New Britain herald., 1926-07-08
NATIONAL TOURNEY
 IS STARTED TODAY
Willie MacFarlane Defending
 Title Against Big Field

Columbus. O.. July < tP-The first round of struggle for the national open golf championship, now held by Willie NcTarlane of New York. was fought today on the gruelling links of the Scioto Country club. And all the leading wielders of the mashia were houy contesting for the supreme honor of American golf dom.
 With q record score of GS, made ty Tommy Armour, of Washington, D. C.. in final practice yesterday, to set the pace, such titanS of the links as Bobby Joness, British open and American amateur champion, Wal ter Hagen, professional golf title holder and Chick Evans. holder of the record score of 2S6 for the event, whaled their way over the waving fairways.
 There were those who predicted that the constrictod fairways, the undulating terrain, the side Stopes, the winding burn and the small, well trapped greens would force the to- tal score for the 72 holes to close around 3oo, in spite of Armour's feat and the excellent record of 33 made by Jim Barnes for the first nine.
 Players started today with pre- diclion that rain might damped their game if not their ardor before night fell on the scene of conflict. All the 15l listed on the starters sheet today were sure of another days endcavor, if they cared 10 re- main through the second IS holes tomorrow, but after Fridays round only those who shared the best 60 scores will play in the two circuits of the links on Saturday.
 Practice rounds have not usually proc"d much as to the outcome of the real contest. Many play indiffer- entity, or try new shots and the fact that Jones took moro than S0 strokes in his first round yesterday did not discourage his supporters. Tho British open champion in truth relieved his friends feelings in the afternoon by approNimtaing a 4 in an amateur and pro exhibition. The amateur titlcholder, playing with Watts Gum, lost the match. how eyer. for Gum took about So and their opponents Walter Hagen and Willie MacFarlanc, claimed 70 and 8.
 While the six professional pairs won this event 12 10 by Nassau system of scoring, Densmore Shute. Wast Virginia champion, and Alfred Sargent. Y year old son of the Scio- to professional. defeated as famous a duo Of professionals as Bobby Cruickshank, once runner-up to Jones for the national open title, and Jock Hutchison, first American to win the British open event, The amateurs won 3 and with a best ball of T.
 Th"rc were some on the links to- day, who have avoWcd that the Scioto course is the most diffsult on which the classic has ever been held. Some even aver that the diff cultics are unfair. In this classic they place inc tall growth of grass in the rough. In places it is diff cult 10 see the ball let alone hit it fairly.
 Fair enough. hut none the less demanding, are the narrow fairways and the long carries from the ices over gulchcs to sloping grades, whore fairly straight balls are shunted into the tall uncut, unless properly placed. still fair, but diff fcult, arc the traps that clutch the miniature greens like the clawing bezcl of ring.
 Again fair. but confusing, are some double tracks fairways, hay ing an elongated protuberance Of rough down the middle lengthwise of the course. But not quite fair are the numerous bald spots in the fair way, due to q long drought which could not be overcome by the heroic use Of street sprinkling wagons. The creeping bent greens are in good condition, but undulations make every putt a scientific affair.
 The first crack of the driver to set off the 1926 national open was slaA