Evening star., 1960-04-09
Hogan's Improved Putting
Makes Palmer Lead Shakv
Ben and Venturi
Fuvorite's Chief
Masters Worries
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star Stan Writer

oN0A StdA "IlleE
AUGUSTA. Ga. April g.
There are Is golfers within 4
strokes of Arnold Palmer's l4O
at the halfway point of the
Masters championship today,
but in looking over his shoul-
der you have a hunch there are
two he fears over the rest
Ben Hogan and Ken Ventura.
In this crazy tournament Of
rules rhubarbs. blowups. disap-
pointmentS and comebacks,
the favored Palmer is the shaky
leader by / stroke with rounds
of 67-73 over the Augusta Ma
tional course.
But Hogan came up with his
best putting performance in
five years, according to him,
and his 6S yesterday was the
best round of the day. Ben
moved into second place at l4l,
tied with Claude Harmon, an
other ex-champion who is So
70: Walt Burkemo, playing the
best tee-to-green golf of the
tournament, 1859, and Dow
FinSterwald. who technically is
fortunate to be a survivor, with
7l-70-l4l.
Beman Close With l43
This select group of II play
ers includes Silver Springs
Deane Beman. the 21-year-old
British Amateur champion, who
justified his place on the big
Scoreboard with a 70 for l43.
Beman had Is pars. a birdie
and bogey as he broke a jinx
that has dogged him in the
National Open and Masters.
This is the first time in six
appearances in the two big ones
that he has survived the Sec
ond-day cut. This time he
survived handsomely.
play in the Masters will
be televised by CHS today
and tomorrow. In Washing
ton it can be seen on WTOP-
9 from 5 to 6 pm. today and
from 4 to $50 tomorrow
Venturi, who led last year
and in 1856 at this point, for
got that horrendous AZ he had
on the back nine Thursday
afternoon to come back with a
SO for l42. Ventura had 3l-42
for his opening 73.
Most Of the players were
still grumbling today over the
ruling made in Finsterwald's
favor when the Rules Com
mittee took the liberty Of
waving a disqualification rule
to penaliZe Finsterwald two
strokes for something that hap
pened in Thursdays opening
round.
Finsterwald Reports Incident
On the first green yesterday.
Finsterwald made his par 4.
then dropped the ball at his
feet and started to putt it of
the green. Billy Casper, his
playing partner, said, Dow, l
don't think you can do that"
Finsterwald said he had done
it the previous day, but he i'm
mediately reported it to Ed
Carter, the PGA Tournament
Bureau manager. who hap
pened to be standing by the
first green. Carter relayed the
message to other members Of
the Rules Committee, and on
the 1lth hole Finsterwald
again reported it. this time to
Harvey RaynOr, Tournament
Bureau supervisor of the PGA.
Finsterwald's card was held
up for almost an hour after he
finished, and it finally was de-
cided to penalize him two
strokes.
On the fifth green of the
opening round. FinSterwald
putted out, and then dropped
the ball and putted of the
green. On the back of the
Scorecard it reads. Players
may not practice puts after
holing out on any green. Pen
atty two strokes
Hadn't Read Back of Card
While most of the players
who had something to say felt
Finsterwald's violation was Of
a highly technical nature, still
it is a rule. and once he signed
a scorecard With a 3 on the
fifth hole instead Of a 5, the
penalty was disqualification.
The ruling was the best I
could have hoped for" Flnster-
wald said later. II know we
can't practice puts in a PGA-
sponsored tournament, but this
is not PGA-sponsored. l hadn't
read the pack of the card"
Fau, V,oirntac aFtnr tho Eip