Evening star., 1935-06-08
.SARAEN PRESSES
LEADING THOMSON
Favorite's 149 Is 3 BEHIND
Best Card-Krueger, Dark
Horse, Is Second.
BY BOB CAvAGNARO,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

~ AKMONT COUNTRY CLUB,
1 PITTSBURGH, June s.
Y J Jimmy Thomson, the 2s-.
year-old Scot who has done
most of his golfing in the United
States, stood closest to the national
open title today as 66 players-So pro-
fessionals and 6 amateurs-turned into
the 36-hole final of one Of the most
topsy -turvy tournaments in the 3s-
year history of the links fixture.
The survivors of an original start
ing field of 157 included the defending
champion, Olin Dutra, six former win
ners of the title and two of an orig
inal seven-man foreign invasion-Sid
Brews Of South Africa and Kanechichi
Nakamura of Japan.
Tommy Armour of Chicago, winner
of the crown In the 1927 battle at
Oakmont, withdrew before completing
his second round.
Thomson's Tenth Bid.
THoMSON's two preliminary rounds
of 73s, good for total Of LAG. gave
him a 2-stroke advantage over his
closest pursuer, Alvin (Butch) Krue-
ger, the comparatively. unknown pro
from Beloit, Wis, who led the first
round with q subpar IL. The pace
margin over Gene Sarazen, the hottest
pre-tournament choice and betting
odds favorite.
Thomson, who Is q nephew OF Jack
White, the widely known British pro-
fessional, came to this country Is
years ago and served his novitiate n
the game as q caddy. This Is his
tenth bid for the title and his best
performance to date was at Columbus
in 1925, when he finished twelfth with
a total of 306.
Thomson and Sarazen were the only
players among the first 20 low scorers
OF the first round to improve their
positions in yesterdays firing. which
for the most part was carried on under
Furnishing conditions brought about
by wind Of terrific force and q heavy
downpour of rain shortly after noon.
Jimmy and Gene benefited by play
ing In the forenoon when conditions
were ideal.
Elements Dust Armour. +.
THE elements, plus q bad run Of
golf, forcer Armour to quit on the
fifteenth hole after he had amassed
no less than II strokes over par for
that distance. The same combination
also took q toll of such campaigners
as Witty Cox and Leo Diegel, who
failed to make the grade for the quail
flying quota Of l6l for the FIRST two
rounds. -.
Sarazen was the only favorite who
was figured to be within striking dis
tance Of the blond, curly haired Thom-
son. Sam Parks, Pittsburgh pro, was
four shots away from the top figure
with $50. while Denny Shute of Phila-
delphia, winner of the 1888 British
open crown; Al Espinoss of Cleveland
and Ted Turner of Pine Valley, N. j.,
we're bracketed at Isl. -
Dutra. who was Thomson's compan-
ion on an exhibition tour the last two
months, was strokes back at l53.
along with Paul Runyan, the Amer
ican professional champion and one Of
the favorites, and Victor GhezA Of
Deal, N. J. -
Goodman Low Amateur.
IN BETWEEN that trio were Horton
Smith Of Chicago, Vincent Eldred
of Pittsburgh. Mortie Dutra of Detroit.
Ray Mangrum of Los Angeles and
Herman Barron Of New York, with
l52s.
Bobby Cruickshank Of Richmond,
Va, stood Mt 154
Former Champion Johnny Good
man of Omaha. the low amateur thus
far; Johnny Revolta of Milwaukee.
George Won Elm Of Los Angeles and
Gene Kunes Of Jacksonville, Pa, had