Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-09
CHAMP WORRIED
OVER YOUNG FOE
Rufus King Has Reputation
of Doing Unexpected.
Nearly 200 Play.
BY PAUL NICHOLSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

~ LEV ELAND, oepleNioei
Armed with a long suit,
mighty woods that smash his
~ tee shots an average OF 27o
yards and driving competitive spirit
that has crushed the resistance OF %
successive foemen in England and
American, Lawson Little, jr., opened
his bid for his second straight grand
slam" of amateur golf today
Almost an awesome figure to his
field of approximately 200 rivals,
among them seven former titleholders,
the San Francisco colossus STOOD
out as one of the biggest favorites in
80 years of play as he drove forward
to retain his amateur golf champion
ship of the United States over the
tree-llned fairways of the Cleveland
Country Club.
Since the 25-year-old Californian
started on his amazing march in 1884,
he has steam rollered % rivals to
win the British crown last May at
St Anne's. he estab. iShed new rec
ord for successive amateur conquests-
three in a row. a mark he is such a
fayorite to extend this week over a
rocky road of eight matches, six OF
them at Is holes, if he is to remain
unconquered.
Youngster Meets Champ.
STRANGELY enough it was King
~ who challenged the king" today
as the wild championship scramble
opened with 70 matches over the
treacherous 18-hole route. Opposing
Little was Rufus King. youngster
of 18 from Wichita Falls, Tex. King,
competing in his first national, came
to the big show with a reputation
for doing the unexpected, fact that
had Little trif1e worried.
Three years ago, the Denver young
eter won the national junior trap
shooting championship, after which
he decided to concentrate on golf
Since then he has become one OF the
finest young players in the West,
winning the Colorado State amateur
title two weeks ago from field that
included Dave spec" Goldman OF
Dallas, 1884 runner-up to Little.
As a final pre-battle salute yester-
day Little shot one eagle, three brides
and five pars over the front nine OF
the championship layout for smash
ing 81 that broke par by five blows
With that final bit of target practice,
he turned in his clubs to await the
challenger.
II guess I'm ready he grinned.
Many Title Holders in Field.
CHOULD Little fall this week-and
~ don't forget they all fall some
time-there will be host of the Ma
tion's finest sharpshooters ready to re-
place him on the throne. Among them
are the former champions-Francis
Ouimet, Chandler Egan, Chick Evans,
George Dunlap, Max Marston, S. Da-
wilson Heron and c. Ross Somerville
of Canada. who is the main foreign
threat. along with Tony Torrance OF
Scotland.
Johnny Goodman of Omaha, former
national open champion, who has been
training with Little for the last three
weeks, also appears to be formidable
contender. Most of the dark horses"
from last years championship at
Brookline are on the scene. All told,
the field includes score of sectional
and State champions.
The championship course, one of
beauty, extends 6,642 yards from the
center of the back tees over rolling
country skirted by trees, mostly elms.
There are seven water holes and plen-
ty of traps to catch straying shots.
Seventy-nine matches, at Is holes,
were listed today. with 40 players
drawing f1rst-round byes. This will
reduce the field to 1913 for the second
round Tuesday. Two rounds each on
Wednesday and Thursday will cut the
field to the semi-final four, who will
meet over So holes the rest of the
way Play starts today at 8 am.
eastern standard time).