Evening star., 1939-05-12
Scoring 10 Be Keen
On Revamped Links,
Cox Predicts
Sees 148 Card as Limit
For Qualifying; Lost
Nine to Be Tough
By WALTER McCALLUM.

rounding the professional exhibition
match scheduled for Congressional
on May 81. when Sammy Snead will
make his maiden appearance around
the Capital, along with National
Champ Ralph Guldahl, is grim
test for score or more of the lesser
known professional lights.
A day after the glamour boys Of
pro golf-the SneadS, Guldahls and
Jimmy Thomsons-will have pock-
eted the dough they'll get for 18
holes of golf before what promises
to be the Capitals biggest links gal
lery in quite few years field of
around 40 pros and smattering of
amateurs will gather to play over
the 36-hole route to find out just
who will represent this sector in the
big championship - the national
open--at Philadelphia starting June
8. Guldahl hasn't any interest in
the proceedings. He's the champion
and doesn't have to qualify. But
Snead and Thomson, unable to make
the top 80 in last years test, have to
take their chances with the rest of
the boys. They'll qualify-or at
tempt it-at Philadelphia.
But Congressional has its own
little national open coming up on
May %. No one knows yet how many
places will be open to the hopeful
lads in that 36-hole sectional quail
flying test. A good gueess is that it
will be between and 8.
Hot Scoring Predicted.
But to hear Witty Cox tell it.,
therell be some red-hot scoring in
those twin rounds at Congressional
''Never before has our course been
In better shape than it is right now"
says tall Wilfred. Any fellow who
can feather 'em around in 144-or
even paris a cinch. Let's see, how
about this. Well have much the
same field that played in the Mary
land open championship last sum-
mer, over course that wasn't in as
good shape as it now is. Andy Gibson
won that one with 142, or rounds of
70 and 70. Cliff Spencer was next
with 143, and AL Houghton and
myself tied with IA.
That makes it look, doesn't it,
Il any one who gets IA will be
. sure shot to qualify. Here's the
way dope it. Some fellow may get
blazing hot and put together couple
of great rounds, say about II and
a 68. But I doubt it. I'd guess
that l42 will lead the field. And if
we get eight places 148 should
qualify.
You know these sectional tests
aren't easy. In way they are just
like the championship itself, but
they're even tougher. You have
only So holes to catch up the slack.
In the open you have four rounds
or 70 holes-and you can level off a
bad hole or two. But really bad
hole-say a 7 or worse-can toss you
out Of chance at the champion
ship In the qualifying rounds. You've
gotta be out there pitching all the
time.
Yeah. guess 148 will get in. But
that last nine will be tough. That's
where the boys toss 'em away. It's
kinda tough to know you must get
IS to get inland do it. And we
aren't all Guldahls. And say, how
about me? I have to play an ex-
hibition match with Ralph in Balti-
more on Saturday, another one here
Sunday and then go into 36 holes
of tough medal play Monday. That's
just like the championship itself
Hope I can work my game into the
groove"
Cox, who happens to be the Dis
trict open champ and the man who
generally is regarded as Washing
tons top pro golfer, hasn't played
much golf this year. He's been fairly
busy grooming those velvety putting
surfaces and personally manicuring
those fairways for the Congressional
membership and the coming events
But in his few rounds he has shown
all the old mastery of the gent who
hasn't finished worse than fifth in
the national open in his last five
starts.
Cox Should Make 1t.
Wilfred didn't play last year at
Denver. He was too busy at his
new Job, and Denver was pretty
far away, and even though the fire
blazed fiercely the old fire-horse
passed 1t up. So he'll have to qualify
this year. And he'll be among those
to 60 to Philly come June and the
first round of the big show. Cox has
something besides putt and a
prayer.
today to win the mems French High
Commission Cup at Chevy Chase,
following his 1-over-par 70 yester-
day to win his way to the final,
where he was to meet Landra B.
Platt. Lewis tossed one of the finest
rounds of his career at P. S. Risdale
to win the semi-final by 2 and l.
Meanwhile the feminine golfers of
Chevy Chase Club were scheduled to
= play their semi final matches in the
women's French High Commission
Cup tourney, with Mrs. Mont
gomery Blair opposing Mrs. F. Dick
inson Let's. the medalist, and the
winner of the Mrs. G. H. Chase
Mrs. L. o. Cameron match meeting
Mrs. c. E. Pynchon. Mrs. Blair beat
Mrs. Selden Chaplin 3 and 2 yester-
day, while Mrs Let's was beating
Louise Clayton 7 and 6. Mrs. Pyn-
chon beat Mrs. Bishop P. Hill. the
club champion, 2 and l. Mrs. Chase
and Mrs. Cameron played to a tie
and were to play it off today.
SchoOlboys Play.
Schoolboy golf circles in Washing
ton focused all attention today on
the match between Roosevelt and
Western at Indian Spring, where
Cliff Gruver's Rough Riders, holders
of the Dawes Cup, needed victory
to win the cup for the third straight
year. If they drop that match to
Western the series goes into three
way tie, with Roosevelt, Western and
Tech meeting in round robin for