Evening star., 1950-08-21
Play Gets Under Way
lin National Amateur;
210 Golfers in Field
by the Asseeiossd Press


MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 21.-Ma-
son Rudolph. National Junior
champion from Clarksville, Tenn.
was one down to Jack Munger Of
Dallas after nine holes today in
the first round of play in the S0th
annual National Amateur golf
championship.
The 16-year-old Dixie lad
started his round with the vet
eran Walker Cupper by taking the
first hole. but Munger squared the
match at the second and from
then on they alternated, with the
Texan in front at the turn.
The 210-man field was COM
pleted with the naming of Richard
Collord of New Orleans as re-
placement for Tom Henderson of
Nashville.
Weather Conditions Ideal.
The first of today's 50 matches
started under ideal weather con-
ditions over the par 35-36-71
Minneapolis Golf Club course.
The winds of the past week had
died down and the temperature
was in the low sixties. Yesterday
morning the mercury was below
40 for a time.
Tomorrow there will be "a Sec
ond-round matches. with double
rounds on tap Wednesday and
Thursday. After that come &C.
hole semifinal and final duels Fri
day and Saturday.
No one in the field has a more
burning desire to win than Frank
Stranahan, the millionaire's son
from Toledo. Today he opposes
Arnold Palmer of Latrobe. Pa,
former Wake Forest player
whom he trounced. IL and II,
In the 1949 North South Amateur.
Stranahan, who plays on the
pro tourney circuit and thus gets
more golf under his belt than any
other amateur, will be seeking a
little slam"
Needs Luck More Than Golf.
He captured the British Anna
teur this summer. If he can add
the National he will become the
first to do so since Lawson Lit
tie in the sos.
II probably am hitting the bah
better than ever before" said
frankie, playing in his nfth sue
cessive National Amateur compe-
tition. "But this tourney takes
more than good golf - it takes
luck"
Stranahan never has advanced
beyond the quarter finals of the
National. The grapevine has it
that he may turn professional or
fade from the National golf scene
to take over more responsibilities
Of his fathers sparkplug business.
II am not sure about turning
pro-" he said today. II won't say
just now. It may be . possibility.
however"
Stars Shun Favorite Role.
Strana1an,s game has been
steady for a month. He won the
Tam O. Shanter All-American and
World" amateur titles in Chicago
in the last two weeks and un-
corked 81. 4 under par, over the
6.655-yard Minneapolis Golf Club
layout yesterday.
But the finger Of favoritism is
being given a quick duck.
Charley Coe of Oklahoma City,
seeking to become the first since
Bobby Jones' era to repeat for the
crown. agrees with Stranahan that
luck counts the most.
Other favorites shy, from the
role-like Jim McHale, the former
Walker Cup star from Philadel-
phia; Fred Wampler of Indianap-
oils, National intercollegiate king;
Stan Bielat Of New York, Public
Links titlist; Willie Turnesa of
Elmsford, N. Y. whose two Ma
tional Amateur crowns came 10
years apart; Ted Bishop Of Wes-
ton, Mass, the 1916 winner; Dale
Morey Of Dallas, Tex, and Ray
Billows, now of Staatsburg, N. Y.
a three-time runnerup.
All are considered shot"
But watch out for a dark horse
to come plugging down the stretch
Topweighted ones are Tom Veecf
of Milwaukee. 280-pound Notre
Dame commerce student who wor
the Western Junior title a few
years ago, and 245-pound Bill,
Goodloe. known as Dynamite
around Valdosta, Ga.