The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-03
BY DICK MILLER
Times staff Writer

Times staff Writer
Two of the nations finest golf
shot makers, Joe CORA. "a, of St.
Paul, and Frank Strafaci, 18, of
Brooklyn, matched strokes over the
difficult Charles E. Coffin munich
pal course today for the fourteenth
annual National Public Pinks cham
pionship title
1t was : park policeman against
high school senior. a blond against
brunei, a SPANISH American
against an Italian, bridegroom of
a month against a lad with thoughts
Just turning to love, and a match
between a couple of golfers whose
games are so sound that there is
little to choose between them.
Coria won his way into the final
match with a Spendid 4 and 2 vic
tory Bill Russell, Indianapolis final
hope in the 1885 classic, in a 36-hole
final match yesterday.
Strafaci breezed home a winner
in a similar match over Robert
Tones of Long Beach, Cal, by the
suit of IL and 9.
Limping from the pain of a foot
full of blisters, Cora, who lost in
the semi-finals last year at Pitts
burgh to Dave Mitchell. refused to
COncede defeat to another HoOSier
entry and battled his way to vic
tory over Russell through a brilliant
display of ability with the irons.
This young bridegroom of month
played as if every shot was to please
the young lady back home, who read
every line that came over the wires
and kept the newspaper offices at
st. Paul swamped with requests for
the latest dope on Joe.
This young linASman from the
Northwest handled those irons with
all the magnificent touch OF a
Kreisler with the violin. His swing
through to completion of his short
approach shots had all the fineness
OF a musical crescendo. The aun-
dredS of galleryites, although par
tial to the home boy, Russell, seemed
to appreciate every bit of Joe's great
play.
Youth Is MaSterfuI Golfer
And today the opponent of this
great player from the Twin Cities
is lad whose performance in the
1885 tournament at Coffin this seek
has been equally or more sensation
al than that Of Joe COria
Wallop with the woods from the tee,
a Snappy crisp iron shot and a mas
terful touch with the putter that
was unexcelled by any of, the 200
linksmen from all over the United
States and Hawaii the past week,
the young Metropolitan Junior
champion drew advance predictions
that the 36-hole finale today would
be a thriller from beginning to end.
OF course, it is hoped that Joe
Coria'S sore feet are much better
today. John Anderson, city foot
specialist, was summoned to the
course at noon yesterday by local
officials. who, knowing that every
thing they did benefited the op-
ponent of their own fellow towns
man, CALAMITY did everything they
could to ease and make comfortable
the tournament stay of a visitor,
win or lose for the local boy. And
Bill Russell was one Of the first to
suggest something be done for his
opponent whose face writhed with
pain every time he stepped up to
make a shot
20 Consecutive ParS
1t is also hoped that young Mr..
Strafaci can continue the assault on
par that has characterized his play
the past three matches. For 20 con-
secutive holes during his third,
quarter and semi-final round
matches the Fastener clicked off
par, par, and more par.
After the gulley on the fourth
hole caught his shot on the first
round of his match with Tones yes
terday morning and caused him to
pick up and concede the hole, he
slipped right back into the harness
again and tossed 13parSandthreebi
again and tossed Is pars and three
brides at his opponent before the
match ended on the 9th fairway.
Both players in the classic wind
up match today are experts on the
short chip shot and time after time
in their matches this week they sent
up approaches that took the heart
out Of their opponents as they
watched the gutta percha stop
inches from the cup for safe pars
and brides.
COria Has Woods Edge
Both hit powerful wood shots.
Cora slightly farther when he is IN
top physical condition. Coria's long
irons are bit more crisp but hard
ly noticeable and young Strafaci has
a decided edge with the putter. All
IN all the young fastener has the
best balanced game in the opinion
OF the writer, and is the class of the
tournament in the opinion of many
experts we have contacted.
Last year Strafaci qualified at
Pittsburgh, defeated Bob Babbish of
Detroit in flrst-round match, but
lost to Bruce Mccormick of Los
Angeles in a second-round encoun-
ter. l up.
CORA qualified at Pittsburgh. de-
feated John Racey of Cleveland. O..
in the first round, and .; John c.
Finlay of Seattle in the second
round. and l; Charles Ferrera.
San Francisco, defending champion.
in the third round, and 3; Gordon
Denney of Louisville. l up, 20 holes.
in the quarter-finals and then lost
to Mitchell in the Semi-finals. 2
up. after which Mitchell went on to
IL. ...l.. -I,l...s u. :.