Evening star., 1947-04-23
$1,000 Purse Offered
In MiddIe-AfIaniic
PGA Tournament
By MerreIl WhittIesey

A 5000 purse, which Wotid nave
attracted practically every name pro
golfer In the Nation less than 10
years ago, viii be split up among the
top 10 fiuishers In the Middle At
-lantic PGA championship Saturday
and Sunday at the Hampton Club
ct Old Point Comfort, Va, in the
richest tournament in the history
Of the local section.
The 72-hole medal play event is
restricted to Glass A members of
the PGA In Maryland, Virginia and
the District, which means that newly
crowned Virginia Open Champion
George Payton will not be eligible
as he is not a PGA member. The
tournament hackers do not plan any
petition to make Payton eligible, but
his absence certainly will hurt the
. gate, according to a source at the
home club.
Top Prize Of $1,000.
The two-day scrap for the top
prize OF $1,000 will be a three
cornered battle among Washington's
Lew Worsham, Portsmouth's Chan
dler Harper and British Open Cham
pion Sam Snead, provided the latter
plays. Snead wired this department
today that he planned to compete
In the tournament, but still Is un-
certain.
Worsham, defending champion
and one of four two-time winners,
has been bothered by an ailing
shoulder of late but it is more Of
an annoyance than a handicap to
his golf swing. Harper will be the
favorite of the Tidewater fans, how
ever, even over Snead. Harper fin
ished second and Snead third in the
Virginia Open last week.
The prize list announced by Red
Spiegle, home club pro, will be, in
order: $1,000, $3.50, $3.50, $3.50, 5000,
SITS. $3.50, $125, 500 and $100.
Several of the local pros will not
make the trip because the tourna-
ment catches them at the busiest
time of the season, but Tournament
Chairman AL Houghton had the
choice of $1,000 in April or pin
money in the fall and he took the
former.
Houghton and Walter Bogley of
Prince Georges, Leo Walper, two
time champion, now representing
Congressional; 1889 Titlist Cliff
Spencer of East Potomac and AL
Jamison of Quantico are definite
local starters, in addition to Wor-
sham, while Kenwoods George Diff
fenbaugh and Mel Shorey of Indian
Spring are among the probable
starters.
/ Event Cancelled in 1899.
The tournament was played at
Old Point in 1887 and '38 and won
by Harper when Houghton was pro
at Hampton, then the Chamberlain
Country Club. The event was
scheduled there in 1889 but was
Cancelled on the eve of the tourna-
ment because Harper, the hottest
golfer in Virginia at that time but
not PGA member, was not allowed
to play.
Chevy Chase Pro Bob Barnett
leaves today for New York to join
group of members from Indian
Greek Club in Miami, where Bar
nett Is winter pro. The group is sail
ing to England with the Walker Cup
team.
When Francis Ouimet, team cap
tain, learned Barnett was to make
the trip he asked the Chevy Chase
pro to serve In an advisory capacity
"in view of your wide experience
and knowledge" Barnett will not
return until June 6.
Congressional Country Club men,
bers will celebrate the official OPEN
ing Of the course in a field day for
members and guests tomorrow.
The program includes a variety of
tournaments, to be followed by a
stag dinner. A feature of the day
will be the opening of the new sixth
hole.