Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-19
Burke Met His Bride on Climb
Y y n y n X
To Greatest u. s. Golf Honors

migrant FAMILY IN Naugatuck TO the
throne OF American golfdom.
Billy Burkowski, at Is. returned
in defeat from the Connecticut
amateur tournament 10 resume his
old job at the foundry. but his
feat IN battling his way to the
finals, vanqulshing many expert
enced players, had attracted atten-
ton. tie vas made a. a golfer.
The one who did most to start
him on the high road that led TO
gOlllng fame was Henry J. Top
ping. wealthy Greenwich sportsman
the veteran who had conquered
Billy n up in the final.
Topping used his influence TO get
Blly-Burke now. not BurkOwski-
a Job at the Clearwater, Fla, Coun-
try club. That was about five years
ago. Burke arrived IN Clearwater
with no possessions except a worn
blue suit and four or five golf sticks.
and went TO work as a caddy master.
Here he found time for valuable
practice. He improved his putting
and heightened his drives until 275
yards became ordinary. Self-trained.
he always described his technique
as lust stepping up and hitting
the ball
The Brooklyn Robins were in
training at Clearwater. ana Billy
was assigned to explain DO Dazzy
Vance. Burleigh Grimes and other
Flatbush luminaries the nice dif-
terences between a hunt toward
third base and a niblick shot out
OF a sand trap. Also. Topping en-
gagged Billy 70 teach his sons, Dan
and Henry. Jr.
While In Clearwater. Burke won
another tournament and seemed
headed for the top flights OF golf.
The next summer he was given his
first JOB as a pro-at the Malta
tuck Country club III Waterbury.
five miles from his home town Of
Naugatuck. Afterward he served as
pro IN Danville. Ky, and Westport.
N. ~. and then Topping-still his
biggest -b0OSter-waS instrumental
in bringing him as pro to the Blind
Brook Club at Port Chester. ". Y.
A full-fledged pro now, Billy be-
came known IN professional tOurna-
ments. Within two years after Ieav-
ing the amateur ranks he attract
ed the attention OF golf experts By
winning the North and South Open
az Plnehurst, N. G. He triumphed
AZ the New York State Open In
1929, but the victory may have cost
him high honors in the National
open at the Winged Foot club a
week later. For, although listed as
a favOrite. he couldn't get going
in the early rounds and just man
aged 10 finish among the first 20.
About a year ago Topping brought
him to the exclusive Round Hi
club in Greenwich. Conn. as In
structor 10 scores OF wealthy men.
This club. one of the smartest in
the east, became the setting for
the romance OF Burke'S life. AT a
club dance one evening Burke vas
introduced TO a slender. sparkling
eyed girl who was sought BY the
other rich men Of Greenwich. She
was Marguerite Thompson. daugh-
ter OF oscar Thompson. a prosper
Gus Greenwich businessman.
They were married In June last
wear. Mrs. Burke was with Billy
throughout the recent strenuous
days at Inverness when his dra-
matte victory over George Won Elm
stirred the golf world.
Billy Byrke's achievement * golf
ing history. On q day two weeks
before the National O1en started.
he went into Ohio 10 get ready for
the qualifying test OF the Ryder
Cup matches. re PLAYED Al holes
The next day he took part In an
exhibition. and played nine more
holes in the evening.
There followed the Ryder Cup
qualifying test. which he won. and
then the international matches In
which Burke starred. Burdened
with laurels. Billy went to Toledo
and got In four and one-half rounds
az practice before the National
open began. Finally. after 144 holes
Of amazing play. he gained the most
coveted crown I'm American golf.
So here in NauEatuck. where
men make iron, they'll tell you that
iron makes menl