Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-01
Russell Defends Title
AGAINST Dick TindaII
In Service Event
Willie O'Steen Opposes
Anne Ellis at Columbia
For Women's Crown
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.

Growing of two new champions
the District women's and the
United States Army the start
of the annual District mems tourna-
ment was to provide sustained ac-
ton in the local net world today
from early morning until dusk.
Columbia Country Club was to be
the major scene of hostilities. for
it was there that Willie O'Steen
and Anne Ellis were to seek their
first District title this morning and
there that some so male players
were to start play at o'clock this
afternoon.
Service people, however, were
f1ocking to the Army Navy Country
Club where, at 2:30 o'clock, 1t. G.
G. Russell of Kelly Field, Tex. was
to defend his Army title against
Cadet Dick Tindall of West Point.
Doubles Also Scheduled.
In addition to the singles titles
at stake, doubles championships OF
both womens and Army tourna-
ments we're to be decided immedi-
ately after the final singles matches.
Women doubles finalists we're not to
be completely decided before noon,
as only first-seed Miss Ellis and
Mango Lee reached the last round
Yesterday. This morning Frances
Carter and Joan Bransford were to
play Elinor Finckel and Dorette
Miller for the right to play the
NHiccnc T11ic oyd
crown.
The Army Journeys doubles final
lists, who will play after the RUSSELL
Tindall singles match, were to be
decided this morning. Paired with
Capt P. K Morrill,, Russell was to
play Tindall and Cadet A. j. Evans
in the deciding set of one of the
semi-finals which was halted by
rain yesterday while Capt Stan
Robinson and 1t. Gil Bell were to
resume a match with Capt. j. H.
Drake and Staff Sergt. S. N. Laps
ley in which the former were lead
ing.
Regarding the District mems tour
nament-it promised to provide no
different an ending than those of
1888 "a. IS, Sc, 81 and '38. with
six-time champion Barney Welsh
again winning as he pleases. With
the exception of six entrants from
the all-Army tournament, there
we're no outsiders in the field Of so
and, with bow to the improved
game of City of Washington cham
pion David johnson, the 18-year- old
stylst still seems a year or two
away from seriously challenging
Welsh.
johnson Down on List.
Despite his convincing victory
over Lynch in The Star tourney,
johnson was seeded below him
and also Dooly Mitchell-in the
draw. Welsh, as usual. is No. /.
Lynch No. 2 and Mitchell, despite
his gradual retirement from tourna-
ment competition and his current
lack of a District ranking. No. 3.
johnson was seeded fourth. Al
phonso Smith fifth, Frank Shore
sixth, Buddy Adair seventh and Ray
Donovan eighth
Every seeded entrant is a member
of the Edgemoor Club.
The women's championship match
was regarded as tossup with both
girls eager for their first District
title Although seeded second to
Miss OSteen's No. / ranking, Miss
Ellis had advanced easier than her
rival, although each had dropped
one set en- route to the finals. Miss
O'Steen had been extended to or
past deuce scores by three of her
four victims, while Miss Ellis was
pressed only once. That was yes
terday when Anne Dayette of Balti-
more, the last remaining outsider,
fought off two match points with
the score of So against her and
forced Miss Ellis to an 8-6 score in
the deciding set of a match which
had been halted by rain on Thurs
day.
Miss Lee put up a gallant fight
against Miss O'Steen, but succumbed
by 6-4, 81 figures.