Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-17

Francis Cuimet's victory in the
national amateur golf tournament was
popular one, the comeback" of a
man who had won this same cham
pionship II years ago appealing to
the country's sporting blood. It also is
pointed out that, as his early triumph
over the older players started youth
to the heights in golfdom, his recent
victory gives the honors back to the
more seasoned golfer.
Seventeen years ago, as a lad Of 81,
Francis Ouimet of Boston won the
national amateur championship In
golf" recalls the Pittsburgh Post-Ga-
zette. "Now-at 38-he wins it again
by defeating Jack Westland Of Chicago
by G and in a 36-hole match. An
interesting coincidence is the fact that
he won by precisely the same score
with which he triumphed over Jerry
Travers in 1914" The Post-Gazette
predicts that "his unprecedented re-
turn to championship heights after
such a long period will be especially
pleasing on account of his sportsman
ship and popularity. 1t unquestionably
will have a stimulating effect upon
other golfers of his age, and In the
ordinary pursuit OF the game We may
presently be hearing of other come
backs"
The San Francisco Chronicle COM
ments that strangely enough, nearly
two decades ago the onslaught by
youngsters on what long had been
called IAN old mans game" was led
by Francis Ouimet and that today
times pendulum swung back in a
mood of ironic humor to carry Francis
Ouimet to victory over a field of ag-
gressive youth Recalling that, as an
"unheralded youth from Boston, :"
OLimet defeated two British veteran
professionals and won the national
open in 1918 and the next year de-
feated the veteran Travers for the
amateur championship. the Chronicle
recounts how "the subsequent raid of
the youngsters swept the old guard
as an old mans game The Bobby
Joneses, Horton Smiths and Johnny
Goodmans were great players who
walked a course blazed for youth by
Francis Ouimet. Now, when
the youth movement seems to have
begun its ebb in broader fields, Ouimet
returns as the champion Of age"
+
Referring to Ouimet's career in golf
In the interval between his two cham
pioushlp victories, the Haverhill Even
Ing Gazette remarks: Early in his
career as o notable figure in American
golf he attained competitive heights
that hundreds strive for in vain for a
lifetime. Year after year since then he
has been properly rated among the
country's leading golfers. Never, how
ever. did he climb the heights again
until this year. Americans like the
athlete who ia consistently good II not
consistently the best. They like to see
his consistency rewarded. They Ike 70
see man who has for years been an
honor to his game win the honor that
game can bestow. They like to see
Champion come back. For these rea-
sons they are glad Ouimet won-excel-
lent reasons, which we heartily endorse"
Declaring that. though "the Chicago
gallery. may have had little applause
for the BoatoniAn, u Is popular VIC
tory IN the golf world" the Rockford
Register Republic points out that play
ing the game &C Chicago was. not easy.
II records that the winner faced
hostile gallery on the last day---Cni-
cagoana do not like 10 see an Easterner
walk OF with the honofa In any sport.
But Onifnet, unpprturbed. was master
over the long route"
The champion OF today had To defeat.
I'm Ave successive matches players
who averaged "a years ~ age" Accord
ing 20 the Goshen Daily News-Times,
all OF whom were 'i9 or more years
younger than he, and reports say that
Ouimet had the added handicap OF Q
gallery which was partial 20 the
youngsters but The veteran showed
that experience and the mental poise