Evening star., 1936-06-01
Look for 2so to Be Broken.

NO BOUNDARIES are within rea-
sonable distance on any hole of
the upper OF Baltusrol's two courses.
1t is doubtful whether player could
drive the ball out of bounds, even if
he tried to- This factor, plus the
knowledge that the club is making no
special effort to tougher" the par 70
layout, should lessen the strain under
which the professionals tackled Oak
mont's formidable course last June.
It's even money that 290 will be
broken. There's good chance, under
favorable weather conditions. that the
victor will crack the long standing
open championship mark of 286. Chick
Evans Of Chicago, the veteran anna
teur who set the record at Minikahda
in 1916, and Gene Sarazen, who
equaled it at Fresh Meadow in 1882,
both will be among the starters at
Baltusrol.
Past performances at Baltusrol in
championship competition offer no
line on scoring possibilities. however
The amateur tournaments of 1904 and
1926 as well as the national opens
of 1903 and 1915, were held there, but
the original course has been altered
and a new layout built since the last
title affair. Willie Anderson won the
1903 open with score of 307 and
jerome D. Travers. the Bobby Jones
of his day, beat the professionals in
1915 with a total of 297. The present
course record is 66,
Picard Books Favorite.
BROADWAY bookmakers, who have
taken up golf only in recent
years and still regard the whole sit
uation with many misgivings. have
established Henry Picard, tall Her
shey tPa) professional, as 9-to-1
favorite. They rate Horton Smith,
Johnny Revoita, Gene Sarazen, Bobby
Cruickshank, Harry Cooper and Craig
Wood as Picard's foremost rivals. 1t
ts formidable list, but by no means
certain to produce the winner.
There are at least 20 professionals
with chance to succeed Parks, the
first defending champion to be rated
no better than 50-to-1 shot to re-
peat. Resourceful and well-hked,
Parks nevertheless was the beneficiary
Of extraordinary circumstances at
Oakmont, where most of the top
notchers either beat themselves or
were victims of the storm. Sam has
been on the ground early, tuning up
his shots. but it is doubtful if he
lands in the money.
SaraZen's chances, rated the best
OF any Of the nine former champions
In the field, have not been enhanced
by the gentleman farmers blow-ups
in his last two tournaments. Genes
control deserted him after he got off
in front in both the Metropolitan and
Massachusetts, Opens. He finished
eighth at Quaker Ridge and fourth
at Fitchburg this week. Perhaps he
was satisfied to experiment, instead
Of applying the pressure all the way,
but he gave unmistakable indication
OF being on the ragged edge.
Nelson, McSpaden Liked.
THESE two events projected the
title chances of Byron Nelson,
the lanky Texan who now represents
the Ridgewood IN. j. Club in COM
petition, and Harold (Jugs) Nc
Spaden, former Kansas City sharp
shooter now attached to a club at
Winchester, Mass. Nelson outplayed
an an-star field in the Met Open.
McSpaden finished on top in the
Massachusetts, test. They have been
rated among the long shots, but may
be ripe for killing at BaltusroI.
Also to consider are the chances
Of Jimmy Thomson, the broad
sF1ouldered bomber who was runner
up to Parks last year; Vic Ghezzi,
another tremendous hitter who will
not have to worry about out-of- bounds
hazards; Paul Runyan, master of the
short game who has yet to play his
best game in the open; Ray Mangrum,
Ted Turner and Alvin (Butch) Krue-
ger, trio Of dark horses" Mangrum
Is a Texas product, Turner the pro
at terrifying Pine Valley and Kruger
the Wisconsin entry who paced the
field for the first round at Oakmont.
Aside from Johnny Goodman. the
Nebraskan who won the 1888 Open
at Chicago, the amateur contenders
offer few threats. Sam Perry of
Birmingham, former Southern anna
teur champion who paced the sec
tional trials, does not plan to COM
pete.
OF the former winners. Sarazen,
~
Hagen, Bill Burke and Olin Dutra
will lend color to the festivities, but
II is doubtful If most Of them can
stand of the challenge Of younger
RhotnAkers.