Evening star., 1961-03-26

Ucsn LnVlCeo 70 the Masters
this year nobody is more proud
OF the honor than Claude Wild.
But, unfortunately, almost
everybody viii be better pre-
pared.
Wild, Q native Texan who
has been q Washington resi-
dent for about 10 years, has
had his heart set on a Mas
ters' bid since. he first qualified
for the National Amateur. He
made it last year in st. Louis
when he reached the quarter
finals Of the Amateur cham
pionship.
But long hours on a COM
paratively new job, frequent
travel, and Washington's Bit
ter winter have left Wild, an
ol1 company representative,
tptally unprepared for competi-
tive golf.
Il played Chevy Chase the
other day and shot 81 on the
front nine" Claude said.
Honest. / was back in IS, but
Ididn't have q par on the front
nine"
Wild has played a couple Of
18-hole rounds and a couple of
mines over his home course,
Burning Tree. But other than
toe round at Chevy Chase, that
has been the extent Of his golf
this winter.
Claude. admittedly not a
stylist, has to play "quite a
bit" to keep sharp. "I have
. driving problem when / don't
play, and I know Augusta Ma
tional isa drivers course" he
said.
Claude is going to Texas
Sunday night, and hopes to
play q round or two there. He
viii be back here Friday and,
plans q round at Burning Tree
before leaving for Augusta next
Sunday. That will give him
an opportunity for three prac-
tice rounds at August q
National.
Claude would consider 1t a
great thrill to survive the cut
at. the Masters, something that
Cary Middlecoff failed to do
last year, and Ben Hogan the
previous year.
The low 40 after two rounds
qualify for the last two rounds.
- . y.
There was the thought last
September that Claude might
have had o letdown after
reaching the quarter finals Of
the National Amateur and
winning the automatic bid to
the Masters.
II don't know whether that
was it or not" Claude said
yesterday. II had just won a
20-hole match from Harvie
Ward to reach the quarter
finals, and maybe it was a
combination that might have
caused q letdown." He lost to
Charles Lewis, 4 and 3. de-
stfoying the dream that Claude
and Deane Beman might team
sup in an All-Washington final.
NOTES - Congressional's
Witty Cox, after reading about
Bob Goalby's eight consecu-
tiHe brides in the st. Peters,
burg Open last week, recalled
that he looked at seven
straight birds by Clarence Do
ser In q Congressional Wood
mont match in the Maryland
State team championship a
couple of years ago. Doser
s.pEdied the first seven holes at
Congressional and lost one, to
Cox's eagle on the par five
fourth.
More changes in the assis-
tant pro ranks. T. Tincher
Joins the staff at Court House,
and his place at Chantilly Ma
tional win be filled by Ed
Hines, formerly Of Warrenton
!. and Goose Greek. Mem
! bers Of the Golf Writers AS
!? sociation of America will at
tack the Dunes Club at Myr-
tie Beach, 8. c.. in their an
nual championship a week
from tomorrow. and, as usual
the Dunes will fight back and
!. emerge victorious.
Freddie Mcleod, who plans
to play at least one round In
the Masters, is not too original
: in his guess on the Masters
winner this year. Mr.. Mac
bimply says Arnold Palmer /:
the man to beat. Johnny Poti
} Is his dark horse.
4 N%
Columbia's Ray SWearinger