OPEN GOLF TITLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 13

OPEN GOLF TITLE

MATCHES IN BRITAIN BOOMER AND H. SMITH LEAD RECORD IN QUALIFYING ROUND By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, July 5 The qualifying rounds for the British Open golf championship were begun to-day on the Burnside and Carnoustie courses, a strong westerly wind having almost dried the rain-soaked links. The leaders in the first round

A. 13. Boomer (Britain) and Horton Smith (United States), 69 —a record for the Burnside course. Mahon, E. R. Whitcombe (Britain) and Gene Sarazen (United States), 70. W. Hagen (United States), D. Shu to (United States), Bobby Locke (South Africa), Byron Nelson (United States), W. H. Green (Britain) and Stenhouse (Britain), 71. T. Manero (United States), G. Faulkner (Britain), F. 10. Dennis (Britain), A. Perry (Britain), A. Mover (France) E. Dudley (United States) and S. Snead (United States), 72.

H. Picard (United States), Hancock, \V. A. McMinn (Britain), Codings, Smither, Alastair McLeod (Britain), Jock McLean (Britain), H. Cotton (Britain), Dallemagne (France), D. Rees (Britain) and A. J. Lacey (Britain), 73. W. Laidlaw (Britain), Anderson (Britain), Gregor, Mcintosh, McPherson, James Adams (Britain) and A. Gulhahl (United States), 74. Charles Lacey (United States), 75. J. Revolta (United States), 76. A. G-. Havers (Britain), 77. J. Kirkwood (United States) was well down the list with 77, and A. J. Padgham, last year's winner, took 78. The New Zealander, Tom Walker, took S3, and the Australian, B. Russell, 86.

Sarazen, playing on tho Burnside course, was out in 32 and putted magnificently. Two unknown Midland plaj-ers, Green and Stenhouse, returned splendid cards of 71 at Burnside, where Dallemague went out in 33 only to flounder on the homeward nine, which took 40.

Half the number of entrants played on the Burnside course on Monday and the other half played on the championship links at Carnoustie. The order of play and the courses would be reversed yesterday and the 100 competitors, and those tieing for 100 th place, returning the lowest aggregates will be eligible to compete in the championship, which will bo commenced today.

judging by the scores returned in the first qualifying round most of the players who can be seriously considered as likely winners of the title are in form. The present holder of the title, A. H. Padgham, is still out of touch and he will need to improve considerably to qualify. A. B. Boomer, who returned a 69 at Burnside, has not been prominent for some time, hut at various times he has won the French, Belgian, Dutch and Italian open championships. Horton Smith has a good record in the United States, but lie has not figured prominently in the British open, although ho has competed on a number of occasions.

That Walter Hagen is by no means a spent light is evidenced by his fine 71, a score which was equalled by the brilliant young South African open and amateur champion, A. D. Locke.