Evening star., 1926-04-21


Washington and the entire Middle
Atlantic section this year has a per-
sonal interest in the Walker cup con-
,ests-a close feeling of kinship with
the men who will oppose Britain's
leading amateurs which has been
missing in previous Falker cup COM
petitions.
The reason for this is Roland r.
Mackenzie champion of the Middle
Atlantic Golf Association and gener-
ally regarded as the best golfer ever
developed in the Capital City. Ro
land will go abroad with the well
wishes of every player in this section
of the country. The Columbia youth
Is one Of the two youngsters selected
for the Walker cup team on the
basis of the showing made in the
amateur championship at Oakmont
last Fall. He and Watts Gum are
the youngest members of the team,
'iunu being NaCKenzieS senior by
one year. The Columbia youngster
is IS years Old.
Youngsters Shined Last Year.
Roland is just the same age as was
Bob Jones when the present amateur
champion went abroad with the
Walker cup team for the first time in
1921. Mackenzie and Gunu were the
twin sensations of the 1925 amateur
championship. Mackenzie hree2ed
mis- way through the qualifying
round to lead the entire field with
r 36-hole score of 145-One shot in
front OF Jones and Guilford. Even
though he lost on the following day
% Dick Jones of New York. he was
established as one of the outstanding
players OF the championship.
Watts Gums rise to fame was not
50 sudden. The Atlanta youngster
did well to qualify, but hardly any
ono thought he would so far until
IN the second round of match play it
was suddenly discovered that Gunn
was playing phenomenal golf-prov-
ing by far the best golfer over the
first two rounds of any player in
the tournament. He smothered Vim
cent L. Bradford in the first round
ny 12 and IL. and then eliminated
less SWeetser by 10 and 9-the same
Sweetser who was regarded then,
and is now. as one OF the finest
match playing amateurs in the
world.
Gum breezed through to the f1nal
leading even Bob Jones over the first
nine of the final round. but finally
iness and savage accuracy Of the
title holder.
Mackenzie goes TO England with
The Walker cup team on May with
quite the strongest game he ever has
had Today Roland is playing bet
ter than ever before. And today he
IS as long off the tee as any amateur
in the country. Longer than most
professionals Roland's tremendous
Tee shot has been the development
Of two years of constant plugging
for timing and direction, and has been
aided by a progressive increase in
physical powers.
Has Splendid Physique.
Roland r. Mackenzie today is en-
dowed by nature with one of the
finest physiques known to golf-an
even better physique for the game
than that Of Bob Jones. Where
Jones is short and chunky, MacKen-
zie is lean and Wiry. Jones stamina
does not exceed that of the Middle
Atlantic champion in a game where
stamina is one of the big determining
factors as championships are played
today.
Roland has heightened his already
long game by 10 yards in the few
days he has been able to practice
his year. He came home from
Brown University 10 days ago. to
remain in Washington until he leaves
for New York to sail with the Walker
cup team.
Although his extraordinary length
is the outstanding feature Of the
game of the Columbia youngster,
the student of golf, watching for
manifestation of the skill of this
newest star in golf, notes with won
der the bold manner in which Mac
Kenzie plays within so yards of the
hole. An unusually fine putter, Mac
KenZie's short game is graced with
one never-ending determination, Al
ways be up" And it is surprising
how many of the long puts and oc-
rasional chip shots so down for this
boy. who but three years ago was
struggling to get below 81 and today