BRITISH GOLF.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18721, 18 June 1926, Page 7

BRITISH GOLF.

—»■ - OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. QUALIFYING ROUNDS. (BJ CABLE— PBEBB AfIgOCUTIOH—COPTBIQHT ) kUD S.l CABLS ASSOCUTIOH I LONDON, June 16. On Wednesday, the first qualifying round was played for the Open Golf Championship. The second round was due to be played on Thursday. The chief results of the first round are as follows: SOUTHERN SECTION—At Sun- ( uingdale, near London. Out of all the i competitors in the section, 40 >-<Ui i qualify:— i Archie Compston ... -• ® George Gaud ... ••• '1 ' J. H. Kirkwood ... - 71 George Duncan ... —7l Josb Taylor ... ... 72 Abe Mitchell ~ - 72 E. Ray ... ~ -73 J. H. Taylor 73 Fred Popplewell 74 A. G. Havers 74 James Braid ••• ■•• 75 R. A. Whitcombe 75 W. E. Melhorn 76 CENTRAL SECTION.—At St. Anne's old links. First round on Wednesday and second at Blackpool on Thursday. Forty-two qualify:— Walter Hagen ... Watts Gunn . ~. ... 72 T. G. Llenouf 74 T. D. Armour 74 James J. Barnes ... ... 75 A. Boomer ... ••• 76 NORTHERN SECTION.—First round at Western Gailes on Wednesday and second at Glasgow Gailes on Thursday Ten qualify:— J. Wilson (Scottish champion) 72 Gordon Lockhart ... ... 73 In the southern section, Bobby Jones with 66 leads the field. His score is a record for the course. Robson follows, with 69, and von Elm with 74. In the central section, J. Gaudin 73, Cyril Walker (America), and Gassiat (France) each 74. The northern section qualifiers include Wilson 148, Jamieson and Gordon Lockhart 150. COMMENT ON PLAY. AN OUTSTANDING SCORE. (By Donald Grant.) The outstanding score of the first day's play is the phenomenal 66 on Sunningdale by Bobby Jones. Fred Robson and Archie Compston follow with a' round of 69 each, which would have appeared wonderfully good, but for the 66 ahead of them. Melhorn and von Elm are the only other Americans announced in this section; they took 74 and 76. I should think Melhorn will qualify with another round of the same on Thursday. Britain's chief hopes, Mitchell and Duncan, seem safe for the final four rounds next week, with a 72' and a 71 in hand. One is glad to see that Popplewell (Australia) has a 74. He should qualify with that decent start. Five Americans, three British, and bne French fill the list reported from the central section. From the northern section two amateurs, John Wilson and Andrew Jamieson, and an ex-amateur, Gordon Lockhart, head the field. Wilson was Scottish champion about- five years ago, and has played for Britain against the United States, as has Jamieson, a fortnight ago. Gordon Lockhart was the best amateur in the Prestwick and Glasgow area about fifteen years ago. He is now professional at Gleneagles. I.OW Scoring Expected. These results of the first qualifying round confirm the belief I have stated already that competition will be extremely keen, and scoring very low in this championship. One has noticed a tendency on former occasions to hail one or other of the leaders in these qualifying' rounds as the probable champion. He may, indeed, be found among those who hand in the lowest scores on Wednesday and Thursday, but, as a rule, ho is not to be found there. Rather let ns seek him among those who produced no fireworks, but played good, steady golf for a 73 or 75 each day, husbanding the power to achieve a spurt until the championship proper. After all, these are only the qualifying rounds. The man who finds himself one of the ultimate band of 100, with just a stroke or two to spare, will feel more enthusiasm for his own chances in the championship than the man who has handed in a couple of record rounds during the qualifying stages.