Evening star., 1949-07-04
Early Starters
Hot in Stare
Leaders Off Late
MiddIecoff, Alexander
Have Chance to Catch
Sneod and Harrison
By MerreII Whittlesey

Sam Snead and Dutch Harri-
son, tied at 202 for the lead IN
the $4,000 Washington Star
Open Golf Tournament going into
today's final. both were late start
ers, but hoping to duplicate the
fast getaway of Joe Kirkwood, jr.
The blond movie actor, Is
strokes out of the lead but hoping
to share in the prize money,
birdied the first four holes and
was four under par playing the
seventh after regulation 3-4 on
the next two holes.
Most of the spectators seemed
content to huddle under shade
trees and find cool vantage points
at the Prince Georges Country
Club, waiting for Snead and Har-
rison, until they heard of Kirk
woods beginning. Then several
hundred trailed after him.
Jack Toomer of Clarksville. Va.
way back with 219 for three
rounds, hit a hot streak and was
four under par with 80 on the
out nine. Host Pro AL Houghton
played the out nine in one under
par 35.
Other fast starts were by SVir-
ginia Open Champion Jack Isaacs.
VINO was two under par for three
holes with 4-3-3 start, John
Bass of Baltimore. two under par
for six and Lawson Little, who
was 217 for 81 holes and one un-
der for six holes today.
National Open Champion Cary
Middlecoff, one of four Ct shooters
in yesterdays third round, was
the first of the leaders to arrive
today. After breakfast at the club
he sauntered to the practice tee.
taking it easy, just like everybody
else.
Just because Harrison, the new
Canadian Open champion, was
tied for the lead, "Old Dutch"
didn't see any cause to get all
decked out. Dutch sauntered in.
said Hi va. One Putt to every
body whose name he could not re-
cali, and slipped out to practice.
Besides Middlecoff, with 204.
the only other player given much
chance to catch Snead and
Harrison is last years National
Capital Open winner-Skip Alex
ander-who went over par for the
first time in II rounds at Prince
Georges, but who had a good ex-
cuse.
Alexander Ailing.
The ailing Alexander, up all
night Saturday with a stomach
disorder and doctored up before
he left the tee yesterday. stag
gered around in II strokes for q
2O6 total for 81 holes. He has q
lot of ground to make up, but he
has proven before that nothing Is
impossible for him over his ia
vorite golf course. .--s..
The pros dressed for comfort.
rather than style. today as the
Weather Bureau promised a high
of 90. Those who usually play
bare-headed bought caps or hats
as protection from the sun, and
salt tablets were in demand. The
wives who follow the tournament
players carried their multicolored
umbrellas.
Barring miracle round by
somebody else, Maryland's Gov.
Lane will hand the top money
check of So 900 late this afternoon
to one of the above four. Bob
Hamilton, the touring host pro.
lost his chance to move into con-
tention when he went over par
on the last two holes for 50 and
207. Tied with him five strokes
back is Chick Harbert whose six
iron shot on the 14th hole found
the cup for a hole-in-one, and
helped him to ST.
Harrison Gets Bad Break.
The five-under-par 67 that
pulled Harrison into the lead with
Slammin' Sam was a great round
of golf, because on the first hole
(See GOLF, Page A-40