The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-10
SLIM FAIRWAYS TOBALKSTARS
 IN GOLF QUEST
Harry Cooper Breaks Par in Final Tune-Up-Any-
 one Can Win
By HENRY McLEMoRE

United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 Oakland Hills Country Club, Bir- mingham, Mich., June lO.-(UP)-A wide open chance for the champion ship offered itself to almost any one of l67 pro and amateur golf sharks as the national open tournament started today.
 No such thing as favorite ex- isted as the choice field began fir- ing across the difncult course before the dew had even left the grass. The expert shots of some we'll known pro may be well enough spotted over the three-day, 72-hole grind to finish in front. On the other hand, some young upstart amateur with plenty of stamina may have what it takes in an accurate, short-striking game.
 Tough Course
 A punishing course such as the national golfing fathers sanctioned when they put their approval on this 7,037-yard layout is made for upsets. And.that is exactly the way the veterans and youngsters felt about it as they took their places at No. 1 tee to start the quest for Toney Manero'S title.
 Looking at the tournament from the standpoint of sentimental favor ties, there are about two dozen sharpshooters who command atten- tion. Some of them have lombard ed par for years, yet many have never won the open golfS top- ranking event. The severity of this course was demonstrated, however, in practice round scores, some of which the better known entrants would hesitate to show their mothers.
 Because there are narrow fair ways, the slightest inaccuracy in the shots will be painful. And Slashing out of the rough on this brutal course will be harder than picking up marbles with knitting needle. Several holes were heightened especially for this meet--a cause for no small amount of locker room grumbling these past few days of trial rounds. And if the rain con- tinues to drizzle as it drizzled yes- terday and last night, it most cer- tafnly will be anyone's tournament. Harry Cooper, the old Chicago lighthouse, served notice on one and all that he not only is the years biggest money winner but definitely challenger. He turned in a 70, two under par, in his final practice round. The Lighthouse still has aa score to settle from last years Ball. tusrol, N. J., tournament where he| finished with ecord-brcaking, cham-l pionship figures, only to have Manero slide home from nowhereI with a still better score.
 Many Favorites
 The Italian crowded the works last year with 282 but the boys fail to see how score better than 200 can be made this year. Some ir- sist that Henry Picard, the Hershey. Pa, pro, can do it. Others are ori the Cooper bandwagon and some are riding along with Byron Nelson, Reading, Pa, and Ralph Guldahl of St. Louis and Chicago.
 There are valid reasons why Denny Shute, PGA champion for the past two years, could unseat Maner0. AndI the judges of golfing ability would| toss their dollars readily on Horton| Smith, Jimmy Thompson, Al Wat. rous,, Sammy Snead, Jug McSpaden,| Paul Runyan or Johnny Revolta. It will be the gent with the eagle eye, consistently sure-1ire drives, well-placed approaches and 8 lot of putting ability who negotiates this course with score low enough to grab the title. There are no set- ups at any turn, hence no favorites.
 Eigteen- hole rounds will be played today and tomorrow, with a 36-hole final on Saturday. If tie results in the final round, it will be played of Sunday.