Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1949-06-23

who led the pack in
kz 1916 and now
c p... there's Sam Nc
. Cready, also OF
Ireland, wearing the coronet Of
1919.
1t is something for a first starter
in a British amateur to roll back
two such men as Frank Stranahan
and Willie Turnesa down the stretch,
Especially over what might be the
toughest course in the world.
At least we know of no other
course or links that is 1900
yards long, par IA where the
normal weather is driving rains
and battering gales.
Yet McCready in his morning
round against Turnesa shot himself
70, just about the equal Of 81 on
most other tests. 1t would have
been pleasant to have had Nc
Cready as a parlay against Stran-
ahan and Turnesa. 1t should have
been nice 10 to / or IL to pay
off. In the opening betting the final
winner was around 40 to l.
First starters rarely ever win one
of these big tournaments where ex-
perience is almost as important as
skill. To stand 4 up at the midway
point, to become l down late in the
stretch, and then recover again is
tribute enough to McCready's COM
petitive side.
It was a good thing for in
ternational golf that an Irish
man won. It will steam up the
Walker Cup matches at Winged
Foot in August where Interested
galleries would like to get a
look at the swing that decapi-
tated our two best amateurs.
In the meanwhile, what has hap
pened to Scottish golf? What has
become of the descendants Of that
ancient shepherd who began knock.
ing round stones into holes, thereby
starting a game that in the US
alone has led to some 5000 courses
and some three million club swing.
ers? 1t is time the land of the thistle
and the blueben came bounding
back.
AS for the Irish-isn,t fellow
named Hogan our Open champion?
Is there anything Scandinavian,
Russian, italian or Scottish about
the name Hogan? Hogan was the
best living golfer until wrecking
accident struck him down.
A Champ Moves Up
Some weeks ago, a few noncom'
batants were kidding Bill Dickey
about Ted Williams. Bill always
has commended that Ted Williams
was as fine a hitter as he ever
saw. Ted was under 300 at the
time. The Prince Regent of Arkan
sas merely grinned. II have an
idea" Bill said, that he will be
back up there around the first Of
June. Nothing can keep back that
eye and that pair of working
wrists. Williams can wait until the
ball is almost in the catcher
glove before he swings. And il it's
a half inch wide of the plate he
won't fool with it."
1t seems that in the race for bat
ting honors, Ted is back where he
belongs. He has moved from .29l
to around the $3.50 mark. He also
has his full share of home runs
and runs batted in. He is the best
bet of the year to become Triple
Crowner in the department Of the
ash. At this spot we can't see any
one leading Williams to the batting
wire in September.
There is a big difference be-
tween hitting 400 now and hit
ting 400 some 20 or 80 years
ago. Williams was the last big
Lacquer to hit over 400 some
years ago. But back in an earl
Ter decade we had Ty Cobb,
Harry Heilmann, George Sisler,
Rogers Hornsby, Bill Terry and
others tapping the big mark
from year to year. A 400 hit
ter caused no undue excitement
In those lost decades.
There is another young hitter whc
has moved up from his 1913 fern
His name is Ralph Kiner. The
Pirate bomber stopped in the .26O':
last season. He has been nearly
100 points better than that thil
spring.
The Kiner-Mize home-run race II
still something to watch. Both hi
81 home runs in 1947. Both hit n
home runs last season. After the
Memorial day double headers, Kin
er had II and Mize 10.
"The kid worked hard all
winter to be ready for this sea-
son." Bing Crosby said few
days ago. nc has a set Of ex-
ercises TO develop hands, wrists
and forearms. He is a fine boy
Who wants TO learn. l believe
this will be his best year. !
hope so for we certainly need
nn0ra NJ fde <annpO