Evening star., 1947-08-27
Browne|| S|ated for Big Bid in Amateur This Year
H-YeaE0Id DC. Ace
Is Well on His Game
In Qualifying Test
By MerreII WhittIesey

Bobby Brownell., who holds the
whip hand over the local amateur
golfers to a greater extent than any
predecessor, can make his big bid for
the National Amateur champion
ship this year in the opinion Of
many.
When the slightly-built 29year-
old SHOEMAKER with the blond, thin
ming hair stepped off the 36th green
yesterday at Chevy Chase with
medal honors in this sections Ma
tional Amateur trials, he strength
ened his domination of the simon
pures here unmatched by George
Voigt, Roland Mackenzie or any Of
this city's amateur golf products.
Brownells 67-70 over one OF the
toughest par SO tests in the country
equaled the lowest score at any OF
the 81 qualifying spots IN the United
States and was only one stroke of
the 1876 posted by Arthur Armstrong
in Honolulu.
Hagen Rarin' to Go.
The rub is will Brownell and three
of the other qualifiers, Ralph Bo-
CART, Eddie Johnston and Bob Nor
ris,, make the trip to the ocean-side
Pebble Beach course at Del Monte,
Calf, September 8-13? Richmond's
Walter Hagen, jr., the other LEGAL
qualifier, is rarin' to go. It's a
long way and will take time and
money, but most of the five probably
will make it and If not Co. Bernard
Schriever, who lost a playof to
Morris on the first extra hole and
Is first alternate, is anxious to COM
pete in his first amateur.
Brownell, who was District Anna
teur champion as long ago as 1896,
has scared to the top of this sec
tion's amateur golf nstings since
leaving the confining duties of the
FBI last year and turning to in
surance.
At this writing Brownell holds
the District, Maryland State and
Middle-Atlantic amateur crowns,
was low amateur in the National
Capital Open, low qualifier yester-
day, champion at Chevy Chase and
Manor Clubs.
Best Punch Shot in Town.
Bobby is a smart golfer He has
the best punch shot in town, Is a
good putter (but doesn't think SO
because he likes to make everything
under 20 feet), plays well under
pressure. He is not a power hitter,
but hits the ball far enough. His
principal handicap for a tournament
grind like the National Amateur
is that he is not too strong. He
was mighty tired young man
walking up to the last hole at Chevy
Chase yesterday.
Brownell is not convinced that he
is ready for the amateur this year.
He points out that Frank Strana-
han, Ted Bishop, Smiley Quick,
Bud Ward, Skee Reigel and the rest
are in almost daily tournament
competition against the best. He
claims he doesn't play anywhere
near enough golf, even for a fling
at the amateur. - so.
Brewnell was in a good spot last
year. He qualified handily on the
scene and was dropped In the soft
est bracket, but lost in the first
round when his putting suddenly
turned sour. This year there is no
qualifying at Del Monte. The entire
field of 21o swings right into match
play
Bogart Cards 69-71-140
Bogarts 6s-71 for 140 yesterday
would have been taken by any
player in the field for low medal
honors without hitting a shot.
Ralph played good, consistent golf
but ran into his own Bronwell jinx.
Brownen, who has qualified for five
amateurs, and the 27-year-old Bo-
CART, in his fourth, figured to finish
1-2, and they did.
Johnston was off to the hottest
start, an out nine Of 80, but later
in the day he twice ran into three
straight bogeys and qualified for his
third amateur at rs with rounds of
68 and 73 for 141. Hagen, six over
par and wobbling after nine holes,
played the greatest golf Of his life
over the next 27, "a for the back
nine of 68 in the afternoon for 143.
Hagen's afternoon round was a
thing Of beauty from tee to green
and could have low 60-ish.
Congressional's Billy Shea took
big double bogey 6 on the 18th hole
for a 77-73-150 and Morris and
Schriever, with 73-76-149 each,
stepped in ahead with tie for fifth.