Evening star., 1924-06-24
AMERICAN GOLFERS
SHOW IMPROVEMENT
Smith, Hagen, Sarazen and Nichols
Likely to Qualify for
British TourFsy.
TAYLOR IN LEAD Still,
Took 20 Yesterday and Made 70
Today.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associate Press
HOYLAKE, England. June "a
Macdonald Smith, the lowest scoring
American yesterday. with r. in the
qualifying play for the British open
golf championship, took an 81 over
the Royal Liverpool course TODAY.
His total of 153 is sure to place him
among those who will begin the
seventy-two holes of cf1ampionship
play Thursday.
PiayinE In tricky w1nr. smith
twice pulled out of bounds, while his
approaches were often short. over or
In the bunkers. His approach putts
were almost invariably short.
waiter Hagen, who took SO on tho
course mere yesterday, went around
in 73 over the Formby course today.
giving him a total of 156, considered
certain to qualify
Hagens sterling fighting qualities
were in evidence, as low score to-
day after his comparatively poor
round yesterday was an absolute ne
cesslty II ne hoped to qualify. He
had even worse conditions to contend
with at Formby than here. so far
as the winds were concerned.
Hagen started badly. taking d 3
at the short fourth. He improved from
there on and had perfect al
n.
Coming in he played a perfect game.
his driving being especially fine.
A. r. Espinosa of California scored
81 at Formby, giving him an aggr.-
gate of 164.
fn Ont, . $ Il - -
Taylor Ahead.
]. H. Taylor, who led the field voster
day with a 20 at Hoylake. did tn
N fxy in
and his aggregate of LAP put him IN
the lead for the total score today.
Gene Sarazen, American profes
slonal champion, who scored IS al
Forrnby yesterday, went around the
Royal Liverpool course today in rs. and
is sure of Qualifying.
Gene Sarazen, after starting with a
string of three fives and taking four
for the short fourth, played con
sistently we'll
He sank a chip shot for birdte
three at the doglegged sixth ana
went on with scratch figures or bet
ter, for the most part His lapses off
the faIrways were made UP for by his
sinking several long puts. On the
way home his only troubles were a.
nedding three puts for each. Hls
card
Out ) 3 5 4 4 3 3 5 as
IN.....4 ; 4 4 6 4 ) 4-3S-7s
Gil Nichols. Providence. r. /. had
IS today for a total of 157.
Nichols driving was especial,
good. but his short game was fire.
quently weak
Gil Nichols might qualify with his
l57, it was thought this afternoon.
but AL Espiposa will hardly be able
to do so with his 164.
Nichols card:
Ont x 4 & 4 ! = 4 An
ms ....... 4 5 1 3 : s-sS7s
The weather turned sunny and
warm in the afternoon and the wind
died down.
At the seventh, with the crowd be-
ginning to feel that he was very
likely not to qualify, Hagen sank
50-yard mashie shot for an eagle s.
Afterward his shots were nearly all
superb in direction and strength
while his putting was fawless. He
equaled or bettered par for every
hole after the fifth. except the eight
eenth, where he took a five.
Arthur Havers, IA; l46
Alex. Herd 157.
Angel de la Tore, 159
At midafternoon, with practically
half the cards in, j. II. Taylor. with
his 142, was still in front of the field
The indications were that Hagen
would have strokes to spare, and
Macdonald Smith and Gene Sarazen
be among the leaders.
c. A. Whitcombe, 154.
w. L. Hope. 156.
Harry Warden. 159.