Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
RECORD IS LIKELY :
FOR ATTENDANCE
Jones Terrible" but Turns
in IA Card as Champion >
Johnston Gets rs.
BY BRIAN BELL,


NGENr Oft1J, Fd., september
RI 20.-Predictions that new
4 4 attendance records would
be made for a golf compe.
tition at the national amateur
championship at Merton Cricket
Club next week seemed justified
this afternoon when gallery
estimated at $500 to 5000 fols
lowed Jimmy Johnston, the cham
pion, and three former cham
pions, Bobby Jones, Jess Sweetser
and Max Marston, over the course.
This outpouring of golf fans two
days before the play off1cially starts
for the most informal sort OF match
caused burrows to appear in the faces
of officials Of the club as they wondered
what they would do next week when
the firing begins in earnest.
The attendance today was greater
than that attracted by the final of the
last championship played at Merton
when Jones defeated Won Elm in 1924
ITS big crowd" said Bobby in the
midst of his round. Il guess 1t IS
fully as large or larger than the gale
lCiy AOA bAAC AiAioA AZ AoHN"
Out to See Jones.
There was applause in plenty for the
champion and two other former cham
pions but the crowd came to see Jones
and every one seemed anxious to have
a ring-side seat every time he adj
dressed the hall.
One Merton member of mature years
expressed the sentiment of the mas
jority. II haven't walked this far since
the last time Jones was here" he said.
The triple champion made no great
effort to break scoring records this after
noon, preferring to try his shots In
preparation for the tests to follow.
Although most Of the players and
glad to take Bob's play, shot for shot.
for the rest of their lives, he said he
was not playing well.
Asked how he was doing, he replied
Terrible"
May Be Spectator.
A friend from New York suggested
that he hoped to see him before the
play starts. but was afraid the star OF
the tournament would be too busy next
week
Il may not be-" replied Bob. "As
matter of fact, I may be watching
the others play. If that turns out to
be the case Wen walk around together"
Jones and Johnston played Sweetser
and Marston in best-ball match, and
while all played good golf there was
nothing about the match to cause ex-
element in a gallery demanding sensa-
tionalism. Happily the crowd today
simply wanted to see the players and
did not ask for supergolf.
For the first nine holes the scores
were very much Appropriated. Sweetser
leading with So, even par, Jones and
Marstop scoring about 81 and john
ston SO.
Many Stars, Tune Up.
Practically all the leading players
were in action this afternoon and most
of them will get in a final round to-
morrow in preparation for the first
qualifying round Monday.
The course was reported in good cons
dition in spite of a distressing appear
ance of brown patch on two green's
and some clover here and there in the
fairway.
1T is great golf course" said Jimmy
Johnston. Il have found 1t one of the
most interesting / have played in 8
championship.
In the battle of champions, Jones and
Johnston defeated Sweetser and Mars
ton, l up, by winning the eighteenth
hole. with par As. Marston took 5 and
Sweetser encountered a lot of last-minp
ute trouble. Jimmy was close for his
par, but Bob had to sink a 6-footer to
finish with a perfect figure.
Jones Has Best Score.
Approximate medal scores for the
round were "a for Jones and rs each
for the other three. although the cham
pion of champions was in two traps and
did not bother to play out after hts
partner halved the holes.
Jones was hitting his woods long and
reasonably straight and seemed about
to come on his game" Johnston, TOO.
played the best golf he has shown In
recent months.