Evening star., 1953-09-05
Fans Of Worsham
Proving Top Hazard
ToCeIebrities Leader
RY MerreIl WhiffIesev

top money of $2,4OO in the Celeb
rites tournament if he doesn't
encounter too many people today
and tomorrow who saw his shot
on television that won the
World" title in Chicago.
Lew is driving the ball to
perfection, hitting sharp irons,
putting good enough to win, and
what's more important he is the
leader at SO holes with 68-69-
1877, seven under par. He also is
confident. likes the Woodmont
course. and has no worries.
But Lewis problem is that he
can't possibly concentrate fully
because everybody he meets saw
his momentouS shot on television
and wants to talk about it. Lew
does not have the stony stares
of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead.
He's such a nice guy that he'll
stop and talk to everybody and
listen to a story he has heard
$4,000 times since the Chicago
tournament.
More Interruptions Due.
Today and tomorrow should
bring larger crowds, which
means more people who saw the
shot. They want to talk about
it. get his autograph and take
his picture. All that is fine for
Lewis publicity and his potential
earning power. but still there's
a time for everything.
Today Worsham undoubtedly
will draw the largest gallery with
his 1852 starting time in COM
pany with Charley BaSsler, an
other extremely popular area
product, and Bill Nary, the new
course record holder with his
phenomenal 81 of yesterday.
BY that time Snead will be
midway on the back nine and
Bob Hope and Vice President
Nixon, competing in the Celeb
rites division, will be near the
ninth hole. Worsham will get
most of their galleries unless
Snead is lacing par.
Three Tied at 139.
Worsham has a two-stroke
edge on three players, including
Cary Middlecoff, who is in Sec
ond place only because Jimmy
Demaret, the defending cham
pion, withdrew. Middlecoff was
out in SO on Thursday and
wanted to pick up, but with
Demaret missing he couldn't
quit because that would have
left George Fazio alone.
So Middlecoff stuck it out and
came back in 81 for a 10, then
added a SO yesterday. Nary
blasted par by eight strokes with
a great shot-making exhibition
and added it to an opening rs,
which he thought should have
been much better, for his 139.
The third 139 shooter is Ted
Kroll, the most consistent of the
three, who already has been run
nerup in five tournaments this
year but hasn't won one.
MaruSic Fades Fast.
Milon Marusic, first = round
leader with 81, faded faster
than anybody figured as he went
to rs for 143. Milon didn't one
putt a single green in the second
round, and that was the reason
for the nine-stroke difference.
Worsham has proven that he
can win tournaments this year
by consistency or by in-and-out
golf. In taking the Jacksonville
Open he had four straight 68s.
At Tam o'Shanter he was 65-
72-73-68.
Both of his rounds at Wood
mont have been so good that he
appeared en- route to 65s. He
missed two birdie puts on Is
and 16 and bogied the 18th the
first day. He needed a 15-footer
for an eagle 3 on the 18th yes
terday, but three-putted for a
par.
Lewis round was so good yes
terday that he thought his only
mistakes were in hitting two
shots a trif1e too easy. He didn't
use the wrong club, just didn't
hit it hard enough with the club
used and had to scramble slight
ly for pars instead Cf having
birdie puts.
BaSsler in Good Spot.
Bassler. the Rolling Road pro
who holds most of this areas
more important titles, is in fine
position with his 74-67-141. For
the two rounds Bassler has play
ed wonderful golf except for one
lapse, from the 10th through the
eses CELEBRITIES. Page A-lso