The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-08
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THE difference between being ma
i tional open golf champion and
runner-up in the case of George
Won Elm may be just the matter of
a Camera click. Won Elm, who had
as many as three strokes advantage
over Champion Billie Burke during
the play-off for the open champion
ship Sunday and Monday, always
chopped away those leads and final
ly succumbed in the Polish boy.
No doubt. Won Elm. instead of thinking
back to a 12-inch putt he missed on the
SEVENTEEN hole Of the regular seventy-tw
hole championship play last Saturday.
and ultimately left him in a tie with
Burke at 2o2 at the end Of seventy-two
holes will probably overlook that blunder,
also others he pulled in the two thirty
six-hole play-oh matches both Sunday and
Monday to center his attention on the
action pulled by a eameraman Monday.
1t was on the thirteenth hole. short
146-yard par three. which is an iron shot
to the green.
Won Elm hooked his tee shot q bit to
the left and was in the sand. Sinking
his feet into the sand and taking a
steady stance. George started his down.
stroke with the niblick Just then. he
narrated afterward. a camerman clicked
the shutter. This caused him to drive
the ball across the green into another trap
on the other side. he added When he
finally got the ball into the cup he had
taken five strokes. Burke. who was only
ten feet from the can from the tee. was
down in two safe puts and went two
strokes into the lead right there.
Won Elm tossed the niblick at his caddy's
feet and left the green mutterinz some
very uncomplimentary remarks about the
photographer.
The trouble was. however. that Won Elm,
out in front several times before and after
that never was able to hold his lead. Our
observation in Toledo seemed to be that
Burke is exceedingly popular with the
golfing fraternity. He will make popu-
lar successor to Bobby Jones, II that is
possible. There we're quite a few who
we're convinced that Bobby would have
sewed up the championship in Toledo long
before the seventy-two holes. regula:
championship route we're played.
1T so happened Saturday Burke
IL had finished his seventy-two
holes and was low with 292. Won
Elm was playing hole IS at the time
and was informed of the position
he held at that stage. He had five
holes to play, all OF them par 4
holes. He could consume % strokes
and still lead Burke by one stroke.
He could take % strokes and tie.
Instead Of shooting the last holes. in
par or under. Won Elm went one stroke
over on each Of the next four holes. He
three-putted three greens. missing one
a foot. When he walked Up to the last
tee. he knew he had to shoot a birdie to
tie Burke There we're those in the gal
lery who felt that If Bobby Jones had been
playing those last five holes. the Georgian
would have tossed some 3's into the
group of five par four holes. Won Elm
lust wasn't champion under fire.
The gallery watching the pro-amateur
at Anderson Monday saw some great shin
nv shooting. that is if they happened to
be following the foursome composed OF
Ralph Stonehouse. Pleasant Run pro. and
his partner. Bill Wilkinson, and George
Lance. state amateur champion playing
with Sammy Simpson as an amateur
team. Each of these pairs turned in
best ball score of So. Looking over their
cards we found the best ball or the Iour~
some was So strokes There was not five
on the card. At least one OF the four
players got a three on every one Of the
first nine holes. making the best ball score
to that point AZ. On the next six holes
As were the best. but on the last three
holes the best ball was 3-2-2, totaling 81
coming in. There was sensational shot
on every hole.
q
Neal MCINTYRE and Doc McCaskey went
up from Highland and scored best ball.
IS. That was not even In the prize money.
There were three pairs Of 63's that TIED
for the lead 1t took four holes of play
off to decide the first three places. Bill
finder. playing over his own course with
a home boy partner. scored best ball 81
but had to be content with fourth place.
And somebody said something about the
new ball hurting scores.
=
TOHN NIBLACK, secretary OF the
j indianapolis Public Links Asso-
citation, warns local golfers who
wish to enter the public links cham