Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-09
Hogan and Sneod
Next as Burke's
76Hurts Chances
BY MERRILL WHITTLESEY
Star stafi Correspondent


AUGUSTA, Ga, April q
Thursday it was Jack Burke,
Friday it was Cary Middlecoff.
Today, guess who?
That's the Masters golf tour
nament. For 10 years it has
made buns out of those who
make predictions. You never
know what's going to happen or
to whom it's going to happen.
You climb on somebody's band
wagon and he shoots 80. You
give up on somebody else and
he shoots 66. It's one Of the
damndest golf courses ever built.
the Augusta National.
Middlecoff is leading by four
strokes going into today's third !,
round, but only the day before,
Burke led by four and now he
trails by six.
Middlecoff shot IS, seven
under par. yesterday and when
he teed off all that was in his,
mind was to shoot for Is pars :.
He made only 10, as it turned
out. But he had six brides and
an eagle, and went over par
once.
Halfway Leader in al
Eight years ago Middleton
was the halfway mark leader
here in his first year of pro golf.
The golfing dentist had 1859
for the first two rounds and was
irked because he hadn't turned
pro sooner. He figured he was.
going to win every tournament.
Two days later, Cary finished
out of the money, adding rs and
80 to his first two rounds. Now,
of course, he's smarter. but he
emphasizes that this is still a
course where anything can
happen. IL
A record Middleton had a
chance to tie yesterday was
Lloyd Mangrum's 81 in the 1910
Masters The next day Man
grum shot IS. =
The only thing it's fairly safe
to ask today is where are the
youngsters who were supposed =
to unseat the older pros?
Middlecoff's 72-65-137 is four
strokes better than Ben Hogan's
73-68-141. Sam Snead is next
with 143 after 70 and II, and
he's tied with Burke, who birdiedt.
the last hole for his rs after a st.,
First of the younger delegation
is Bob Rosburg of San Francisco.
a fellow who doesn't look good
hitting the ball but who gets it
in the hole pretty good. He had
a pair of TBS for IA. a stroke
better than Mike Souchak. who
faded to "A for 145. Gene Littlcr :
is two more back of Souchak.
Middlecoff Late Finisher &
Suppers were late in Augusta s
last night because Middlecoff
was one of the last off the course.
The sun was nearing the tree
tops and sprinklers were on the
fairways on all but the last two
holes when he finished. The
18th hole was lined with Spec
tators from tee to green, all 400
yards of it, and they were seated.
kneeling and standing is deep,
around the green. .
But those who had gone all
the way watched great round
of golf. Middleton said he.
never had a better one, never
sank a longer putt than his rs
footer for an eagle on the 18th
and he never was happier. =
Hogan had posted a brilliant
68 with a 80 on the back nine,
but almost was a forgotten man.
Middlecof had it out in 81 with
four straight brides from six
through nine, and on two Of
those holes he almost sank his
irons to the green.
Cary has done everything in
the Masters except win it. Twice
he has been the halfway leader. :
He was runnerup to Claude
Harmon. although he didn't have :
a chance to win. Last year he
needed four pars and two
brides on the last six holes to-
win. He didn't get them. i:
Middlecoff said he is playing
better than last year. likes his
putter with the new grip, and
his mental attitude is good. But.
Burke was saying almost the 3
same thing the previous after
noon.
Hogan Still Dangerous
Hogan is mighty dangerous
contender, even with his pro-
nounced limp. And while Snead
is six shots back, he's not out
of it, although he is one over
par for the eight times he has
played the par fives. On the
18th, where he took 8 yester- :
day. he knocked his second shot
in the creek today, but sal-
vaged a par despite the penalty. =
Middleton is 6 strokes ahead :,
See MASTERS, Page Ais