Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-09
new CHAMPION
10 YEARS OLD
Stars Poor Putting Near
" Causes Loss To
l.. Connor

DALLAS. June 7.=P,-Fighting
back doggedly after a ragged morn
ing round that left him two down
zt the intermission, Dennis Layen-
der, imperturable Abilene youth.
came from behind to catch Lanham
Conner, Dallas crack. on the home
stretch and defeat him, / Up, for
The Texas amateur golf crown here
today.
Fully 1000 spectators braved a
tcorching sun TO follow fine young
sters in their gruelling struggle for
the 1929 links toga. Il was 2
first time in q years history of the
Teas golf association that a final
match had gone the full 36 holes.
Both players were worn when tha
last putt hit the cup.
Almost from the start OF the
mstch Lavender was forced 70 fight
uphill. His putting, brilliant IN four
previous matches. went bad n the
championship tilt, and the straight
shooting Connor quickly piled up
an advantage. At the END Of the
first nine the Dallas ster was ! up,
and as Lavender's puts continued
TO rim the cup. Conner increased
his advantage TO two holes az nc
turning po.rt. Both had miserable
first rounds. Common an 80 anu La
veader an 81.
Short Rest
Refreshed after an hours rest y
pair came lack to show the gallery
some fine eclf IN the afternoon. al
though La"ender's puJter still re-
fused 10 iurction properlT. When
te three rUtted the frs hole in
the afternoon Connor's lead was IN
creased to three Up. and ~ lcOha1
like the dallas star vas III.
That marked the turning point.
Lavender, rool rs a cucumber, 5e5an
knocking tie flag ont al lie mole
with his approaches ard won three
successive Holes with a birole ana
two pars to square the match. From
there il was nip and tuck. Conner
going ahead again at the 23rd. Law
ender souarinG 1T with O birdie
two on the 2Sth. and Corner re
gaining his Advantage VITA 4 Dis
thee on the &7th.
The first Ia e. holes OIL the last
b.. were nl.vCG Then ColnOr.
vtary from the strain. ~thrC@-rI II
;Le 5lst ana the match Wa square
again. The Dallas voungster rallied
~ halve the 32cd With a par four
10 hold his own. bu. he ong o1ayed
the killing ~ Lavender apparently
was gaining strength with every
shot.
At the long 35rd. 2 540-yard h1lc.
came the break that put the Abb
lene star into the lead for the FIRST
4 time in q holes and probably de-
rrrd the match. After CCnn0r had
U-ade two great recovery shots 70
lav un for a possible par. Lavender
sank his 40-footer for q birdie four.
T. was the first si5eable putt knock
ed IN bv the new champion all day.
Closes Gate
Lavender went two up with 2
par three on the saith. and, although
Conner made a splendid recover
on next 10 the last hole to spear a
birdie and decrease his rivals adj
vantage Ia one up. the West Texas
boz closed the gate by matching
Connor's five on the home green.
Lavender turned In q fine p on his
second round, while Conner could
manage no better than q IS.
The new state titleholder * one
of the Youngest ever TO ascend the
throne. having Just celebrated his
18th birthday. His victory over 4
formidable field Of 208 players this
week gives him two Of the states
major links titles and ranks him in
the forefront o. the native sons. lie
has held the West Texas champion
ship a year and will defend his title