Evening star., 1948-06-11
Wors1an1 Holds
Stage Center as
Open Co-Pacer
Surprising Chompion
Moves Into Round Z
Even With Hogan
H. P,,ee kawianA
BY Russ kewIand
Asseeiotsd Pres. Sports Writer


LOS ANGELES, June 11.-Tour-
nament favorite Ben Hogan and
Defending Titleholder Lew Wor-
sham were equal pace-setters today
as the field teed of in the second
round OF the United States open
golf championship. I
Their opening day s7s chopped
four shots of par for the long and
exacting Riviera course. but the
sterling links performances told only
half the story. The other half was
the exclusive property of Worsham
Of Washington. D. c., and Oakmont,
Pa, with the jutting chin and a
determination that crossed up the
experts for the time being.
Worsham won the crown a year
ago at st. Louis and won it the
hard way. He beat out Sam Snead
in the playon after the two had
tied with a near record 72-hole
total Of 282.
In spite of that fine showing,
Worsham's stock had fallen when
the first round firing began here
yesterday. He was conceded only
the barest chance to repeat. The
prediction may be borne out when
the final round is posted come Sat
'urday. But as the pack of star pros
and amateurs started the fairway
tricks this morning, all eyes were
on Worsham, tied with Hogan for
the lead.
PGA Titlist Hogan, the practically
unanimous choice, came through
with a fine 3l-36 for his 81. Wor-
sham, picked to finish anywhere
from 10th to Goth in the famed links
derby, posted a 1884 and played
steadier, If not quite as spectacular,
golf than his favored rival from
Hershey, Pa.
Snead, Rogers Push Leaders.
Par for the course, on which
Hogan has won the last two Los
Angeles Open tournaments, is 35-
36-71.
Trailing the co-leaders into the
second round were Snead, the
mighty slammer from White Sui
phur Springs, w. Va, and Ken
Rogers Of Oklahoma City. each
with So.
Snead, one of the closeup pre-
tournaments favorites, hit some ire
mendolis shots while carding 1886
with hole out of bounds. Rogers,
holder of the Oklahoma State anna
teur title, had 1885.
Only three others of the starting
field of I'll shaded par figures for
the 7,020-yard layout in the initial
round. They were Bobby Locke, the
high money winner from Johannes
burg, South Africa; veteran Toney
Penna from Cincinnati and Ted
Rhodes, star Negro player Of Los
Angeles.
Locke, whose many followers like
him to outsteady all the rest in the
remaining grind played soundly for
an opening 1886. Penna turned in
37-33 and Rhodes a 1864.
Stranahan Is Far Back.
Fifteen shotmakers roasted at
even par II as they started their
second rounds not too far OF the
pace. They included 1946 United
States Open Champion Lloyd Man
grum, OF Monterey Park, Calf;
former PGA Titleholder Jim Fer
riet of San Francisco; two-time
National Amateur Leader Marvin
(Bud Ward of Spokane, Wash,
and Jim Demaret of Houston.
Farther back and badly placed,
barring unforeseen mishaps to the
leaders, we're such top players and
name golfers as British Amateur
Champion Frank Stranahan, jr., Of
Toledo, Ohio, tied with ex-United
States Open winner Lawson Little
of Monterey, Calf, at 70.
United States Amateur Titlehold-
er Robert lSkee) Riegel of Monte
rey Park, Calf, was in. the ruck
with q first round rs.
Ten others started off today in
that bracket. Virtually out of con-
tention were former open cham
pions Craig Wood of New York
with a first round 76; ancient Gene
Sarazen, of New York, with a II;
Toney Manero of Stamford, Conn.
with 78; amateur Chick Evans, ot
Chicago, at 81 and Olin Dutra, o1
Los Angeles, with 80.
The gallery was expected to ex-
ceed yesterdays $500 who watched
opening round play in sunny
weather.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
Minneapolis: Il: Louisville, o.
st. Paul, z; Columbus. 6.
indianapolis. II; Milwaukee, 3:
Toledo at Kansas City postponed.