Evening star., 1941-08-28
Ward, Favorite,
Last Ex.Ru|er'
ToCarry0 On
Todd, Abbott, Bi|Iows
Among Winners in
Exciting Struggle
BY EARL HILLIGAN,

Associated Press Sports Writer
OMAHA. Nebr., Aug. 28-The
"old guard" of amateur golf-its
ranks thinned by the charge of an
amazing long-shot legion-dug in
for last-ditch fight in the national
amateur championship today.
AS the 45th classic swung into
third-round and quarter-flnal en-
gagements. gone from the field
clubs divot-scarred battle-ground
were such greats as Dick Chapman,
Johnny Goodman and Johnny
Fischer, ex-champions all, and
genial Charley Yates, who took the
last British amateur title
Valiantly carrying on for the ia
vorites' cause against mounting
odds were such standouts as the
former title holder and current IA
vorite, Marvin (Bud Ward; Harry
Todd. Pat Abbott and Ray Billows.
But lined up against them was a
youthful brigade of brash and COM
paratively little-known challengers
Bob Riegel, Neil White, Skee
Riegel and Lou Jennings, to men,
ton only few-Whose daring play
has made this scrap, in many re-
spects, the liveliest in the United
States Golf Associations 45-year
history.
Ward Only Ex-Champ Left.
Ward, stout hearted Spokane star
who won this championship in 1899,
blazed his way to two triumphs
yesterday to become the only ax-
tltle-holder still in the running.
With a performance bulwarking his
position as favorite. Ward downed
Alex Welsh of Rockford, H., 7 and
6, then whipped Otto Greiner of
Baltimore, 2 and l.
Billows, twice a finalist in this
event in the last four years, de-
feated Art Atkinson of New York,
5 and 8. Then the Poughkeepsie
star won, and 3, from Lloyd
Ramsey OF Lexington, KY.
Todd. the Texan who finished Sec
ond to Ward in last months Western
Amateur, took a 4 and 3 win over
Jim Lewis Of Toledo. then won 8
OF 10 holes to trim Matt Zadalis of
Ralston, Nebr. 9 and 8. His op-
ponent this morning was Abbott.
one-tifne movie extra from Los
Angeles and 1888 finalist against
Willie Turnesa. Abbott had to
travel the full Is holes to oust
Johnny Vavra, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
then defeated Wilford Wehrle of
Chicago, semifnalist last year, 3
and 2.
That brilliant quartet carried
plenty of talent, but so did the
more numerous surprises of this
battle. Right up in front of the
strong upset division were Skee
Riegel of Glendale, Calf; Bobby
Riegel of Houston, Tex, and Louis
Jennings from Portland, Greg.
Only Foreign Entry Erased.
Skee Riegel put out the Journeys
only foreign entry, Mario Gonzalez
of Brazil, 2 and l, and Grover Poole
of Raleigh, N c., 6 and s. Bobby
Riegel hung a 20-hole licking on
Goodman, 1887 title winner and
former open king. Jennings, the
bank clerk who Ward thinks is
real conner. sent Defending Cham
pion Dick Chapman to the sidelines
by 5-and-4 margin then eliminated
Rod Bliss of Omaha, 4 and 3.
Standout scrap of the third round
appeared to be the one involving
Todd and Abbott. Billows was paired
with Neil White of Port Chester,
N. Y, 1910 Southern amateur cham
pion, who looms as No. dark horse
Ward was matched with another
unheralded entry, Glenn Oatman of
Kansas City. Harry Haverstick of
Lancaster. Pa, who scored second
round victory over the tourney
medalist, Stewart (Skip) Alexander
of Burlington, N. c.. was paired with
Steve Kovach of Pittsburgh. who
eliminated Yates and Fred Haas of
New Orleans. both by 2 and