Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-15

which st. Andrews calls perfect.
Tonight the battle was half over and
the battle field was Strewn with G half
hundred casualties. Jones was two
strokes ahead Of his nearest pursuer,
21 year old Ben Hodson, and four
Strokes in front of the next man, his
Georgia neighbor, Joe Kirkwood.
The pace set by Jones eliminated
all but So others of the hopeful play
erS who started the 72 hole test with
him yesterday morning All Is strokes
behind the leader have ended their
championship quest for this year.
Among those who passed ou' was
wild Bill'' Melhorn, who Jew days
ago was regarded by many experts as
second only to the champion himself
as likely winner of the title. Bill re-
quired 157 for, the SO holes. In addi-
ton to Jones and KirkWood, three
other Americans survived, Tom Stew
ems, Los Angeles, Jim Barnes, New
Rochelle, N. Y, and Walter Kennett,
Palma Ceia, Fla.
In the final flight seven amateurs
survived among the pros Jones, Nettle-
ford, Tolley, Perkins, TWeddell, Rob-
-ert Harris and De Montn0rency, a
veteran who at the age of Sc is play
ing his first open championship Len
Nettlefold the left handed Australian,
who scored II yesterday, needed 81
today.
Hodson, runneE-up to Jones at the
half way mark, is assistant pro at a
Welsh club. He scored 70 today to add
to a II yesterday.
A stern gOlfing master was Bobby
Jones today. Not the least of his haz-
ards was furnished by his admirers.
Hosts of enthusiastic Scots iarnmed
this ancient seaside city to see the
master of their national game play
shots that thrilled their golfing souls
Bobby said that it was the hardest
round he had ever played and those
who followed him could well believe
it. He was not hitting the ballA with
the accuracy which often makes his
game monotOnouS in it's very perfect
ion. But when the scores would not
come of their own accord, ne went
out after them and nailed them strug-
Cling to his card.
Predictions that the championship
would develop into a one mall affair
We're justified by the days dryelop-
naentS. Bobby took all the crowd with
him. The eager rushing assembly, that
anywhere but on a golf course would
be called a mob, swept against and
almost trampled under foot other
players trying to make their way
through the fairways.
At the second hole Jones ard his
uncontrolled gang encountered Bill
Mehlhorn, broken and beaten, but still
cheerful championship aspirant, ap-
preaching the green from the oppo-
site direction to play the 18th hole
Bills hopes were gone SO he didn't
mind being iostled and kept from fin
ishing the hole by the stream of hu-
manity fighting to see Jones. Bill,
perhaps, remembered that a Washing
ton politician said, IF you can't lick
'em jine 'em' so he crowded III among
the bustling fans to see Jones play
a perfect shot from a deep bunker to
the very edge of the cup and get down
in four after he had seemed certain
to take five.
Along his outward Journey Bobby
and his gang held up players coming
home on the narrow fairways, used
at st. Andrews for both outgoing and
incoming holes. Once Joe Kirkwood,
with his trick shots in the bag with the
old balls playing fine steady game
was lost to sight of his own green as
the gallery sWarmed over it.
st. Andrews turf is hardy 1t has
to be to withstand the punishment
it suffers when Bobby Jones comes to
town. When the champion was using
one side Of an immense green, crowds
were packed on the other side, reserv-
ed for players going in the opposite
direction.
Cyril Tolley, the well known British
amateur, was bumped into. He proved
big enough to hold his own. But the
galleries which in other days watched
him tee shots high and far away did
not even recognize him. The veteran
Harry Vardon waited at the next
green, peacefully putting his pipe, for
Bobby to attempt to make a putt be-
fore attempting to use his half of the
immense green which serves two
holes. The great golfing stylist of
decade ago was lone figure as he
waited and as Jones and his partner
holed out, the crowd swept at him
and he was forced to stand with arms
outstretched to protect his ball.
So it was at almost every hole. The
laundering thousands around Jones
passed the English amateur champion.
George tTweddell. He was ioSJ in the
shuttle and his gallery of four spec
tators, including the official marker,
was completely submerged.
The crowd went all the way 70 Eden
loop" with Jones and saw hirl play
the ninth like an 18 handicap man at-
ter he had pulled his tee shot on the
eighth but recovered. He thGE scored
brides at the tenth and eleventh, the
first one coming after another hooked
drive and his deuce at the eleventh be-
ing made by a long, long putt.
The 18th brought relapse, for five