Evening star., 1952-05-25
Chapman, Stranahan,
McHaIe Favorites in
PrestWick Tourney
By the Asseeioted Press


PRESTWICk, Scotland, May
24.-Which Yank will it be this
year?
That's the question of the mo-
ment at this Scottish seaside re-
sort on the eve of the British
Amateur, golf championship. Tht
amateur title has been right al
the top of Britain's list of postwar
exports and, with the biggest
American challenge in history, this
year would seem to be no excep-
ton.
Dick Chapman, the Pinehurst
IN. c. stylist. who finally won the
crown last year after more than
10 years of trying, is back to de-
fend his honors, starting Monday.
Arrayed against him is a field of
280 sharpshooters from all parts
Of the world.
The big threats, though, almost
all speak with American accents.
Stranahan Seeks No. 3.
Frank Stranahan of Toledo,
Ohio. winner in 1948 and 1850,
hopes to make history by becom-
ing the first American to win the
tournament three times.
Big JON McHale, Philadelphia
insurance broker, has been playing
the 6,531-yard course for a week
and, as one caddy put it, Hes
been tearing it apart-did a 81
Thursday and he had three puts
on the 18th"
Young Billy Maxwell from Od-
essa, Tex, the United States ANA
teur champion, will seek to be-
come the first player to win the
American and British titles in sue
cessive tournaments since Lawson
Little did it in 1884 and 1885.
The tight Prestwick course with
teacup size green's and narrow
bumpy fairways is a real test of
golf. Ten days of dry weather
have left it in excellent shape. AS
on most British courses, the accent
will be on accuracy.
No Place for Novice.
The first hole is enough to scare
the week end player. It's par A
stretched flush against a stone
wall bordering a railway track. A
250-yard drive will land one in
deep sandtrap. The slightest slice
will put you out of bounds. A
hook will leave you in the deep
rough. The entrance to the small
rolling green is not more than Is
yards wide.
That's only the beginning, but
it is enough to give a player a
rough idea of why the amateur
record for the layout in COM
petition is To-. By American cal
culation. the course should play
to par 70. The English varia-
ton of par, known as the standard
scratch score, is "a.
The American entry totals AZ
but one player, Al. Z. Heddon Of
South Dend, Ind, has scratched.
His departure put Merrill Hval Of
Portland, Oreg.. into the third
round. Both had drawn first
round byes and were paired in
the second.
The first match of the tourna-
ment brings together two Ameri-
cans-Capt. James Brady of the
United States Army and Felix
Salaman of New York.
Americans Dominate Upper Half.
The draw is top-heavy with
Americans. Almost all of the big
overseas threats are in the top
half with Stranahan the only real
challenger in the bottom section.
With luck, four Americans could
could reach the quarter finals in
the upper half. Frank Strafaci
of New York or Hobart Manley OF
Savannah, Ca, might get through
for one spot. Chapman or Max
we'll should make it for a second.
McHale or Bob Knowles of Bos-
ton will be in the running for
the third and Harvey Ward from
Tarboro, N. c., stands a chance
for the fourth. But in the lower
half it's Stranahan against the
world.
All matches except the finals
are scheduled for 18 holes. The
36-hole finals will be played
Saturday.