Evening star., 1938-09-02

dong y. x. IN g0lf, with SlaSnlng sly
the top of the professional sluggers Of:
a golf ball around the Capital Cliff
will be one of the team of four who
will oppose quartet of Virginia pros
at Washington. probably on october g.
in challenge match for a side bet
of thousand bucks. That's doing all
right for guy who isn't so long out of
the amateur ranks and who didn't
have the advantage of lot of ANA
teur successes before turning profess
sional
Spencer has no regrets at abandon
ing amateur golf in favor of making
living out of the game. Il played
amateur golf around Washington and
didn't do much. But liked the game
so much that wanted to stay in it us
a pro" Cliffs first pro berth was at
Forest Park, in Baltimore. He came
to Beaver Dam four years ago and has
made quite record for himself as
player. Last year he had his first big
success. victory in the Maryland
State championship at Woodholme,
and this year he came within a putt
of tieing for the same title.
No man who can win one year
and finish second the following
year is in the bloomer class.
Cliff Spencers career in golf has
been marked by steady improvement
rather than by any spectacular. muSh-
room fair of victories. Each year the
l. o,,I,x To loS ivNo-
proved his game until nowadays he
ranks as one of the top pros in this
or any other sector. Give Spencer
couple of years on the pro links WIN
ter circuit and he would Immediately
step into national ranking. But he
never has had any money to toss
around and it takes cash to play the
winter loop.
Is Long Hitter.
Tall and rangy. with smoothly
timed golf swing that knocks that ball
country mile Cliff Spencer this year
has conquered the golf trouble that
beset him for so many years Never
a fine putter Cliff had streaks of good
putting, but on the whole his putting
until this year was below professional
standards.
A few months back he decided
to stroke the ball as well as pos
sible and forget trying to hole
every putt. 1t has worked
If you've noticed Cliffs steady climb
into the upper strata of pro golf vol,
can lay it to his improved putting
That's where scores are made-around
has spent countless hours on the putt
ing green practicing the stroke that
wins tournaments
But it is on the tee that Cliff gets
his greatest kick out of golf He's
spectacular hitter.
Like his brother Glenn, who
is one of the biggest hitters of
the game, Cliff loves to stand off
and smack that ball.
But I realize you've only started a
hole when you hit tee shot out there
280 yards" he says That is only a
small part Of the battle The putting
is where the payoff comes" Holder of
the course record at Beaver Dana
five under par 67-Cliff is going to put
many more course records to his credit
before he racks up his clubs. The guy
who can putt and drive is the guy who
is going to win. And Cliff can do
both-noW.
Take Par for Ride.
Thirteen brides and an eagle in a
| foursome which produced better ball
OF 81 over a par 70 course 1t sounds
incredible, but it happened at the
ArmyNavy Country Club where Capt.
D. F. STAGE, Capt. r. G. Rodgers,
James Lynch and Danny Burton went
ON scoring spree that thoroughly
tanned the only course around Wash
eington on which 10 never has been
bettered. STAGE had an individual score
! of 72, while Burton scored "a. The
eagle came on the par fifteenth hole
ArmyNavy is going to be the scene