The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-03

NJ golf, no matter how
many centuries you
c-.,.,.,s Mt. may look back. But
Eddie Lowery's part
in that championship also has an
interesting side which in the main
has never been known.
Lo,Uery's Story
81 was only 10 years old at tho
time" Eddie said, with Ouimet lis
tcning, "when my older brother and
I used to caddie for Francis. We
both played hockey the first day Of
the tournament. My brother cad
died for Francis while I followed
Vardon and Ray. That night our
mother said we both had t. e =.
school next day. My brother went
back to school, but I played hockey
again and carried Ouimet's bag. I
had to keep an eye ON Ouimet's
ba!I-and also on the lookout for
truant ofhcers, who were pretty
keen.
"Tn never forget the last three
holes Of the last round" Eddie con-
tinued. Francis had to play these
In 10 strokes, one under par, to get
tie with Vardon and Ray, who
had already finished. On the short
sixteenth Francis had q 20-foot putt
for q two. This seemed a good
chance to 60 for that birdie. But
he was too bold, and the first putt
ran eight feet by the cup. But he
holed that one for his three. On the
seventeenth he holed another Is or
20-footer for the needed birdie and
then through pouring rain got his
par four on the last hole which
resulted in the now famous triple
tie"
What Happened Later
"You can imagine how tremen-
dous was the excitement" Lowery
said. Few thought the 20-year-old
kid with the 10-year-old caddie had
even an outside chance against two
famous British golfers who had
played in so many British Opens. A
good many of Ouimet's friends
thought I was too young and too
small to caddie in an event so inn
| portant. They insisted on some old
er caddie, but Francis held out for
me-"
"Pn pick the story here for a
moment" Ouimet cut in. Next
morning, q short while before the
match, Eddie came and got my bag.
You won't want to hit any prac-
tice shots, will your he asked, know
ing that seldom did. I said, Mo-
Eddie then said, I'll see you in about
half an hour. Where are you going?'
I asked. We start in few min
utes.' I'll tell you later Eddie an
swered as he hustled away. AS we
were all three ready to drive off
looked around again and there was
Eddie.
Where have you been?' asked
him.
"T didn't want to bother you
he whispered, but I've been hiding
In that barn. There's a truant on
Ger after me to take me back to
school so I had to keep out of his
sight. And listen he said, you're
going to beat these two guys sure.
You just keep your eye on the ball
and I'll take care of everything
else"
LOpOery Speaking
"As 1 recall it," Eddie said. "the
three were all even as they passed
the turn. could see worried look
on the faces of both Vardon and
Ray. They had expected the in
experienced 20-year-old kid to crack
wide open. But here he was cooler
than ever. He didn't watch their
drives. He just kept playing his
own game. Then on the tenth hole
both Vardon and Ray took three
puts and Ouimet was out in front.
"They all played fine golf the
next few holes, and then big Ted
Ray was the first to break mp. This
left the battle between Francis and
the great Harry. And Il was Var
don who finally couldn't stand the
strain and the fast pace any longer
as he, too, cracked and Francis
with a birdie picked up two moro
strokes. The killing thrust.
Francis was still as cool and as
unruffled as if he had been playing
a dime Nassau with two old pals.
1t was still raining and the course
was wet and soggy, but Ouimet's
drives continued to find the middle.
His iron play was perfect and his
putter was smoking hot. The two
veterans couldn't stand up against
that finishing "a under such condi-
tions, especially when they had
looked for certain runaway"
That must have been q big
thrill" / said to Lowery.
1T was big thrill I've never for
gotten, and never will" Eddie said.