Evening star., 1940-05-28
Par Takes Bad Beating Le 134 Leads Nations Open Qushier
Only Worshom, Leader at 1873
And Isoocs of S QuoIifiers
Here Sure to Go to Open
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

BY WALTER McCALLUM.
At least two of the five qualifiers
for the National Open golf cham
pionship from the Middle Atlantic
section may not make the trip to
Cleveland next week to play for the
big crown. As the local golf world
pondered on the welter of sub-par
scoring which saw three Washing
ton men win spots in the Open
title tourney, the big question was
who will go?" and not who quail
fed.
For although 22-year-old Lewis
Worsham, who led the scoring pa
rade at Manor yesterday with &c.
hole sub-par total of 1873, composed
of 70 and temporary record
breaking Sc; and blond Jack Isaacs,
the Newport News lad, entered from
Langley Field, Va, who came in
few minutes behind WorSham with
another new course record of 65, and
36-hole total of 139, both plan to
play in the championship, there is
some doubt about the other three.
Larkin May Not Go.
Gene Larkin, Woodmont pro, who
placed third in the sectional tests
with 70-71-141, is frank and out
spoken about his idea on the cham
pionship. Il don't see much use in
giving up the money I would make
on the lesson tee for the dubious
honor of playing in a championship
in which probably won't do any,
thing" he said. I'm addition to the
money I'd lose by being away from
my job, it would cost me around
$3.50 to go to Cleveland"
George Diffenbaugh of Kenwood,
who qualified fourth with 1911
IA, is fairly sure he will go, but is
not yet dead sure. II think Ill CO."
says George.
Andy Gibson, the Baltimore Scots
man, who won the fifth place in
playoff against Witty Cox of Con-
gressional, doesn't think much of
the idea of spending that much
money in a venture which prob
ably won't bring him any return. :
All in ALL you'd think the boys
might regard the Open champion
ship-biggest tourney and title in
the world-as something to shun,
instead of their one big chance for
gold and glory. IF I don't have
some help from my club candy is
the pro at Baltimore's Bonnie View
Club I won't CO." said Gibson. "I
can't see spending that much
money"
Cox Is First Alternate.
Cox, who lost to Gibson's birdie
on the first hole in a playoff, after
they had tied for the last place at
145, definitely will not go. He is the
first alternate. So if one of the
others decides the Cleveland trip
isn't worth the try Leo Walper, who
scored 146, and who has itchy
britches for the Cleveland tourney,
will make the trip.
Leo Is second alternate, and would
have been in the playoff had he not
taken 5 on the last hole, as course
records were smashed to bits, some
weird and wonderful golf was per-
petrated, and the whole thing was
enlivened by a pair of disqualified
tions.
Caught in the mesh OF disqualifi-
cations was the veteran, AL Hough-
ton, Beaver Dam pro, and Eddie
Stevens, assistant pro at Manor. Al
and Eddie wanted to start before
their assigned starting time for the
afternoon round. They hit their tee
shots and then decided to ask If they
could play ahead of their turn. DR..
Robert A. Keilty and Harry G. Pitt,
vice presidents of the Maryland
State Golf Association, in charge of
the tourney, called them back and
disqualified them under stroke rule
2, section l, which provides that
competitors shall start in the order
and at the times arranged by the
committee. Penalty - disqualifica-
tion." Keilty talked over the tele-
phone with United States Golf Asso-
citation headquarters in New York,
which upheld his disqualification
ruling.
But neither Houghton nor Stevens
took 1t badly. Houghton said: 1T
was my own fault. I should have
known better" He finished with
148. three strokes too high. Stevens
had no chance to qualify after his
opening round of 80.
Course Records Smashed.
Nearly everything happened in
that sectional qualification round.
Manor's course had been stretched
to its maxium length, but it played
easy-judged by the scores. Young
Wwsham, who qualified for the
championship in 1897, at the age of
10, led off with Y. But he really
got hot in the afternoon, when he
bagged six brides, seven IS and a
deuce, for course record sc and his
leading and medal-winning 1873.
He hadn't finished As minutes be-
fore word sifted through that blond
thatched Jack Isaacs, who hardly
Is known around Washington, was
blazing hot. Jack finished with a