The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-15
Little Choses Ghezi
 In US. Open

Cleveland, Ohio, June IS. (UP)- Baby-faced Lawson Little is a su- perstitious guy and he went out to- day for the final 36 holes of the U. s. Open Golf championship bounding the two leaders-B Hogan and Vic Ghezn-in exactly the same position from which he went on to win the crown at Can terbury in 194O.
 He is one stroke back of Hogan and Ghe7z, who blistered Canter- bury's rough par for four strokes on their first two rounds for a total of 14O. They're the boys to beat. They know 1t, Little knows 1t and SO do all the 61 others who shot 151 or better and qualified for the payoff rounds today
 This is my town,' Little said. T won the National Amateur here in 1895 and the Open in 1940. In the Open. I started out with 72-60, remeMber?"
 Little shot 72 in his first round Thursday and a 35-34-69 yesterday
 Wood Off Form
 Whatever happens on the last day, therell be @ new champion. CraAg Wood, the 45-year dura ton titleholder who won the crown at Fort Worth in 1941 in the last tournament played before the war, failed to qualify with the low GA players after rounds of 7S-76-153 two strokes away from qualifying
 Hogan gained his share of the lead yesterday firing a 34-34-68 best round of the tournament, to couple with his opening round of 72.
 Ghezzi, l941 P.G.A. champion played in the same threeSome with Hogan and came up with 33-36-69 to add to his first round Il. He blew his chance for an undisputed lead by taking bogey five on the 18th where he had recovered neatly from a sand trap-and missed a six-foot putt which would have given him a 68 and a lead at l39.
 Close behind Little's Al were 142s by Ed Oliver of Wilmington, Del. and relentless Byron Nelson, of Toledo, both of whom coupled ITS the first two days.
 The lone 143 was Steve Kovach, 20-year-old steel worker from Ligo-- nier, Pa, who is the straightest hitter in the field. Grouped at IA, par for the distance, were five others including Sam Snead of Hot Springs, Va, first-day leader with little Toney Penna, with three un- der par 69's. Snead boomed to 36- 39-75 yesterday and Penna faded even more with 40-37-77 for total of 146.
 Other 144's were Henry Picard of Canterbury, Henry Ranson Of Houston, Tex, Lloyd Mangrun of Los Angeles and Herman Barron of White Plains. N. r.. at 145 were Ellsworth Vines, Chicago, Leland Gibson. Kansas City. and Jimmy Demaret of Houston.
 Bracketed with Penna at l46 were Dick Metz of Arkansas City, KarS" Mike Turnesa. White Plains. E. J. Harrison of Chicago, Ed Furgol Of Pontiac, Mich, who shot a 60 yes terday, and Johnny Bulla Of Little Rock, Ark.
 All others, which included the low amateur, Eugene Dahlbender Of Atlanta, who had 149, were just about out of 1t. At 147 were Clay ton Heather of Charlotte, N. C.. and Paul Runyan of Pasadena, Cal, at 149 was Harold (Jug) McSpaden, Sanford, Me. at 150 were Melvin (Chick) Harbert Worthwhile, Mich, and Jimmy Hines of Chicago, and at 151 were Herman Keiser Of Akron. winner of the Masters tour. nament. along with Marvin (Bud Ward, 194l U. s. Amateur cham pion.
 Among chose who failed to quali- fy were Dick Burton. 1889 British Open champion, and six former U. s. Open champions-Johnny Farrell Tommy Armour. Tony Manero, Gene Sarazen. Ralph Gull dahl, and Johnny Goodman.