two courses-one the
Royal Liverpool here and the other at
Formby, across the Mersey-in two
days play of qualification for the
British open championship.
With Wednesday for a rest day,
the surviving eighty-odd contestants
VIII on Thursday begin the two days
play of four rounds over the Royal
Liverpool course which is to decide
the open champion for this year
Arthur Havers. fresh from a sue
cessful tour of the United States, will
defend his title against a formida BILE
field. which includes a long array of
former champions. America is rep
resented by Walter Hagen, who won
the title in 1922 and lost to Havers
only by a stroke last year; Jim
Barnes, Abe Espinosa. Gene Sarazen,
American professional champion;
Macdonald Smith and Douglas Grant.
Hagen, Barnes and Espinosa played
today at Liverpool links. the others
at Formby.
Barnes Must Improve.
Barnes must do much better tomor-
row In order to qualify. He was the
first American to drive off playing
round with George Duncan.
Good weather conditions prevailed
at the start. the sun shining at inter
walls through scudding clouds and a
light wind whipping inland from the
sea
Johnny Farrell scratched. owing to
boils on his hand. Abe Espinosa
sprained an ankle while practicing,
but indicated his intention of play
ing.
Barnes experienced a little bit Of
everything in the way of trouble
On the way out his iron play was so
his card down to 40. On the way home
he visited several bunkers and got a
few tough lies. AS a climax he missed
holeing a two-foot putt on the home
green. His card showed three SKIES.
1t read
fn 4a' Ss5st 60 t.I-s1. III
Duncan did the eighteen in 7s.
At Hoy Lake at the end Of the
morning round Aubrey Boomer Of
ST Cloud, France. with a "A, had the
best score. Cyril Tolley, ex-ama-
teur champion, had and Roger
Wethered. holder Of the amateur title
last year, IS.
Mnxsy Leads Formby Course.
On the Formby course the end of
the morning play found Arnaud
Massey, the former French open
champion, and E. c. Anderson of
SeascaIe leading the field with 74s.
James Ockenden, who toured Amer
ica recently with Arthur Hayers. had
an 80 and Douglas Grant, American
resident of England, 81.
This afternoon George Gadd of Roe
hampton did a sensational round at
Formby in 20, equaling the course
| record Gadd got down to this figure
| mostly through fine putting He holed
| a ten-yard putt for a at the ninth
| and one of eight yards at the twelfth
| for another 2.
Abe Mitchell. British veteran. play
ing his iron shots badly at times,
| took rs.
Gene Sarazen shot IS over the
| Formby course this afternoon. C..
Wallis, England also scored IS and
| the Veteran James Brand II.
Sarazens card was:
Out ......... 3 4 6 3 4 $50
| In ................ 5 4 8 4-S6-75
Walter Hagen turned in a card of
SO. He needs a brilliant round to-
morrow if he is to qualify.
Hagen's card:
| Out ............... 5753 5 6 5-5
| In ................ 3 4-5o-ad