Evening star., 1942-04-12
Bogart and Browne|
Leave Scrambled
Field 10 Scrap
Kenwood Is Likely Host
At Sectional Tryouts
OfP. 6. A. Tourney
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

BY WALTER McCALLUM.
The local links picture, including
championships, is due to be some
thing less than a thrill minute
show this year, with the twin top
men Of the amateur game around
Washington serving Uncle Sam. For
q three-year stretch now towering
Ralph Bogart, now in the Navy, has
been the gent to lick. He was the
man to whip last year, in those
tournaments which Bobby Brownell
didn't dominate. Bobby now is with
the F. B. I. and won't play COM
petitive golf this year. And Billy
Shea, potent lad with driver and
putter, also will be out of competi-
ton. Bill also Is a Government
sleuth.
Bogart and Brownell dominated
the amateur links picture around the
Capital last year. Ralph won the
District championship to top off
victorious season which included
wins of the Chevy Chase and Con-
greSsional Journeys. Bobby won the
Middle Atlantic c-Bannockburn invi-
tation and the Maryland open and
did not play in the Journeys which
Ralph won. Between them these
youngsters did fairly complete job
of taking the play away from the
older men. Only Volney Burnett,
among the men past 30, was able to
win major event. Volney won the
Maryland amateur title from a field
which included Bogart, but did not
include Brownell.
Quite a Different Setup.
How different it will be this year
There won't be, for example, any
Chevy Chase or Bannockburn invi-
tation tourney. The usual round of
championships will go on as usual,
but part of the thrill will be gone.
A lot of people will be wondering
how Ralph and Bobby would have
gone in such events as the Mid
Atlantic, to be held over Brownell's
home course at Manor. But among
the men remaining the competition
will be just as good, although the
golf may not be as hot on the scor-
ing side. Parker Nolan, Burnett,
Eddie Ault, Claude Rippy, Gene
Pittman, Earle Skinker, John Berge-
lin and a few others have enough
golf to make tournament. And
Harry Pitt, if the Army doesn't call
him before June, can make valiant
last-ditch stand at Manor In an at
tempt to regain the Mid-Atlantic
crown he won IA years ago. Harry,
aged 81, knows the Manor course
forward and backward.
Probably 1912 is the last year for
competitive golf of the amateur
brand around Washington. No one
knows or can forecast what l943
will bring, but there's every like
lihood of the competitive game be-
ing blacked out for the duration
of the war after this year, even
though plenty of friendly golf will
be played.
Youngsters Miss Competition.
A situation such as this will hit
hardest at the lost generation of
youngsters, the boys of Is and 16
years of age. Under normal condi-
tions these lads would develop,
through competition, into good
linksmen. But competition is the
one factor needed to develop golf
e-s, and probably there won't be
any after this year. If the war ends
in 1943 or 1914, these youngsters
will have their chance, but if it goes
on for many years they will be
lost generation insofar as their
links possibilities are concerned
Most of them will be in the serv-
Ice, If that occurs, about the time.
they would be at their crest as
golfers.
Pro golfers, to hold tomorrow their
first tourney of the year at Ken
wood, will settle the place for the
sectional qualifying rounds for the
national P. G. A. championship, to
start May Is at Atlantic City's !
famed Seaview course. The mid
Atlantic pros probably will settle on
Kenwood for the sectional rounds,
May 8, the date announced by Fred
die Corcoran, P G. A. Tournament |
Bureau manager, for the preliminary
trials.
Following the pro-amateur tour
ney tomorrow the pros will get to-
gether to arrange that part of their
schedule which has not been an
nounced. Ten pro-amateur tour
neys will be staged in conjunction
with the Maryland State Golf As
sociation, with local affairs slated |
at Congressional, Kenwood, Prince |
Georges, Indian Spring, Bannock-
burn and Manor. Prince Georges |
gets the Maryland open.
Mid-Atlantic Events Planned.
Journeys to be arranged by the |
Middle Atlantic P. G. A. include !
the pro championship event, for |
which Al Houghton already has
bid on behalf of Prince Georges;
the Washington open and the Balti-
more open. Pro Prexy Witty Cox
Goes not expect big out-of-town
representation in some of these af-
fairs because of the tire situation,
but they will be held If the pros
want them.
Houghton has started working on
the Middle Atlantic p G. A. and
promises to add a chunk of coin to
the purse.
Tomorrow's pro-amateur tourney
will be the usual pro and three
amateur partners affair. with the
simon-pures to use half their handi-
caps.
GahrioIeon Ia Snaak