GOLF NOTES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 20

GOLF NOTES

♦_ TEAMS FOR WALKER CUP STRONG CHALLENGE FROM ’ AMERICA I INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR CONTEST [By THE RABBIT.] There have been 10 amateur international golf matches for the Walker Cup between Great Britain and the United States, and on each occasion the Americans have won the trophy. Once only, in fact, has the English side had the lead after the first day, on which the foursomes are decided, and that was in 1923, when Britain won three to one, but in the singles on the final day the Americans won five to Britain’s two, the other match being drawn. The eleventh contest is due to start at St. Andrews—the virtual cradle of modern golf—yesterday, and as each country has chosen a young side the contest should be very interesting, although some of the players will not be known to followers of the game in this country. As far as can be judged from reports received from Britain and America, the teams will be as follows: United States; Francis Ouimet (nonplaying captain), Ray Billows, Johnny Fischer, Johnny Goodman, F. Haas, Charles Kocsis, Reynolds Smith, Marvin Ward, Charles Yates, T. S. Tailer, End Don Moe. Great Britain: J. B. Beck, J. J. F. Pennink. L. G. Crawley, H. G. Bentley, C. Stowe, Hector Thomson, G. B. Peters. A. T. Kyle, J. Bruen, and R. C. Ewing. The first three English players chosen were Bruen. Pennink. and Thomson, from Ireland, England, and Scotland respectively. Bruen is the youngest player ever to be selected for a Walker Cup team, as he is just 18 years old. When he was 16 he won the boys’ championship, and he is the present holder of the Irish championship. He had shown such good form before the trial games held at St. Andrews that his selection was almost certain, but a round of 68, equalling Bobby Jones’s record for the course, clinched matters. He did not take part in the recent amateur championships at Troon. Thomson Back to Form Pennink has won the English close amateur championship for the last two years, and thus was assured of a place in the team. He was not a member Of the 1936 team. Thomson was rated the leading British amateur until his breakdown after his win in the British amateur championship at St. Andrews in 1936. This, with his good showing in the last championship, indicates that he has regained both health and form since his decision not to contest the amateur in 1937. Kyle is a left-handed player who represented Britain in 1936 on the notorious Pine Valley course. Ewing, of Ireland, was discussed in this column last week, when he was run-ner-up to the American, Yates, in the final of the amateur at Troon. Beck played in the Walker Cup match in 1928. Crawley achieved some notoriety for his outburst after his defeat in theBritish amateur this year. He represented Great Britain against the United States in 1932 and 1934, and played against France in 1936-37. Bentley has played in the last two Walker Cup games, and has played against France for the last four years. Stowe is a newcomer to the Walker Cup, but has played for England against Ireland, Scotland, and Wales for the last two or three years. Peters is a Scotsman who took part in the last Walker Cup games when they were played at Pine Valley. Among the Americans Francis Ouimet has represented the United States in the Walker Cup contest ever since the games were started in 1921, although on this occasion, as in 1936, he will not play in the matches. He is now 45 years old, and 25 years ago he created a sensation by winning the American open championship after a tie with Harry Vardon and E. Ray. Goodman, the United States open champion of 1933, is the present amateur champion. He first came into prominence when he beat Bobby Jones in the first round of the amateur championship in 1929. He was the leading amateur in the American open in 1932 and 1937, and in the 1934 Walker Cup match at St. Andrews beat the Hon. Michael Scott. In the last contest he accounted for Hector Thomson, and reached the fourth round in the British amateur this year. It seems most probable that Yates and Ewing, finalists in the amateur, will play top for their respective countries. Yates was included in the ' American Walker Cup team in 1936, and has been called a “jumping-jack in action.” A recent American magazine describes him as follows:—“ The impetuous-Atalantan jumps off the turf to follow the flight of the ball, wisecracks with spectators, flings his club away petulantly after a sour shot, and paces restlessly to and fro during a tee wait.” And on top of that they say he would be sure to make a hit with British golf galleries! The same writer talks of Haas in the following words;—“ This human string bean from the Louisiana rice paddies . . . has stilt legs, a cranelike neck, and a head .too small for his body . . . and in spite of a somewhat disjointed swing which runs in sections like the 20th Century Limited, he can hit that ball!” Ray Billows, runner up in the last amateur championship, put out Kocsis, Reynolds Smith, and Fischer on his way to the final with Goodman, who won on the thirty-sixth green. Smith played in the last international contest, and is at his best when the match goes beyond the usual limit, for, as he is reported to have said on one occasion, “I figure the other fellow is jittery and ripe to be taken.” Moe Returns to Contest Fischer won the American amateur In 1936, beating J. McLean (of Scotland) in the final after being well down with a few holes to go. His place in the team was hardly ever disputed. Kocsis, known to Americans as the “Silent Hungarian,” has won several major tournaments recently and was third amateur in the American open. Moe was hailed as America’s greatest young hope in 1930, when he won his two matches in the Walker Cup that year. He ran Goodman to a close finish in the amateur last year. Ward took Goodman to the last green in their match in the American amateur, and was beaten only when his chip went astray after finding the-edge of the last green, 550 yards from the tee, with two shots. Tailer won three Invitation tournaments in a row at the beginning of the year. It will be seen that the Americans make a formidable team for the British players hoping to break the long run of losses. To the present America has won 50 singles and 26 foursomes matches to the 15 singles and eight foursomes which have gone Britain’s way. All the matches are over 36 holes, with foursomes on the first day and singles on the second. The contest was first held in 1921, and was played yearly until after 1924, when it was agreed to play it every two years. Golf equipment to suit players on all Handicaps in stock. Use our net to help you select your clubs. Large range of caddy bags and all sundries. Balls from aU the leading makers. If unable to call,. send for catalogue. The Canterbury Sports De- £?!;* rf 13 . c ?sheX Street (next Whitcombe and Tombs). I