Evening star., 1954-05-24
Eastern Open Victory
Convinces Pros Toski
Is Permanent Threat
Dy MerreII WhittIesey

BY MeFrell Whittlesey
Bob Toski no longer is just
a little guy In a hot golfing
streak!
The only pro golfer to win
five big-money tournaments
since last September, Toski now
is being taken more seriously by
his fellow pros and the public.
The smallest guy on the tour.
5 feet 8 and less than the 1877
pounds he claims he weighs.
could be Mr.. Big.
One very important factor has
characterized ToSki's triumphs.
Most of them have been over
real big golf courses, none Of
these pitch-and-putt layouts
where "scrapers," as Sam Snead
calls them. clean up on the win
ter tour.
Prefers Tough Courses.
Toski won the $4,000 Insur-
ance Open last September over a
fine golf course, Wethersfleld &C.
in Hartford. He won the $4,000
Havana Open over a long course
in Cuba. The site Of the $4,000
Baton Rouge Open was the
toughest course on the winter
tour. one Of the pros said yes
terday in Baltimore. And VIII
mington c. c. in North Carolina,
scene of another ToSki triumph,
was another hard course. II have
the shots" Toski said. I'D rather
play tough courses"
When the pros took look at
Mount Pleasant early last week
they predicted to man that no
body would break 280 for 72 holes
in the $40, 900 Eastern Open. And
that was before the rain of
Thursday and the cold winds
of Friday
Toski shot 66-69-70-72 for 277.
He won by seven strokes over
Jack Burke, who picked up Sec
ond money of $4,000 by dropping
a four-foot pressure putt for a
par on the 18th green Burke's
284 was about what the pros
thought the winner would shoot.
Leading Money Winner.
Including the $4,000 first prize
he picked up yesterday, Toski
now is the leading money win
ner with $1O,988 in PGA-spon-
'sored tournaments to $9,602 for
Julius Boros. And what's more
indicative of his golf. Toski is
on top in Ryder Cup points,
which are distributed according
to the Importance of the tourna-
ments. He also moved up to
fourth in the scoring averages
for the Vardon trophy.
Bob left today for Fort Worth
where he and the other pros
tangle with Ben Hogan this
week. Then he goes to. Cincin-
natl for the Western Open and
to Virginia Beach for the SIS
600 tournament there, before
the National Open. He'd like
to skip Virginia Beach because
of the National the following
week but says he has good
friend there and is obliged to
play. He's that kind of guy.
Toski is popular because he
is little guy, and because he
plays to the gallery. Hogan
first gained his popularity be-
cause of his size, and now Hogan
looks twice as big as Toski. Bob
came in the press tent after it
was over draped his arms over
a couple Of the reporters and
asked If he could be of any help.
Imagine Hogan or one Of the
other big names doing that!
Some Of them. including Ho-
gan are stif1y courteous, but
that's all.
Mangrum Puts On Pressure.
ToSki, took a Six-Stroke lead
into the final round but said for
the first time in the tournament
he was nervous. II was a little
afraid of that NloydD Mangum,
he said. Mangrum was eight
strokes back and started "A to
Toski's SIS. Then when Mangrum
knocked his third shot stiff on
the fourth hole, Toski became
panicky for a moment. But his
reply was 15-footer for a birdie
8 that halved Mangrum, and he
had that confidence again.
Burke, Mangrum, George Fa-
zio, Ted Kroll, Ed Oliver and Jim
Turnesa all kicked second money
around until Burke stepped in
and won it on the last hole.
Turnesa. who didn't putt worth
a lick, finished third with what
probably was the best tee-to-
green golf of the tournament.
He won $1,700.
Walter Romans led the Middle
Atlantic pros with a "A and
three TBS for 293 and $285. The
Baltimore c. c. pro cost himself
Sis by taking a i've on the last
hole. Clarence Doser Of Wood
mont finished out of the money
but won a trophy for low round
(72 on Thursday by a Mid
Atlantic Y1r0