Evening star., 1924-03-16

Bobby Jones. the national open
champion, sits on his throne with his
first major crown rakishly perched
just north of his left ear. The dope
has 1t that Bobby's crown is rather
firmly fixed: that the Atlanta lad has
an excellent chance to repeat-possi-
bly, better than any open champion
ship winner in recent years.
Maxwell r. Marston of Philadelphia
sports the amateur crown, but golf
bugs generally have it-and this
statement is borne out by close stu
dents of the game who have watched
stretch of years-that Max's cham
pionship mantle rests but lightly on
the broad shoulders of the Pennsyl-
Hantan. In other words, Max Mars
ton, although the amateur champion
ship will be played at Merton, his
own stamping ground, is due. to be
bumped off late next September in
defense of his first national title.
Max displayed amazing consistency
and some brilliance in winning at
FfosSmoor last year. He needed every
whit of each, for he waded through
the toughest side of the draw. tr i'm
met on his way to the title. Any man
who is capable of playing four holes
in one under SIS is entitled to the
greatest respect for his championship
did against Bobby Jones, -smotherfng
the open titleholder under whirl of
brides. But can any one be expected
to repeat such phenomenal feat?
Saraxen Must Bent Hagen. @
Gene Sarazen appears to be fairly
well intrenched as professional match
play champion. The pride of Briar-
cliff Lodge won his title last year
and the year before in impressive
style, although he did not do SO we'll
in the big medal play. event at In
wood; Gene has added reams to his
confidence by victory out on the
coast over Arthur Havers, the British
open champion. and confidence is one
of Genes greatest assets. Sarazen
appears to be the class of the profess
Sional match play field, although he
will again this year have 10 conquer
his d-time. rival, Walter HaSen.
The latter has been the underdog In
the skit entitled "SaraZen meets Ha-
gen." but Walter is far from through.
He may overcome the jinx and shake
Sarazen down for an enduring string
OF successes.
,As to the open championship, we
have quizzed Freddy Mcleod, Bob
Barnett and several first-class anna
teurs. They all agree that the golf
ing gent who shakes Jones loose
from his open championship crown
will have to show considerable golf
out there doing his stuff at De-
troit the same as usual-the medal
play peer of them all. Bobby, ac-
cerding to Thomson, is good for four
rounds under rs over any course. How
far under rs is the question, but all
the pros agree that Bobby's pace will
be as good as that of any golfer In
the world.
Marston is more of an enigma than
any of the others. Max set hot
pace at Flossmoor last year. but he
had to pull a hat trick to beat Francis
Ouimet holing a forty-foot putt down
hill over d rolling green to finally
take the lead at the thirty-first hole
when Francis missed wee one for
half At that, Marston's tee shot
might have bsen bunkered but for
the stout knee of a Boy Scout, sitting
on the edge of the green.
eLet that take nothing away from
the stout-hearted character of Mar
ston's victory. however. Marston
showed his nerve and greatness In
the final against Sweetser when time
and again he looked all ready to
crack, but finally came through with
the burst of speed that was good
enough to win. He hung on ike
grim death and was awarded with the
greatest victory in amateur golf He
cannot be overlooked in any resume
Of the championship possibilities;
those in the know favor Jones and
Sweetser for the title this year, put
Marston can be expected to put up
atwhale of a scrap on his own course
in front of his home folks.