Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-10
LINKS FRATERNITY
PULLSFORDAWSON
Chicago Youth, Barred From
Amateur Tournament, Is
Lauded by Won Elm.
ny GEORGE Won ELM.

National Amateur COLI champion, 1870.
~ EBBLE BEACH, Calf, September
- 1O.-Although the highly-dis-
pStsG gol ohm ,S question ntt9nr. Of who
teur championship crown this
year has been. decided in favor of Harri-
son r. (Jimmy) Johnston, there are
some poignant reminders that stick out.
Johnny Dawson, popular Chicago
youngSter, who withdrew from the
championship when United States Golf
Association oficials questioned his
status, was one of the first to congfatu-
late Johnston.
Dawson is a very brilliant golfer in
his own right, as his determined bid for
titular honors in the last British anna
teur will testify. He is a member of
a dangerous threat IN amateur compe-
tons for the past six years. Three
weeks before the championship Johnny
went to work for sporting goods house,
work that he has done for years past.
For some reason-it couldn't have
been because he was such hne golfer
the executive committee Of the United
States Golf Association questioned his
entry.
In Unfortunate Position.
The ruling golf body placed Johnny
in = very unfortunate position by leav-
entirely up to him. Had Johnny dar
cided to exercise his prerogative and
play he might possibly have been criti-
cized for his action. BY withdrawing
gracefully. and courteously requesting a
definite ruling for all future COMPETE
lions, Johnny cemented the friendship
of host Of well wishers, and is just
as popular here today as even Jimmy
Johnston.
Johnny Dawson is a very fine golfer,
q gentleman on and of the links, and,
to my way of thinking, has been . de-
eided credit to international amateur
golf Like all Of Johnny's friends, d
deeply regret the action Of the United
States Golf Association at this par
ticular time. and sincerely hope the
matter will be satisfactorily adjusted in
the near future.
heard that the United States Golf
Association likewise found 1t necessary
to question the amateur status of
Johnny Goodman, the youthful golfer
who defeated Bobby Jones. have
heard varying reports, one stating that
Goodman Is paying his way through col
lege while working in sporting goods
store, and O second that he has been an
employe of q large telephone \and tele-
graph concern. The latter organization
handled nearly 100000 words daily from
here during the championship.
I don't know what the final decision
in Goodman's case really was. Sufhce
for the moment, Goodman remained in
the tournament long enough to defeat
the Nations greatest amateur, Bobby
Jones.
Speaking of Bobby Jones. he received
a telegram from II. T.. Nicholas of San
Pedro, the first one of its. kind to date,
asking him to sell his clubs, now that he
was probably through with them. Bobby
answered the telegram, but kept his
clubs.
sportsmanship is a funny thing. /
think Jimmy Jonston Is one of the best
golfers and one of the finest sportsmen
in the game. and Jimmy agreed with me
that DR.. Willing did deserve a much
more friendly gallery on the final day
There always are rabid partisans fol-
lowing every branch of sport, but there
can be- no excuse for the actions of
many of the fans that galleried the
Johnston-Wi match.
DR.. Willing is great golfer. john
ston is greater. But DR.. Willing de-
served more support in his drive for
the amateur crown. He could have
golfed more favorably even without this
encouragement had those unfair fans
remained silent when he missed one Of
the several shots that contributed so
much to his defeat.
am sure that after thinking 1t over
the fans win feel sorry for their TN
sportsmanlike attitude and will realize
that IL wasn't that they liked Dr.. WILL
ing less; it was rather that they liked
Johnston more,
DR.. willing deserves world OF praise
for his game try at the national anna
teur crown There is no disgrace in
losing to better gclfer-and Johnston
was . better golfer.