The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-09
Registered U. s. Patent Office)
By LEO H. PETERSEN Limited Press Sports EditOr)


 New York, April (U.P0 - It's been another rainy season, finan- cially speaking, for Byron Nelson.
 He found plenty of gold along the 1944-45 winter golfing trail and when they came to the end of the road at Atlanta, Ga, yesterday, Nelson was in familiar spot-at the end of the money winners.
 In the long haul which began on the Pacific coast last November, Nelson won eight titles and a total of $22,6l5 in prize money, most of it war bonds. His first place in the iron lung tournament at Atlanta was worth $2,000 and marked his eighth tournament victory = two more than the old record of six set by Jimmy Demaret in the 1939-40 season.
 Rain has been important in the life of Nelson, but not as important as golf. When he is not burning up the fairways around the nation, he is an umbrella manufacturer in To- ledo, O. And If 1t didn't rain-or if the suns rays didn't become exceed- ingly Warm-there wouldn't be much of a market for his umbrellas. That rainy or hot weather on the beaches is fine with Nelson so long as it doesn't bother his golf game.
 And from the way he has per- formed since last November 1t is pretty obvious that it took more than weather to bother Nelson's game. Sammy Snead came the closest to upsetting It. winning six tournaments after being discharged from the Navy. But just when 1t looked like Snead was going to challenge Nelson for the lord of the links crown the Toledo starpshooter buckled down and won going away. He did 1t by winning the last four tournaments on the winter tour - Durham, Greensboro Charlotte (after a two round playof with Snead) and Atlanta. Before that he had taken the Portland, Phoenix, Corpus Christi and New Orleans opens.
 His eight victories and those six of Snead's didn't leave much for the other golfers on the winter tour for there were only IS tournaments in all. But because there were only about 20, compared with the usual 75 who used to make the golden" swing, the others didn't dare too badly.
 Back of Nelson, who started out n noddv ot EtOrt VVnrth Hov ond soon after turning pro became known as the "crisis kid" because of his ability to make tough shots when they counted, came Snead His earnings totaled $16.861. quite an increase from what he made as a sailor the winter before.
 Harold (Jug) McSpaden, who paired with Nelson to win the Mi ami four ball, came third with $13,- 264. He was followed by Sammy Byrd, who won one of the four tour naments Nelson and Snead were unable to garner. Byrd's total was $10,579: Ky Laffoon was next in line with $4,583 and Jim Terrier, also a winner in one tournament, was sixth with $4,565.
 After tht came Sergeant E. J. (Dutch) Harrison, who won one tourney. with $4,203. Ran Man grum. the only other title winner, was far down the list with $2.199.
 Other money winners included:
 Johnny Revolta, $4,170; Claude Harmon, $3.974; Craig Wood. $3,964 1; Denny Shute. $3.532; Mike Turnesa, $3,526: Bob Hamilton, $3.le8; Wtl- lie Goggin, $2,790: Henry Picard $2.- 704; Leonard Dodson, $2,68l; Bruce Coltart, $2.255: Tony Penna, &2.20e: sam Schneider, $i.9i9; Fred Wood, ei ,e82; Jimmy Hines, Si.366: Jim dauntt, ei.7i7; Jack Congdon, @i.- 0ol: Fred Longworth. 9l,666: Gene Kunes. Al.i33; Joe zarhardt. e2.22e and Johnny Hulla, sl.ila.