Evening star., 1926-04-22

Occasionally we played on nine
passing through small towns we wo
around on courses that happened to
game has caught on in the small toy
strong. There is one phase of thu
grounds for making prophecy-that
small town is going to bring forth a
1t took good many years to raise
up a champion out side of the cities OF
Boston, New York, Chicago and Pitts
burgh. Finally Max Marston won for
Philadelphia and then Bobby Jones
brought Atlanta into the list OF pro
ducers OF champions. | am speaking
of course Of amateurs, because pro
fessionals are constantly shifting their
bases of operati tions.
Has an. Even Chance.
But with hundreds and hundreds OF
little towns playing the game, one OF
them Is pretty sure to bring along
some youngSterr to combine poth the
skill at hitting the ball and the nne
competitive temperament necessary
to win big championship. This com
bination il necessary to win, ana OF
the two | think skill at hitting the pali
is the commoner. When it comes to
temperament, the small town young
ster has an even break with the city
bov, even though he may not nave the
adva ntages of first class course 10
build up his skill in handling his ciubs
Jock and I finished our Winter eN'
hibition tour in time to reach f1orloa
for the several tournaments plaEeo
there and then to move on north 10
Asheville, Pinehurst and other W inter
golf centers. But the long grind over
hod
ing. and we were both pretty well
worn down. While in Florida
played in two or three tournaments
when | didn't care whether | ever saw
another golf ball. Naturally my snow,
ings were mediocre at the hest aho
for the most part below that.
With the opening OF Spring again
the question of making another trip 10
the British Isles for the championships
came up, and ! was one OF i"uf VINO
decided to go over. the others nelnG
Hutchinson. who had won the previous
wear: Walter Hagen and Joe Kirk
wood who had then definitely taken
m his residence in this country
Realize Yankees Strength.
The championship was played That
vear at Sandwich, where waiter j..
ira Wis Is wears before had won the
British amateur title. we got oNel
several days before the start OF lhe
tournament. and it was rather lhteI
esting to note the cha nge In the Tone
OF comment on our chahces az 'o'n 'o'n
nared with what 1t had been two years
hefore at Deal. This time II was PLAIN
that they were not Understanding
us. but they still thought that some Oh
their own players would he ante 10
eat back the cup Hutchison had won
the previous year.
Rut nv the time the qualifying
rounds had been finished the signs
we're strong that we were going 10
make determined fight for secoho
straight win. In the ouahiNlns
rounds Hagen and kirkwood Ied the
fieId at 147, while Jock was only two
strokes back. / took los put so' i'i
with plenty to spare. | was erratic
ON the first day taking an 81. but
came back with 72 on my second
round.
II is not necessary to relate the de-
tails of play in the championship
proper. At the end of the first DAYS
n,av Hagen led the field by two
strokes. with l49, while George Dun
can. !. n. Taylor and | were tied FOR
second. two strokes back. Jock was
in four.cornered tie for fifth place
at 153. On the third round scores ran
rather high. Jock. however, brouSnl
in 73 and went into the lead at 20
TayIor and Jean Gassiat. French
professional, had 227. while hagen
and | and Charlie Whitcombe were
22S. Duncan took 81 and was six
strokes back of Jock.
Hagen's - Wins for Him.
In the last round Hagen scored
~ which landed him the title. his
total being an even 900. l had 13
for 30l. and George Duncan, with
brilliant round of SO. tied me for
second place. Jock took Is and nm.
ished fourth, two strokes back OF
Hagen.
That finish was one in which a
single small slip meant the dinerence
between winning and losing. and 1t
was such slip that cost me the title.
II happened on the third hole, which
Is a one. shotter. | used a spoon from
the tee and played the ball rather
high TO hold the green. but | failed by
inches only to carry bunker In 'front.'
of the green. The ball struck near the
TOP of the bunker, but rolled back into
the sa nd, and when | came up | found
II living in a deep heel print. The hole
eventually cost me six strokes, three
over par Even four would nave
given me the title.
Jocks story was similar. One shot
on that last nine wrecked his chance,
nd II wasn't a case of not hitting the
ball well. but one Of failing to judge
the distance where such judgment
was very difficult. owing to the condi-
tions. His trouble happened at the
fourth hole. where two pretty good
long shots are needed to get home.
ALWAYS on the British seaside courses
the wind is a big factor, and judg-
ment Of the proper club to use for
any particular shot is very difficult.
On this occa sion Jock selected spoon
for his second. feeling that the wind
was too big a handicap to be over
come with an iron. But he hit the
ball a little too hard. 1t struck on the
green. ran on across and through a
fence at the back marking the bound
ary of the course. The penalty that
resulted cost him his chance to repea t
his win of the preceding year.
(Next-SaraZen Plays Like House
Af1reo
Exeter Academy Is credited with
/ tfa