Evening star., 1939-09-27
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

More and more it becomes ap-
parent, as the boys move ahead with
their plans for the affair, that the
Middle Atlantic P. G.. A. tourna-
ment next week at Columbia, starting
week from today, is going to be a
major links show. Developments
today were:
Leo Diegel, twice national P. G. A.
champion and a former Mid-Atlan-
tic titlehlder. promised to be on
hand for at least part of the affair.
Wheels were set in motion to Sc
cure the appearance of Horton
Smith and Jimmy Thomson, two of
pro COLTS foremost figures, if they
are not otherwise engaged.
Assurance was given by Bob Bar
nett, Tournament Committee chair
man, that first money in the affair
probably will be $40O.
Thirty-three amateur entries have
been received and a total of more
than rs entries in all are expected.
The amateur-pro tournament,
billed for October 4 as curtain
raiser to the P. G. A. tourney, was
opened to all amateurs. The orig
1nal plan was to have only amateurs
from Columbia play in this one, but
the aamateur-pro tourney now has
been opened to amateurs from all
clubs.
Barnett predicted a score several
Do
ming score in the National Open OF
1921 over the same course, which
was 289, will be needed to win the
P. G. A. championship. Il think
it will take 286 or better to win this
one said Bob. even though the
course is watered and probably will
play longer. Don't forget that the
entire scoring pace in modern golf
has speeded up since 1921, and that
the boys now are playing better golf
than they did then. The record for
the open championship now stands
at 28l, against 286 in 1921
High spot of the tourney, from the
public angle, will be the appearance
of Byron Nelson and Henry G.
Picard, twin national pro champions
They will play in an exhibition
match during the tourney on the
afternoon of October 5.
Pray for Good Weather.
So the boys. having covered every
angle, as they hope, sent their pro-
gram to the printers today and
prayed for good weather. Should
they get that precious article, Co.
lumbia may see the biggest crowds
since the National Open. They'll
probably see 5000 people when Mel
son and Picard play, for Nelson
hasn't played here before, and Pic
ard hasn't shown since last spring
when he stalked nine holes at East
Potomac Park through a rainstorm.
The tournament is sure to be one
of the big ones of the year. 1t can't
miss.
Columbia Country Club will have
a new golf champion before the week
is out. Not one of the qualifiers for
the championship flight, in the
match rounds which started today,
ever has won the title.
Tommy Webb, who won last year,
Is out Of the city. Miller B. Stevin-
son, six times titleholder, is ill. and
Harvey F. johnson, twice champion,
no longer belongs to the club. But
a new figure and a possible champ
loomed in the person of Don Buck
ingham, who won the medal with a
four-over-par "a yesterday, after
making circus finish on the last
hole. Buckingham hooked his tee
shot up against the out-of bounds
fence, chopped it out with a niblick.
and laid brassie shot foot from
the pin for the par which won
the medal. Tied for second were
Maury Nee and Evert L. Bono, both
with 75s. Martin F. Mccarthy, run
ner-up last year. had 76.
Here are the first flight pairings:
George F. Miller VS.. Frank Weller,
Roy Henry Pickford VS.. Craig Nc
Kee, William E. Shannon, I'd, VS.,
Page Cornwell, r. O. Swearingen VS..
Don Kneessi, E. L. Bono VS.. Ed. Mer-
kle, E. E. Krewson VS.. Luther c..