Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-06
Early Finisher S 81
Sets Tam Precedent
By Retaining Lead
BY the Asso<ioisd Press


CHICAGO, Aug. GA jolly,
225-pound pro from Tuscaloosa,
Ala, who filched a putter from
his wife's golf bag, today dared
the big-name performers to
catch him after an unprece-
dented start in the $4,000 ALI
American money chase at Tam
O'Shanter.
Bespectacled Hal Williams, "a,
got up at the crack of dawn to
start his first round yesterday,
finishing at $50 am. with a s.
under-par 81.
He had a haircut in the Tam
barber shop, stopped for coffee
and doughnuts, then retreated to
motel to relax through the day.
His 81 withstood the challenge
from 129 other pro shooters and
gave him the first-round lead by
stroke over Canadian Rudy
Horvath. Australia's Peter Thorn
son and Norm Van Nida and
Belgian Flory Van Donck.
Takes Only 20 Puts.
For the first tirite since the
Tam O'Shanter tournaments
were inaugurated in 1941, the
score of an early finisher stood
up for the day.
Williams told of borrowing
his wife's putter recently and
taking only 90 strokes on the
greens at an Erie, Pa, tourney
after using 38 with his own club.
Yesterday the magic wand, in
scribed with the word Mary"
was good for % puts that helped
put Williams to the front.
mot only did I steal Mary's
putter," laughed Williams, "but
I also left her in charge of our
golf club while I'm away"
The couple owns and operates
the Meadowbrook Golf and
Country Club at Tuscaloosa. Will
liams occasionally sneaks away
for a whirl on the tournament
circuit. So far the whirl has
paid of very little.
The wind yesterday played
havoc with most Of the scores
but IS sharpshooters managed
to break par u.
Foreigners Surprise.
Probably as surprising as Will
liams' stable 81 was the break
through Of four foreign entries
among the leaders.
Horvath, who halls from Wind
sor, Ontario, is well known in
Canada and is just beginning to
make his mark in the United
States. Van Donck of Brussels
is famed on the continent but
never has done well at Tam.
~ Thomson, 24-year-old winner
Of the recent British Open Is one
Of COLTS most promising young
players. Won Nida is an Austral-
ian veteran who always gets a
hunk Of Promoter George S.
Mays cash at Tam.
The big-shot American stars
were, in the most part, looking
like also-rans. Chandler Harper
and Cary Middleton were ex-
ceptions, being grouped with un-
heralded Mike Souchak of Dur
ham, N. c., Williams early
morning partner, and Bill Mark
ham Of Detroit at So.
WOrsham Scores ".
Lloyd Mangrum, defending ALL
American champion, had 70; Ma
tional Open Champion Ed Fur
gol stumbled in with 70, PEA
winner Chick Harbert scared to
rs, and Lew Worsham, the 1858
World" champion at Tam by
virtue Of an eagle 2 on the last
hole. settled down with a 70.
Other divisional leaders in the
complex meet were Betsy Rawls.
with one-under-par IS, in the
women's pro section; Mickey
Wright Of San Diego, with rs in
the women's amateur, and Eddie
Merrins, 22-year-old former
Louisiana State golf team cap
tain. with II in the mems anna
teur.
The only big-shot who was not
caught in the squeeze was Sam
Snead. He is not competing, saw
Ing himself for an about shot at
the $4,000 cash prize and $50
600 exhibition contract up for
grabs in next weeks world
championship struggle at Tam.
First-round leaders:
w. MEMS PRO DIVISION.