Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-02
JONES2-1 CHOICE
TO RETAIN HONORS
Some Stars Due to Fail. as
Only 81 will Qualify for
Match Play.
BY ALAN J. GOULD.
Associate Press Sports Editor.

EBBLE BEACH, Calf, Septem-
- Der 1.-THE tumult and shout
ing OF the preliminary golfing
i bouts, the practice puts and the
predictions gave way today to
the serious business Of qualifying for
the amateur championship of the
United States.
Out along the picturesque shores of
Carmel Bay, where the roar of the Pa
cific ocean Is heard more often than
the roar OF the crowd, exactly 139
golfers. the best amateur talent that
can be procured by America, Great
Britain and Canada, began gathering
before the fog had lifted to start the
title quest. All of the experts and most
OF the onlookerS. not influenced by SEN
timent, family ties or partisanship, re-
gard the quest as somewhat in vain.
merely because the one-hundred and
fortieth golfer in the big field happens
to be Robert T. Jones, jr., of Atlanta,
winner of the championship four times
in the last five years.
Jones, in spite Of the fact he is facing
strong field on a course whose de-
ceptive hazards can wreck anybody'S
hopes II given half a chance, was a
2-to-1 favorite to successfully defend
his crown in advance of the title COM
at such amazing golf odds.
Two Days for Qualifying.
Today, with a former major league
third baseman, Arthur tTilly) Shafer of
Los Angeles, first off the starting tee,
the field settled down for the opening
18 holes of qualifying competition. The
process will be repeated tomorrow and
the 80 low scorers will qualify for match
play, beginning Wednesday.
There may be casualties among the
favorites in the qualifying round If the
wind happens to be high and few
shots start straying of the line into
the sand or the ocean. Barring upsets,
however, the main battle of eliminations
will start Wednesday, when two 18-
hole rounds will be played. cutting the
field from 80 to 8.
It has been Black Wednesday" for
the hopes of many star in the past.
a hazardous day even for the great
Bobby Jones and unquestionably the
pivotal day of the tournament, outside
of the actual final battle. There is no
time for relaxation in an 18-hole match,
where the ordinary player who happens
to be ''on" his game has a golden OPP
portunity to take" the more touted
performer.
Last year. for instance, George Won
Elm of Detroit, Don Moe of Portland,
Greg; the present Western champion,
Chick Evans of Chicago; Francis
Ouimet of Boston and Frank Dolp of
Portland, Greg, all were put out in the
first round. Jess Sweetser Of New
York, another eX-champion, fell by the
wayside in the second round and Jones
was saved from probable elimination
only because his opponent, Ray Gorton,
completely missed his drive off the
eighteenth tee. That's what happened
only a year ago to a flock Of stars. all
OF whom are here for the Far Vests
first tournament and again rated among
the outstanding contenders.
Tolley Failed Last Time.
Cyril Tolley, here now as the British
amateur champion, failed to qualify in
his last appearance in the American
tournament three years ago and, unless
he improves his play, he may again ex-
perience difficulty entering the cham
pionship circle on such a course as
Pebble Beach, where the penalties are
often extreme for what seem like or
binary mistakes. Dividends will be de-
clared on the game that sticks to the
main line, not on sheer power or even
distance. Tee shots Of abnormal length,
such as those Of Tolley and Phillips
Finlay, the former Harvard star and
1928 semi-finalist. may find as much
trouble as ball that is topped, hooked
or sliced. These two stars. among
others, have already found that out.
Society Hollywood, wealthy West
Coast devotee of the game. and the
world of sports in general focked out
today to make up the opening gallery
as well as to make the most Of being
hosts to the celebrated stars Of the
game The people who get into the
Sunday rotogravure sections regularly
are here by the score, even though the
order of Ashton is for low heels instead
of high. If there is such a thing as a
golfing paradise, where so much trouble
for any player abounds the Monterey
Peninsula. Of which Pebble Beach Is a
unit. is that spot, with all the pic