Evening star., 1954-09-23
Celebrities Golf
Begins; Field
OF II Tees0ff
Young Colorado Pro
EurIy 9-Hole Leader
With z Under Por
Rv MeYreIl Whisflesev
By Merrell WhittIesey


Frank King. q young pro from
Estes Park. Colo, who hit the
first shot this morning in the
Celebrities golf tournament, was
the early nine hole leader in the
first round today with a 2-under-
par "a at Congressional Country
Club.
Bob Toski, co-favored with
Tommy Bolt and Gene Littler in
the $40, 900 tournament. was not
too happy as he turned the front
nine in 38, two over par.
Barber One Under Par.
Jerry Barber, the little fellow
who almost won two years ago
at Columbia Country Club,
knocked in a 15-foot putt for a
birdie q on the ninth and was
out In IS. one under par, as was
AnSel Snow, one of the tours
bright young stars.
The par shooters at SO among
the early starters included Doug
Higgins. Bud Holscher and AL
Besserlink. George Fazio, who
has been conquering the course
every day in practice rounds,
went one over with a 81 as did
Ivan Gantz and Jimmy Clark.
King was three under par after
six holes but went over on the
long para eighth, a hole that
has been giving plenty of trou-
bic so far.
72-HoIe Division New.
The 72-hole division Of this
tournament Is something new,
with only players who competed
in five of eight specified summer
tournaments eligible to compete.
The eight tournaments each con-
tributed $4,000 toward the purse.
This qualifying method, inau-
ghrated in an attempt to get
better participation from the
big-name pros on the summer
circuit, has brought 19 of the top
20 money winners here, an ex-
ceptional turnout.
However, the PGA's qualify
ing method has backfired some
what in that neither the Mas
ters' champion (Sam Snead) ,
National Open winner (Ed Fur
goD nor the PGA winner (Chick
Harbert) Is eligible. That prob
ably will mean q new method
of qualification next year, when
the. PGA-sponsored event will
move to another city.
Furgol Dne Saturday.
Furgol will be here Saturday
to compete with many big
names in the Celebrities Divi-
sion.
A field Of n. including few
invited amateurs, started play
today over the par II course,
which is playing longer than
ever before because of several
new tees. However the tall
rough was cut recently because
OF complaints by the members,
and the scoring figures to be well
under par by the leaders.
First prize, reported to be
about $4,000, will be the second
biggest of the year, topped only
by the Tam O'Shanter in Chi
cago where Toski won for his
fourth triumph this season.
Players who deserved backing
in addition to the three co-fa-
vorites include Jackie Burke
having one of his best seasons,
Cary Middlecof. Lloyd Mangrum,
Dutch Harrison, Johnny Palmer
Ed Oliver, Ted Kroll, last years
winner, and Fazio among the
familiar names and Gardner
Dickinson, Bob Rosburg, Hols-
cher, Dick Mayer, Shelley May
field and others among the COM
paratively new young crop.
Arnold Palmer, National Anna
teur champion. tops the amateur
field, which no longer includes
Frank Stranahan. The latter
makes his pro debut here, al
though not eligible for money.
The only player from the Mid
die Atlantic section in the pre-
field is Chandler Harper OF
Portsmouth, Va, who played
Congressional only once before
and won a pro-member tourna-
ment with a 81 on his first visit.