Evening star., 1955-07-17

IUcTt, WIlU WILL 1lhfC bAlC dOVdL'
tage of playing on his owr
course, heads a field of 142 PRO-
Ifessionals for the 37th annua
IPGA golf tournaments seven.
day endurance test which starts
Wednesday at the Meadowbrook
Country Club.
The 40 = year old Harbert
might even be tabled as the
favorite in this blue-ribbon event,
for he not only is familiar with
the secrets Of Meadowbrook' s
6,750 yards, but he is a fierce
match-play competitor as well.
The final five days Of the
tournament is match play-36
holes a day in man-to-man COM
bat in which stamina is consid-
cred just as important as shot
making.
The first two days are set
aside for qualifying, 18 holes a
day, with the low So scorers join
ing Harbert for the start OF
match play Friday.
Ended Jinx Last Year
A power slugger who has mas
tered the games finer shots
Harbert ended his PGA "jinx'
last year. taking the title with
a resounding 4-and-3 victory
over his friend, Wally Burkemo
another great match-play vet
eran from nearby Franklin
Mich.
Before his victory over Burke
mo in st. Paul, Harbert twice
had reached the PGA finals
and twice had met with defeat
He was beaten in 1947 by jim
Ferrier, 2 and /, and then lost
in 1852 by a 1-up margin tc
Jim Turnesa.
lone more strike and I would
have been out" Harbert quipped
Practically every top qualified
professional will compete in this
years tournament. The big ex-
|ception, Of course, is Ben Hogan
who limits his play to the Ma
tional Open, Masters and a few
other select tournaments.
But COLTS other big names will
be on hand, including a dozen
former PGA champions and the
present National Open king, Jack
Fleck Of Davenport, Iowa.
Third Crack for Fleck
Fleck will be taking his thirc
crack at the PGA title. He
failed rather poorly in his Other
two attempts. even though hi
scored a hole-in-one at Birming.
ham. Mich, two years ago. Ht
lost his first-round match thai
year. In 1850, he failed to sur.
vive the 36-hole qualifying test
In addition to Harbert, Tur.
mesa and Burkemo,. the formel
champions back for another try
are Sammy Snead, Chandler
Harper, Gene Sarazen, Johnn,
Revolta, Olin Dutra, Henr!
Picard, Paul Runyan, Denny
Shute and Vic Ghezzi.
Among those trying for thei
first PGA title are Cary Middle
coff, Doug Ford, Lloyd Mangrum
Tommy Bolt. Julius Boros, Jacl
Burke, jr.: Pete Cooper. Shelle,
Mayfleld. Bob Toski, Fred Haw
kins, Fred Haas, Ted Kroll. Mix
Turnesa. Jerry Barber. Dav
Douglas, Dutch Harrison, Claud
Harmon, Ed Furgol. Georg
Fazio. Ed Oliver. Roberto D
vicenzo, Marty Furgol. Johnn,
Palmer and Lew Worsham.
Colts younger set--Gene Lit
tier, Arnold Palmer, Franl
Stranahan. etc.--are not eligibl
since they haven't been pros TO
the required period Of five years
No pro can play for the pro-
own title until he has been play
ing for pay for five years.
| Meadowbrook's scenic layou
will play to a par Of 35-36-7l
Wednesdays first match goe
of at 8 am. (EST).
The Middle Atlantic PG.i ha
produced a champion and tw'
semiflnalists in the last five Ma
ti0nal PGA championships ant
will be represented by q stronI
five-man delegation this yeal
plus It's former member, Lev
Worsham, who still carries man,
Washington ties.
Twin Welsh Net Title