Evening star., 1948-11-02
kid-AAantic Players
Among Par-Breakers
In North-Soufh Golf
RY the Associctsd Press

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PrNEHURST, N. c., Nov. 2.-n q
combination of wind and the big
name tournament stars hit Pine
hurst at the sape time today. the
main part Of the 46th North and
South Open tournament will pro-
duce 0 different story than yester-
days qualifying round.
Fifty-four of the better profess
sionals and amateurs, exempted by
their records from qualifying, will
make their first appearance today.
Favorites among them are Frank
Muscles" Stranahan, who came
here right after winning the Mexi-
can amateur title; Jim Turnesa,
last years winner: young Johnny
Palmer of Badin, N. c., who is sew
enth among the pro money winners
this year, and, of course, Slamming
Sammy Snead, who is at his best
on a long course.
Of yesterdays performances by
the ''unknowns." these stars should
be able to take the course apart.
II the weather remains calm and
perfect, as it was yesterday, they
may do just that, in spite of the
length OF the 6,952-yard, par-72
layout and the tight traps. But
wind will make a big difference.
Walper, Under Par.
Yesterday Dick Mayer. Mamaro-
neck IN. " amateur, who has been
knocking at the doors of the major
tournaments for several years, came
through with a 32-35-67 score to
top the field of l19. One stroke
behind him with 1866 came
Charley Bassler, Catonsville Md
pro- and in third place with 34-35-
SO was John O'Donnell of Norfolk,
Va. Three others, Joe Taylor of
Bristol, Tenn, with 10 and George
Stuhler of Livingston, N. j., and
Leo Walper of Washington, D. c.,
with Ills, were under par. AL Hough-
ton Of Washington equaled par
with 70.
THE wind out there can make
lot of difference" said the husky,
curly headed Mayer after he fin
ished yesterdays fine round. II just
had good day today. I was doing
everything the way I tried to do It,
OF course. If you get the jump on
this course In the first five or six
holes you're all Set"
Bassler, whose victory in the
Maryland Open last summer was
his best tournament performance so
far, nodded agreement. They played
together yesterday and it was Bass
Ter who pointed out that the New
York amateur might have had a
course record If he hadn't missed
puts of about 8 or 8 feet on the
14th and 18th holes.
Bassler could have tied for the
qualifying lead If his second shot on
the comparatively easy 18th hadn't
been buried so deep in a sand trap
that he needed an extra stroke to
get out.
Still there's q strong suspicion
that, wind or no wind, the qualify
ing leaders had their day yesterday.
The winner likely will be somebody
like Snead. He won this event in
1941 and was runnerup three times.
Bassler Is Steady.
Bassler was equally steady, card
ing five brides and slipping badly
on. only one hole. In the 473-yard,
paris 18th, he put his second. shot
In o trap alongside the green and
the ball was buried so that he
couldn't get it out on the first at
tempt.
II was on that same hole, described
by Bassler as "a birdie hole" that
ODonneu sank 6-foot putt for an
eagle 3 that earned him third
place. Taylor slipped into fourth
place with a birdie 4 on the 18th.
Scores of n or better were good
enough to qualify for the first
round of the tournament proper.
In ALL 81 players made that grade
and So more who were exempted
will complete the field. One quail
fer. Arthur Lynch of Mamaroneck,
N. Y, withdrew after carding a u.
Scores of players from the Middle
Atlantic section:
Charles Bassler, catonsville - SO
John O'Donnell, Norfolk - SO
Leo Walper. washington ----- u