The Washington times., 1930-09-04
BURNING TREE
IS IN GOOD
SHAPE
BY JUNO KINERK


with the exception of Page
Hufty, well known Congressional
star, practically every leading
golfer in washington today Is cul
at Burning Tree for the first halt
Of the test in quest Of the District
amateur championship. In all
o field Of fifty-three players Is
entered.
The latest entry to seek Miller
3. Stevinson's title is Walter r
Tuckerman, winner Of the crown
in 1923. On that occasion Tucker
man finished two strokes ahead
Of Chris Dumphy to gain the
coveted title. Again In 1926
Tuckerman shot four fine rounds,
but found himself just two strokes
behind the undefeated George
Voigt at the conclusion Of the
seventy-two holes play.
Page Hufty was unable to enter
this year because business called
him from the city. However, Con-
gressional offers still another
serious contender in the person
Of Clarence B. Murphy, club cham
pion, who is considered one Of
the longest drivers in the District,
and also one Of the best players.
Although most of the clubs
have been playing winter
rules for = month or more
owing to the baked condition
Of the fairways, summer rules
are in effect for the cham
piOnship. This means, Of
course, NO improvement Of
lies and this change may
cause more than little
trouble.
The championship course is in
perfect condition, that is as per
feet as is possible under the
weather conditions that have pre-
vailed this year, and although
conducive to low scoring, 1t is
the prevailing consensus that a
score of about 30S will cop.
Now sos Is q pretty high score,
at is true, considering the caliber
and quality of the field, but with
all matters conSidered-tenSion,
strain, missed puts, cuppy lies
this figure may not be far off.
Close students Of the course and
golf familiar with the obtaining
conditions have expressed this
opinion.
Among other things, Il 10
felt, that the strain Of play.
ing ~ holes i'm two days Is q
severe drain on o players
nervous system. While scores
from tOday'S rounds may indi.
cate a lover total than 3O5,
II is the current opinion that
tOmOrrOw's play will find the
cores running uniformly
higher, and thus bring II up
TO that total.
A high wind and some disaS
trous luck attended young Mel
vile Bennett, the 1S-year-old
Stauntion Military Academy
youth, in quest of the District
junior championship in the play
off yesterday with Bobby Bower
at Washington Golf and Country
Club, and the latter was an easy
victor, scoring 81 to his oppOn
ent'S SO.
Bennett got away. to a one
stroke lead in the first three
holes with 5-3.5, but Old Mar
Hard Luck caught up with him
on the fourth and he never re
covered. On this hole he at
tempted. to fade his second shot
around the trees. The winC
caught the ball and deposited Il
right in among the tirnbers. HI
attempted to come out but hit
another tree and was back II
again. He finally finished thu
hole with q 8.
On several Of the succeed
Ing holes Bennett also found
his bali I'm trouble aS the re-
suit of the jinx that seemed
to carry his apparently well
hit shots right into the most
difficult possible lies.
AS a consequence his card wa!
studded with SIS and rs anC
the match was hardly a confess
since Bowen plugged steadily
right along with as and SIS.
In the first days play Bower
had d 73 and rs while Bennett
was "A and IS. The strain Of toC
much golf exacted its toll from
each, but Bowen today is amons
the players seeking the major
title at Burning Tree. Bennett
also was entered but decided mo-
20 play because of fatigue.