Evening star., 1931-06-27
HAVE 2TO-1 EDGE Il
AS SINGLES BEGIN
Americans Optimistic After.
Success in Fours0mes.
Troops" Changed.
BY PAUL NICHOLSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 27.-The
British lion was down but far from out
today as the international due between
England and America for the priced
Ryder Cup moved into its final and
deciding battle. d...
Turned back, three matches to one,
in the first skirmish over the rugged,
trap infested Scioto battle ground, the
British faced dramatic uphill fight,
but felt confident of turning the tide
and giving the squat little trophy, en-
blem of international professional golf
supremacy, another trip across the At
lantic. Capt. Walter Hagen and his
mates were highly optimistic but aware
and respectful of their foes comeback
qualities
Today's final skirmish consisted of
eight singles matches in which Capt
Hagen and Capt. Charles Whitcombe
of his majesty's forces carefully laid
their battle lines with their prize troops
fighters who proved their ability in
Yesterdays shelling. This was the
lineup:
Archie Compston, England, VS..
Billy Burke, America.
Fred Robson, England, VS.. Gene
Sara2en, America,
w. H. Davies, England, VS.. Johnny
Farrell, America.
Abe Mitchell, England, vs. Witty
Cox, America.
Charles Whitcombe, England, vs..
Walter Hagen, America.
Burt Hodson, England, VS.. Dens- :
more Shute, America
E: Whitecombe, England, VS.. AL
Espinosa, America.
Arthur Havers, England, VS.. Craig
Wood, America.
On the sidelines were two pIayers
from each taam-the veteran George
Duncan and the youthful sgd Easter
brook of England, who were defeated
in separate two-ball foursomes yester-
day, and Leo Diegel and Horton Smith
OF the American team. Diegel was so
dissatisfied with his losing performance
yesterday that he asked to be given a.
gallery seat while Smith was so far
of his famous game that Can't. Hagen
decided he couldn't take a chance on
him in any of the matches, making him
the only member of his 10-man team to
take a complete rest.
AS a result of Americas 2-pojnt
mortgage on the cup, gained Yesterday.
the British faced the grim task of win
ming five out of today'S eight matches
to tie the Americans and capturing six
to win.
But if Ryder Cup history repeats.
Itself. they were doomed to. diSappoint--
ment. Back in 1927 the English fin
ished the same as yesterday In the old.
Scotch two-ball game and were
crushed the next day. 6I2 matches to
l12. But in 1929. when they last met
and conquered Hagens team, they lost
only point in the Scotch game and
came back to win the cup by beating
the Americans 5l2 to 2la in the singles.
a L.
good as a British victory. aSsit would
give the Britons possession of the cup
until the teams meet again across the
water in 1888.
Yesterdays matches, in which Cant.
Hagen and Shute led the way to vic
tory. started out to be a rout fors
America and ended with a spirited
night. Under the steaming rays of a
near 100-degree sun the Americans fin
ished the halfway jaunt of the 36-hole
match play well in front.
Hagen and Shute stood a forbidding.
10 up over Duncan and Havers. Farrell
and Sarazen were up on Compston.,
and Davies, Diegel and Espinosa were
up on Mitchell and Robson. while Cox
ana Burke were l up on E. Whitcombe
and EaSterbrook. But as they started
out for the final 18-hole round rain
storm shook the course chilled the
players and fired the British with new
energy
Hagen and Shute and Farrell and
Sarazen were too far ahead then to be
caught. but the other American pairs
Cox. Burke, Diegel and Espinosa-had
heated fights on their hands. Mitchell
and Robson finally pulled 1 up on
Diegel and Espinosa on the twenty
seventh green and won out, 3 to /.
after ding-dong battle, which ended
when Diegel spanked his tee shot into
creek on the thirty-fifth hole. Whit
combe and Easterbrook fought close all
the way and finally lost because of
Easterbrook's poor putting.
Hagen and Mitchell were the stars
Of the day. Both of them won holes
repeatedly with beautiful wood shots
and fine puts. Sir Walter was on his
game so completely that he looked and
acted like the Hagen Snowman of old.
Sarazen was there, too, dropping ap-
proaches within inches of the cup and
breaking the hearts of his rivals.
Today'S matches will start in order of
the lineup at 10 am. Eastern stand
ard time, and will be match play overs
36 holes