New Britain herald., 1930-01-24
'SARAzEN FINISHES
 FIRST IN TOURNEY
Takes Big Prize in A9ua Cali.
 ente Coli Tournament


 Jan. 4 LP-Gene Sarazen. sturdy New York professional, today usher cd that ancient and royal Scottish pastime. golf, into the big money class of the sporting world.
 With the magic touch Of his chosen clubs Sarazen yesterday transformed his 295 strokes for the 72 hole first annual Agua Caliente S25,000 open tournament into Sl0,- 900, the champions share of the largest stake ever placed on the solfnG mart.
 A stirring comeback which re- called his advent into the list of the elite back in 1922 when he, as q 2l year old youth. stepped out 10 win the national open title, marked Sara zen's play.
 Fourteenth at the end Of the first round the former caddy finished his triumphant tour of the four day event with a two stroke edge over the pride Of Missouri's Ozark region, Horton Smith. and the veteran Al Espinosa, Chicago professional, both of whom finished with scores of 297.
 Sarazen set course record of GS in his startling finish. It was one Of only two scores which cclipsed tn" par figures of II during the tourna- ncpt. At the conclusion, Wirt G. Bow man, president of the Agua Caliente Co.,. Inc. announced that the affair would become a per manent fixture among the Pacific coast winter money events.
 The other player to stroke his way beyond the par barrier was George Non Elm, member of the Walker Cup team. and one of the nations ranking amateurs. The De- troit Simon Pure tied for fourth place and finished first among the half dozen play-for- r-fun entrants who survived the 36 hole qualifications.
 Tied with Won Elm were the Du- tra brothers, Olin and Mortc, three strokes behind the champion. Smith and Espinosa gathered in $3,750. while the Dutras collected S1,25O each.
 The tournament presented varie- ty Of conditions to test the prov ess of the 1l5 original starters. Mon days round was played on soggy course. while the second and third found a trying wind which reached q gale Wednesday. A fast course and ideal weather marked the con. cluding IS holes of play. Ed Dudley, Wilmington. Deli professional, whose 7i Monday pu, , him in a temporary lead. fell victin, Of the stubborn course and finished in a four-Way tie for Fist place i Olin Dutra. with his fourth place final standing, vas ahead at the 3g hole mark.
 It was the final round by Sarazci which was most remarkable. II, collected six birdies, the last thrc( in succession. after going two ovcl par on the tenth and one over or the eleventh. His recovery iron these miSfortuneS under such nerv, racking conditions marked him a. championship timber and the gal lery Of approximately 2,500 persons began to tricklc away from Morton Smith as word went the rounds that the New Yorker had forged to tho 1 front.
 | Sarazcn. each time he addressed the ball, added s33.89 to his earn, ings during the four day stand Hi, i Sl0,0OO, coupled with the money h, collected by winning the Miami opcr and by going to the third round 1T | the National F. C.. A. tournament al | Los Angeles last December. enabled him to slip ahead of Smith as the big money winner of the past sea son.
 The 2l-year-old youth from the Show Me" state, whose record ; year ago and again this season stil holds for him the title of the world! most consistent money winner, wol approximately 5000 in the pas season, Sarazen has collected ap proXimately Sl1,000.
 Eight members Of the Ryder Gu, 1 team finished in the money to col 1 feet $lS.775 Of the $23.0OO stake { Besides SaraZcn, Smith and Espi nosa, Al Watrous. Johnny lfarrci! Leo DiCgcl. Johnny Golden an i Dudley earned q share Of the spoil Walter Hagen. captain Of tn team. and Joe Turncsa failed [, connect. Hagen terminated wha has proved the most disastrous win ter stand he ever has staged on lh west coast. He has won only $S in five appearances.
 Sarazen, Farrell and q number 0 other pros will return 10 thei homes, while the remainder of tn golfing army will move on San An tonic, where week hence the TeXa open takes place.
 ---------------r----