Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-10
Friends Here Watch
AS Lewis Eagle Wins
$4,000 Tam Prize
By MerreIl Whittlesey

WorShamS f1nal shot at Tam
o'Shanter yesterday for drama,
but so long as there's golf and
television. nobody will ever beat
it. 1.-THE Chin" has his place
in the hall of fame.
Television hit the jackpot in
bringing a golf shot that meant
SIS, 900 into the living rooms of
uncounted people, a full wedge
shot of more than 100 yards that
hit the 18th green at the Chicago
course, bounced a couple of
times and rolled into the cup to
snatch first prize of $25, 900 from
Virginia's Chandler Harper and
put it in Worsham's pocket. Had
he failed, Lew would have had
to be content with second money
of $4,000.
Lew shot SO for 278 in his final
round, while Harper had 10 for
279.
Worsham was the last player
to shoot and he had to sink a
100-odd yard shot for an eagle 2
to win the tournament. He had
to get birdie to tie. and from
the way golfers who preceded
him had putted on the final
green, it appeared virtually i'm
possible to make anything longer
than a foot putt on the slippery
surface.
Friends Watching on TV.
1t was the first time in mem
orv that a golf shot excited
people into picking up a player
and carrying him on their
shoulders. The roar of the crowd
as the ball plunked into the cup
was louder, but no more enthusi-
astic than the screams Of Wor-
sham's friends who were watch
ing on television here. That
group included his mother and
father, who were viewing the
match in their Cabin John home.
Mr.. Worsham said, "It was the
most sensational thing I ever
saw"
Contacted in the Tam o'Shan-
ter clubhouse last night. Wor-
sham, still claimed by Washing
ton golfers as their own because
he was reared here, caddied here
and was on the pro staff at three
clubs, still hardly could believe
it. 1T was the luckiest thing
that ever could happen to me-"
Lew said.
Asked whether Harper showed
any bitterness over being virtual
ly robbed of $4,000, Worsham
said there was so much excite
ment he hardly could remember.
II remember Chandler walking
up and saying, Nice going as he
shook hands," Lew said. I'm
sorry it had to be him"
Confirms Use of Wedge.
People who watched on tele-
vision guessed that Worsham
used a seven or eight iron for
the shot. but Lew confirmed that
it was wedge. "T crushed that
drive about 800 yards" Lew said
over the din in the background.
II only had a wedge left"
The TV viewers had seen Wor-
sham kiss dark-haired girl
after the miraculous shot, but
the view was so f1eeting the girl
was not recognized. When asked
who it was. Lew gave his little
chuckle and said, cit was Ginny
CHS wife). Who did you think
it was? The whole family was
here" That includes Linda, his
daughter, and Ricky, his son.
Worsham said at the presenta-
ton that Norman Won Nida, the
Australian, had done the same
thing to Lew in a practice round
and he had it in the back of his
mind. He amplified on the sub
ject.
pete Cooper and I were play
ing Won Nida and Peter Thorn
son in a practice round and we
had them 7 down on the first
nine holes" Lew went on. ION
the back nine they made push
bets. bye bets and every other
kind in trying to get even, and
coming to the last hole on the
back nine we were all square.
Thinking of Won Nida Shot.
THAT little dude CVon Nida)
knocked his second shot into the
cup from almost the same place
I was today. I sure was think
ing of it,"
Told that the press had i'm
piled he couldn't stand the pres
sure after he shot a 70 on the
second round. following his OPEN
ing IS. Worsham laughted at the
implication and said, "I prob
ably choked little"
II had it five under par on
the second round after that IS,
when I three-putted a green"
he said. "All of sudden I start
ed bogeying holes and I couldn't
stop. hit couple of bad shots.
had a couple of bad breaks and"
he repeated with little chuckle,
maybe I choked little"
Worsham said he thought he
(See WORSHAM, PAGE Aid