The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-06-07
A, KRUGER
ONLY PLAYER
BREAK PAR
Leads Field in National
Open; Sarazen Heads
"Name Brigade"
Bv STUART CAMERON
United Press Sports Editor

United Press Sports Editor
OAKMONT. Pa, June Z. CUP
Most formidable of America
golfing fortress, mighty Oakmon
withsteod yesterday the ehaueng'
of a brilliant golfing army, anI
the par 72 of the Hades of HUI
tom was broken by only one play
or as the first round of the ma
tional open championship was
completed. W..
Alvin Kruger of Beloit, Wis.
who doubles in brass as semi
pro baseball pitcher when ne
not on the golf course, was the
how who did it. Kruger shot a
~ while such famous players as
Cone Sarazen, defending cham
Non DIN Dutra and Craig
Wnod we're finishing back with
the rank and file. -, l.
Kruger. one of the last TO
-tart the first round, played Oak
mont like he had been born on
i but really had seen 1T only
H. ~, before, in a practice round
piayed Wednesday. c,r
3Ain't hard" the shy German
how from Wisconsin said wnen
bes:eged by a small army OF m
terviewers Eyes Pm married.
No no children. Hard enough 10
support two. Remember, I'm only
a municipal course pro.
Kruger wa Sonly over par
three times = all on the back
nine-but more than offset tnOSe
lapses with four brides.
He had a birdie three at the
second when a magnificent IRON
second left him with four-to"t
mutt He made the second one
at the 477-yard ninth where ne
banged his mrassie pin high ana
was down in two puts. He was
hack even with par after II holeS
were played, having caught a
trap on the 18th and a ditch on
the 18th, due to under clubbing,
The youngster-he's only 20
-picked up a deuce at the short
12th where he dropped a seven
foot mutt, but nullified this on
the 18th where he took hrte
NUTS from 20 feet. The 10Th
hole contained his best shot OF
the dav. a perfect drive from
the tee of this 234-yard three
par hole left him not more than
one foot from the pin, and, o.
course, he made anoher deuce.
Kruger who never took a les
son, has been in golf only three
wears. He's a former caddie'
slim, of medium height, and has
bright red hair. Last year, IN the
omen at Merton, he finished IN a
four-wav tie for 14th place.
Par wa sequalled by only one
PLAYER, Roland Mackenzie, the
tall former Walker cupper from
Washington. Mackenzie, but
three wears a professional, was
figured upon as the certain lead
or until Kruger blasted into the
front as twilight approached.
Mackenzie based his par
achievement on his putter. he
took but 80 strokes on the greens,
He made up for a previous lapse
by dropping a 12-footer for a
birdie on the 18th. He was home
in two on the 18th lying 30 feet
from the cup.
After long elaboration, he de-
cided to play safe rather thar
try for a birdie an d a sub-pa,
round. He drifted his approach
putt to within speaking distance
of the cup and was content witt
par 4. -,
Sarazen. he 5 to 1 bettini
favorite, was the leader OF tn
"name brigade" the player
counted on to set the pace. Gene
a late starter, missed par .,
three strokes wi ha rs. He starr
ed brilliantly, barely failing I
get brides on the first two hoies
but then be9an missing Tn
Green's sWllIl IlAS SS~NA-~f
ted erratically In all, ne mlsse
five puts of less than four Zee
Sid Brews of South Africa, t.
forign menace, was a stroS
hack of Gene with rs, whlch, tC
tai was euualled by Craig Woo
of Deal, N. j., and Paul Rur
van of White Plains, n. Y, tw
of the most discussed possible
J ties.
Closest on the heels of Kruege
and Mackenzie were four play
ers, none of whom seriously wa
considered:
Herman Barron of Whit
Plains, n. Y, Cliff Spencer o
Landover, Md, Horton Smith O
Chicago, and Jimmy Thompson o
Long Beach. Cal, all with 83s.
Between that quartet and Sara
zen, who was in a 10-way tie fC
10th place, were Ed Dudley Q
Philadelphia, Tommy Armour q