Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
NONE STANDS OUT
ON EVE OF BATTLE
Jones Is on Sidelines First
Time Since '16-BeverIy
Offers Wicked Test.
RY ALAN GnIun

NAAASEAOO, mug uoL z1,-E1lkI1
winds and high hopes to-
~ day marked the prepara-
tions of Americas foremost
amateur golfers, together with a
sprinkling of British rivals, for
the national amateur champion
ship, which starts Monday over the
long and difficult layout of the
Beverly Country Club.
This is the first tournament
without Bobby Jones since the
Georgian first entered the lists
at Merton in 1915. With Bobby on
the sidelines to watch tn echase
for the last Of the four crowns he
wore in 1880, it is wide open
scramble and requires no eagle
eyed observer to discover the feel
ing that most of the $50 entries.
more or less, figure they have a
chance to grab some of the long
lost spotlight.
For the last IL years, from the outset
OF each affair, it has been Jones against
the field. The Georgian was stopped
a number of times but never twice by
the same competitor and for the last
han dozen years he was at least q 2
to choice against the field. even
though he was trimmed in the 1925
final by George Won Elm and in the
first round at Pebble Beach in 1929 by
Johnny Goodman.
Nobody Stands Out.
I'm fo aJr
for the first time and Goodman is one
OF only three starters who can claim
the distinction Of victory over Jones in
previous national amateur champions
ships. The others are the veteran ex-
champions, Francis Ouimet of Boston,
who beat Jones in 1920 at Rosslyn and
Max Marston of Philadelphia, who took
Bob's measure at the nearby Flossmoor
course in 1923.
All the pre-battle chatter and locker
room gossip has failed TO develop any
thing like a favorite in the big field,
although the great, the near-great and
the past-great are pretty wen assem-
bled. OF the youngsters who have been
coming along prominently, William
Lawson Little, jr, of San Francisco and
Charley Seaver of Los Angeles, have
their followers. But so have Charles
Kocsis the youthful Detroit sensation
and Johnny Goodman, the experienced
Omaha sharpshooter. as well as Gene
Romans and Maurice Mccarthy, IT., Of
the New York metropolitan district.
Some Old Rivals.
Among the more seasoned campaign
ers. Dr. Oscar r Willing of Portland,
Harrison r. (Jimmy) Johnston OF st.
Paul, the last on the list TO hold the
championship; George Voigt Of New
York Chicago's own Chick Evans and
Francis Ouimet. are old rivals for the
top honors. Britain's entries include
an added starter In Cyril Tolley as well
as John De Forest, runner-up this year
for the British amateur title. Another
former British title holder. T. Philip
Perkins, is entered from his present
home, New York, and ranks well up
with the leaders.
Perhaps because he is a veteran him
self, Dr. Willing, still keen COMPETE
tor at Al, believes the winner will
emerge from the older group because,
he says. lit takes experience TO get any
where on this. layout"
AS a 4O-mile gale whipped Beverly
today, the Portland, Greg, dentist went
on: This looks to me like the tough
est course we have played for the
championship in my experience. These
young fellows who hit long balls are
going to have hard time getting out
of trouble SteadineSs and good judg-
ment in choosing the proper shots, es-
pecially in this wind, are going to count
a lot.
Willing FavOrs VOigt.
IF I had to pick a possible favorite
it would be George Voigt. They say he
isn't such long hitter and will be ham
dicapped. but do not think so. He
is long enough and he is a fine shot
maker, especially anywhere near the
green's.
These greens are so tricky that you
are not going to see many long ones
go down. The fellow who is getting
his approach puts consistently up to
the pin will win"
DR.. Willing had an 80 on the par II
layout today, but asserted it represented
good golf. He thinks, under the con-
ditions, that $50 or more may be good
enough to qualify in the 36-hole test
Monday and Tuesday. No one has yet
broken par in practice, although Law
son Little came close to it with q fine
IS.
The United States Golf Association
won't check its entry list Of 153 players
until tomorrow, but already several
Withdrawals have been reported. Jesse
Guilford of Boston, 1921 champion, was
not expected to compete. Clark Holder
and Eemery Stratton, two other Bos-
tonians, have scratched.
Johnny Goodman, the Omaha star,
reported one of the best practice rounds
of the day, 38-37-75 Jimmy" john
on the official seeding" list for the
tournament, scored an approximate 70.
He played with Max Marston and
Francis Fl. I. Brown, the Honolulu en-
to, who had 10 and 80, respectively.
Francis Ouimet turned in n.