Evening star., 1951-07-24


Bot Sam didn't give the 2syear Rolling pro
sneads brilliant go three symes forgvabe eup after
sneads lead became almost nurmountab much
Basser that day still say Charley yesterday "I hit
the ball good against SAM Just many things happened"
little over six years since Bassler and Spencer
Overton came to Chevy Chase to play in the
Maryland fourban championship against Roger Peacock
voney Burnett Baser took his bag of practice
hill on the 18th hole and started booming
BOD Barnett soon became an interested spectator He talked
70 Charley Tor few minutes learned he going to be married
In few days and didn't job and asked him if he'd like
TO turn pro- Charley thought it over.
The week. Basser returned to Chevy Chase for the
Middle Atlantic Amateur He tied Ralph Bogar the medal
and won payon He up 4-up Tommy Webb in
the first round but in his mpetuous let the match
get from him. Before left Chavy that night
he was the new assistant pro to Mr.. Barnett.
Charley had served assistant pro present Rolling
Road Club before he 49, But his father died Unexpectedly
and Charley started driving milk that for
and then became oft-drnk another year
He took defense job in shpyard his kid brothers could
remain in school, but when they graduated Joined the
Marines and saw considerable action with the
Division in the Pacific.
TT WAS WHILE he oafng for few weeks after get
ting his Marine discharge that he played at Chevy
Charley made an auspicious debut professional Some
body put thousand dollars Maryland Servcemens
tournament at Rolling Road and Lew worsham just develop
ing big golfer among the entries Charley
6667 to from behind by shots win the
title and big $500.
Basser remained at Chevy Chase years. was
couraged to play tournament golf by Mr. Barnett and then
take the job because the outgoing good friend Of his
Wiser heads appauded his attitude but said that didn't
take the ob somebody else would Charley the Hight
became the Rolling Road pro.
AS he lost his apprenticeship golf game
evidence of great potenaties. All of sudden
Basser against the field the sectional
OF playing of the regulars started playing
Bassler.
SINCE THAT TIME Bassler has won the Maryland Open
twice been runnerup once Baltimore Play
Open twice the District Open with record se-es at Indian
Spring. and dozens Of sweepstakes
most $500 in one-day tournaments in this section.
But while he was moving up as hometown hot-shot
Basser was finding his Baltimore and Washington clippings
of little value when he went to the big tournaments He
played in three National Opens before he finished money
0ast month at Oakland Hs) and three National PGA cham
pionshps before he the first in match play
Charley also made part the winter tour three times before
he finished in the The first two he admitted he
would tighten in the of the Sneads and Hogan
Charley likes y" his drives expresses it, which his
of saying just let the ball with everything he has But
the tour he would develop little hitch and just couldn't
let co.
In two 5000 tournament events the last Washington Star
Open and last Eastern Open in Baltimore Basser
in position to crash the top hve But in each he took
10 on the last round
SOME BUDDIEs blamed the name" golfers on the
tour for interfering with Charley and giving him bad advice
but Basser In fact last winter Basser said he noticed
Cary Mddecof watching him ntenty the practice tee for
three four days in Finally Mddeco told him, I like
that slow backswing boy, Tn trying to copy it,"
OF the fact that Baser went to the semifna of
the PGA doesn't that Hogan will be forgotten Dozens
of have been semnalists and fnass runnerup
other events and seldom heard from again.
But that tournament important to Charley because
him confidence commands respect pro golf
will have better pangs and for at least be auto
matte oualer for all the big tournaments and will play in
most of them Some he must learn concentrate and
then he'll be ready While most of the who winning
championships the late 30 Charley 90 and big
and strong and with given golf swing