The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-23
Sioux City, Ia, Golfer Hasn't
Crashed Through With Ma
jor Championship Yet, But
He Has Come Close to It
Biggest Tournament Was at
BrO0kline in 1922
BY o. B. KELLER

One of these days somebody is
going to take his pen in hand, or
his typewriter on lap, and write an
inspiring story about Rudolf Knep-
per of Sioux City, Iowa. This is
not the story. The space is not
available in this little series. And
| have not the crust often to fancy
| can write an inspirin story. But
| should like to 'uggest the posi-
bility in few words concerning this
modest, blond young man who, in
my humble annals, is now and al
ways will remain to me Rudy the
Lion Tanner.
1t was at Brookline in 1922 that
l named him that. Since then
have heard him called Rudy the
Giant Killer. Because Rudolf has
way about him. Thus far, Ru-
dolf has not crashed through for a
major championship.
Came to Light In 1919
Rudolf came to light, so far as
my memory serves, in major tour
nament circles in 1919, when he
qualified in the twenty-third anna
teur championship Of the United
States at the Oakmont. Country club,
Pittsburgh, with score of 1853, or
a couple of cards of "a, which is a
score far less disreputable than it
now appears, since 158 was the best
at that tournament, AID a score of
172 got in. He not only qualified,
but got as far AS the third round,
defeating J. B. Crookston and F. C.
Newton, end carrying lobby Jones,
~ whom some mention IN d. public
prints occasionally is made these
days. to the Bath green, losing 3-2.
He did not appe:. in the next bat
tie at the Engineers Club. in 1920,
but in 1921 he hoped over to st.
Louis and electrified the populace
by qualifying in lat, next to Francis
Ouimet, the medalist, with la, these
two being the only ones below $50
in great field that went as high as
1872. He simply destroyed Joe Wells
and Bon Stein, and was beaten by
Bob Gardner, on his way to the
finals, 4-3.
Big Event Was It Brookline
] should say that Rudy's big tour
nament was at Brookline. in 1922.
That is where / dubbed him Rudy
the Lion Tanner. We had a great
British threat on hand at the mo-
ment. It was the first year of the
Walker Cup international matches,
and Tolly was there, and Torrance,
and Wethered. and . fine galaxy
Of British stars. Rudy qualified in
$50, q very good score, and the first
man he caught was Torrance. who
promptly got him well down-it
seems to me it was 5 down at one
time-and then was overcome BY the
indomitable little Iowan, who beat
him at the last green Of a 36-hoie
match, 2 up, in q great finish.
Francis Ouimet came next. and
Rudolf took the great Bostonian
into camp, ~. Then he got Cyril
James Hastings Tolley Of England.
And there was another tremendous
match. As ! recall it, Rudy was
down again, and rallied amazingly
to beat Tolley at the final green, 2
up. And the little blond gamecock
from Sioux City had shot his bolt.
He was i'll when he started that
great tournament, but his irwin
chile spirit carried him along un-
til the two most formidable Britons
were in his bag. Then he met
Evans, and was destroyed. But he
had set his mark on the page Of
sport devoted to the championship
Of 1922, and to me he will always b
Rudy the Lion Tanner.
Stages Comeback
He went out in he first round,
in 1928 ct Flossmoor, to Bob Card
ner. But he Zane back in 1924 ct
Merton to knock off Chick Evans
IN the first round BY . margin even
wider than Bobby Jones establish
ed IN the recent fireworks at Min
tkahda. When Bobby bat Chick
81 the boys were saying It WAS the
worst drubbing Chick ever got. But
] remembered that first round ct
Merton. three years before, when the
little Giant Kille from Sioux City
stopped Chick 81, where Bobby
stopped him ST ct -Minikahda. He
then beat Ellsworth Augustus, and
gave Bobby Jones q grand scare
when he started the second round
Of their match by needing only six
I