Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
SCHOLASTIC TITLE
TOURNEY ASSURED
D. C. Links Body Planning
Formal Event for High
and Prep Boys.
BY w. II. McCALLUM.

~ NAL competition among the
"A golfers Of the public high
schools, there is at last to
be inaugurated this year formal
interscholastic golf championship
of the National Capital.
The District Of Columbia Golf
Association, governing body for
all golf activities here, will off,
ciany sponsor such a competition,
and thereby will place golf in the
high and prep schools in and
around the Capital on sound
and formal basis which the game
in the high schools never before
has enjoyed
Why there never has been an inter-
scholastic championship backed by the
school authorities in past years no one
seems to know. But the fact Is that
although there have been interscholas-
tic championships held at East Potomac
Park for several years they were hardly
worthy of the name and had little
backing from the school authorities.
They simply were informal gatherings
Of the high school lads who play golf,
who met and organized their own tour
nament, usually a 36-hole medal play
event. held on the public course. The
Journeys usually were supervised by
Jim Preston, who is thoroughly sold on
high school golf in general and develop
ment of young golfers in particular.
It is plain that the school authorities
themselves have taken little interest in
golf as high school sport. This was
shown last Spring by the very fact that
the golfers in the high schools did not
know until quite late in the season
whether they were to play for the
Dawes trophy, put up several years ago
by Charles G., Dawes for the team golf
championship of the schools. And as
for an individual championship, there
never has been one worthy Of the name.
A LII that Is TO be different this year
n and in succeeding years If the ef-
forts of the District Golf Associa-
tion-started at the annual meeting Of
that body last week-bear fruit.
The association, with concrete propo-
sition put before it by an organization
which viii put up trophies for the high
and prep school golfers in an individual
championship, appointed Everett Eynon
of Columbia chairman of committee
to investigate the situation and ascer-
tain what can be done in the way of
holding an interscholastic champion
ship that will be real championship.
This year. probably during the latter
part of May or early in June, on date
that will not interfere with examina-
lions or interrupt the studies Of the
students of the high and prep schools,
o real interscholastic tourney Is to be
held If the plans outlined 60 through.
Eynon probably will report on the re-
suit Of his inquiries within a fortnight
and there Is little doubt that an inter-
scholastic championship tourney, under
the proper auspices, would draw
hundred or more schoolboy golfers.
TN other cities an interscholastic
l. championship is a big tournament.
We recall In Chicago how Chick
Evans, then a youngster In the Evan
ston High School, used to win the in
terscholastic tourney regularly in an
200 youngsters, frequently many more.
And that was In the days before golf
was as popular game as 1t now Is.
Today there must be several hundred
youngsters In the high and prep schools
IN and around washington who play a
passably fair game Of golf. Some Of
them play quite well, but, Of course,
they cannot all win. Nevertheless the
struggle for the championship should
be real.
WHILE the scope Of the proposed
Wv event has not yet been definitely
outlined. it Is the thought Of the
officers Of the District Association to
open the initial event to all students in
the public and private high schools Of
Washington and all students in the
preparatory schools within radius Of
80 miles OF Washington. This would
include the lads at GonZaga, George
town Prep, Dewitt, Emerson, st. Johns,
Episcopal, swavely. Friends, Landon,
st. Adams, the high schools in Beth
esda-Chevy Chase, Takoma-snver
Rockville.
As to the date Of the first tourney,
the District Association was urged at
the meeting last week TO meet the
wishes Of the school authorities SO that
the tourney would not conflict with
studies and would bring out the largest
number of entries.
The initial tournament probably will
be S6-hole medal play event, which
later may be changed to a match play
tourney. But whatever the form of the
event or the date to be set, 1t Is certain
that II sufficient interest Is shown by
the high and prep school golfers, Wash
ington is at last to have a real inter-
scholastic tournament under District
6ch Association auspices.
II there Is anything that will spur a
group Of young golfers on to greater
heights 1t Is a tournament OF this kind.
-------e----------