Evening star., 1951-01-08
Snead Still Is Threat
In Los Angeles Open
Despite Broken Hand
BY the Asseeiated Press

BY the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8.-Henry
Ransom. a solemn Texan. leads
the field by three strokes, and
Sam Snead by four going into the
final round of the $4,000 Los
Angeles Open today.
But even when he trails, Snead
still makes the big news. Sam
took the play from Ransom's third
fine round by confirming last night
what had been widely suspected
that he's been playing with a
broken hand.
One Of the small bones on the
back of his left hand snapped two
weeks ago in the third round of
the Miami Open, which he went
on tC win. Snead tried to keep it
secret until after the final round
in this tourney today. so it would
not sound like an alibi. But final
ly he admitted that X-rays had
snowr the break, clean one.
After today's final 18 holes. he'll
lay Of for at least six weeks, he
said, to give the bone a chance to
knit.
Heard Bone Break
ct heard it snap" the 36-year-
old West Virginian said, "but it
didn't seem to bother me too
much. After the first round here
(when he shot a 67) it hurt so
badly 7 went to a doctor. II I'd
known before that first day. I'd
probably have got an 49,"
AS 1t is. Snead is in a strong
position If the methodical 39-
year-old Ransom, shows ,.any sign
of slipping. And Snead Is a
dangerous man in the stretch.
Last year he had 214 at the end
Of 81 holes, when Jerry Barber
was leading the pack with 209.
This year he has 212, against
Ransom's 208. In other words.
he's one stroke better than he
was a year ago at the same stage.
His finish last year was a bril-
liant 66.
After his opening 81. Snead
slipped to rs Saturday but came
back to 10 yesterday. Ransom,
whose home is in Dallas but who
plays out Of st. Andrews. Ill, has
carded 70-66-72 thus far. His
Saturday round gave him a six
stroke lead. Par for the 1920
yard Riviera course is II.
Five other golfers still are much
in the picture. Cary Middlecoff,
who gave up a dental practice in
Memphis. Tenn, to concentrate
on golf, is tied at 211 with Doug
Ford Of Briarcliff, N. Y, three
strokes behind Ransom and one
ahead of Snead.
Middlecoff Veteran at 30.
Middlecoff. 30, is classed as a
veteran, having won the National
Open in 1949. Ford, 27, is a new
conner whose golfing family-a
father and four uncles are pros
started him off swinging golf clubs
at the age of 6. He has been
pro only two years and has yet to
win an important prize.
At par 213 are the ever-threat-
ening Lloyd Mangrum of Chicago. |
who won this event two years ago,
and q couple of youngsters, Joe
Kirkwood, jr., the movies "Joe
Palooka." and Jimmy Clark.
blond, handsome, one-time life
guard from Laguna Beach, Calf.
Then there's a big jump to 217,
shared by Skee Riegel of Tulsa,
Leland Gibson of Kansas City,
and Ed Furgol of Royal Oak,
Mich. At 218 are Julius Boros Of
Mid Pines. N. c., and Marty Fur
gol-no relation to Ed-of North
Hollywood, Calf.
Alone at 219 isithe low amateur
-2O-year-old Bud Holscher of
Santa Monica, Calf.
Out of contention appear to be
such names as Ellsworth Vines at
220, Barber, Ed Oliver, Jimmy De-
maret and Jimmy Thomson at 223.
George Fazio of Woodmont
Country Club, Washington, shot
148-77-225.