Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-18
Be MercifuI,' Pleads
President After Good
Drive Off First Tee
BY GoFnett D. Horner
Stcr Stcff Corresnondent

AUGUSTA, Ca, April IT.
Billy 10 Patton teamed up with
President Eisenhower today and
shot five brides for sizzling 81
on the first nine holes of the
tough Augusta National Golf
Club course.
The 31-year-old Morganton,
N. c.. amateur who was the SEN
sation Of the Masters tourna-
ment here a week ago, had a
newspaper" So for the 18 holes.
picking up his ball without hol-
ing out in one hole of the last
nine for a courtesy 81.
Gen. Eisenhower also picked
up on one hole to wind up with
q newspaper" 47-41-88.
Playing with the President
and Patton were Cliff Roberts,
chairman of the Augusta Ma
tional board. and William Zim-
norman. of Columbus, Ga, for
mer State amateur champion.
OAC 4AOC UACudl H0COACs
Roberts had newspaper" IS.
Zimmerman turned in the only
true medal score for the 18
holes, a IS.
These four won a low-ball
fourSome match against another
foursome playing the same
course.
White House Press Secretary
James C. Hagerty said he did
not know who the losers were.
In playing such a match,
Hagerty explained that when a
golfer gets in trouble he some
times does not finish a hole but
picks up his ball and is credited
with a score one over the highest
actually made on that hole by
other members of his team.
Thus, the so-called newspaper"
scores today.
Patton picked up on the tough
18th. where he blew to a seven
on the final round of the Mas
tiers after losing a ball there to-
day.
Started on Back Nihe.
He returned to Augusta from
Morganton especially to play
golf with Gen. Eisenhower today
after winding up the Masters
tournament here last Sunday
only a stroke behind Sam Snead
and Ben Hogan, who tied for
the title after regulation play,
with Snead winning in the play
OF.
The eisenhower atton-Rob-
ertS-Zimmerman foursome start
ed play on the back nine today
because Roberts decided a stiff |
breeze blowing across the course
at the time would cause them
less trouble.
News photographers recorded
their first drives. Gen. Eisen-
hover started driving some prac-
tice balls for benefit of the
photographers. Then his second
tee shot went straight down the
fairway for 235 yards and he
told his fellow players: "I'n take
that one-it's the best I've had
on this hole so far"
WalIOpS First Drive.
Patton, implored by the Pres
ident to "be merciful," then |
stepped up to the tee and |
slammed out a 280-yard drive.
The President has been play
ing golf daily since his arrival
at the Augusta National Club
Tuesday night. Ed Dudley, the
club pro. said his game has been
improving the last couple Of
days. although today's score was
not his best. Dudley said Gen.
Eisenhower shot the first nine
in 40 yesterday when his game
was trained out" before finish
ing the Is. Reporters had been
told previously that the Presi-
dent did not play yesterday.
Patton's score today did not
approach the. Augusta National
course record of 81, held by
Lloyd Mangrum. Patton's 'front.'
nine 81 is considered an unus-
ually good score. but club Off
Gals said it had been played in
30 many times. Par for the
course is 36-36-72. /