Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
Steddiness Decides in Golf,
Victory of Steuinson Shows

n YOT since 1927, when George
N Voigt won the District amateur
championship at the Indian
l. Spring Club for the second con-
secutive time, has such low
scoring been seen in the Simon-pure
title chase about washington as was
witnessed last week in the champion
ship. at. Congressional. Registering
consistent rounds of "a, IS, "a and 70
for q total Of 301, Miller B. STEVENSON
of Columbia, a veteran who seems to
improve as the years slip by, averaged
a stroke over even 75s for the par 70
layout in nearby Maryland. and thereby
proved again that, although youth may
have its brilliant spots, 72-hole cham
pionship pays considerable dividends
for steadineSs.
STEVENSON had his rough spots, where
the specter of loss of confidence reared
its ugly head and threatened to toss
him lightly out of the title chase. For
example, on the opening round, where
the scoring was so spectacular, Stevln-
son started with brace Of SIS, against
a par of 5, 4. Did he wilt and curl up
at this juncture? He did not. He kept
on plugging away in characteristic Ste
vinson fashion, and his pluck and skill
were rewarded with splendid "a, in
spot where a lesser man might have
gone far up toward the 80 mark. And
again, on the final round of the cham
pionship, where Harry Pitt was press
ing him closely, STEVENSON took on
the lengthy tenth hole, where S was
just good golf. Again he refused to
curl up, and, steadying himself for the
stretch drive, he came back to par f1g-
ures with on the eleventh hole.
That STEVENSON was the leading golfer
of Washington in last weeks cham
pionship cannot be denied. SteadineSs
counts more than brilliance, for Stevin-
ship. Pitt had 70, Roesch did the
same score, and Shorey had 70 in
the opening round. Yet STEVENSON
tended right to his knitting, pounding
out 74s and 75s with monotonous regu-
larity. Over the final round he knew
exactly what Pitt was doing, for the
Manor Club ace was playing in front
of him, and STEVENSON was kept adj
vised as to Pitts progress.
And that STEVENSON must take top
rank as the best golfer about Wash
ington this year is equally true. To
be sure, Pitt beat him in the final OF
the Chevy Chase tournament, and Pitt
also won the Indian Spring event. But
STEVENSON did not play at Indian
Spring, and all golfers agree that the
72-hole test is the supreme test Of golf.
To score four rounds over such q test
ing course a. Congressional, with an
average stroke worse than 75s Is q real
showing Of consistency. Voigts 291 at
Indian Spring In 1927 Is the only mark
that stands out better than that OF
STEVENSON this year.
A very unusual incident occurred on
the ninth green of the final round,
when Pitt was pressing STEVENSON
closely, and any break Of the game
might make O change in the position
of the two men in the championship.
Pitt pulled his tee shot into the bunker
ut the left of the green and exploded
hole. w. r. McCallum, with whom
Pitt was playing, holed his ball. giving
Pitt an unobstructed putt at the hole.
Now Pitt had been putting very well,
having holed 10-footers on the seventh
and eighth greens. At the ninth his
ball appeared to be in the middle OF
the hole until 1t got within 6 inches of
the cup. then veered sharply on to
the right and hung on the back edge,
hole. Pitt walked up to play his next
stroke, when McCallum, who had seen
that the ball was moving, called to Pitt,
"Oh, Harry, look ct the airplane," and
pointed up to the sky where an air
man was looping his plane in dizzy
maneuvers. Pitt looked up at the sky
and while he looked, the ball fell in
the cup. The incident was perfectly
legitimate, for Pitt did not know the
bali was rolling, and although he should
play his next stroke without undue de-
lay, he was fully entitled to take time
to look at the scenery II he wished.
Rule IS Of the rules Of golf states
that player shall not play while his
ball is moving. But this rule applies to
match play, and there is no similar rule
covering medal play, except that when
the play is away-as Pitt was, with Nc
Callum having holed out-he shall play
his next stroke without appreciable
delay. Perhaps 1t saved Pitt stroke,
and perhaps not. In any event, 1t was
one Of the things that occasionally arise
in the game and make interesting tales
to relate.
We remember q similar occurrence