All Square at Gleneagles: How America Retained the Curtis Cup

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 228, 23 June 1936, Page 14

All Square at Gleneagles: How America Retained the Curtis Cup

The match between Great Britain and the United States for the Curtis Cup ended ima halved match over the King’s Course of the Gleneagles Hotel on May 6, each side winning four matches on the day’s play (reports “The Times,” London). The foursomes were halved at one match each, with the third properly all square, and in the’singles there were three wins to the credit of each country. There was a thrill in the very last stroke of the day; one that, for the spectators at any rate, immediately consigned the jweather to the limbo of, things happily forgotten. This stroke was played by Miss Jessie Anderson, when America was dormy one on the day and looked as certain as anything can be in golf to win the cup. It was a forlorn hope, but Miss Anderson, to a short burst of delighted applause that was surely justified, and which one is sure Mrs. Vare and her team would in no way grudge, turned it into glorious and amazing certainty for Great Britain. Mrs. Vare and her companions must be accorded the most ungrudging praise for the way in which they stood up to the elements, which certainly fought for Great Britain.

The Foursomes. When the foursomes started the wind, which had been in the cast, bringing with it all the easterly “haar” that for two days had blanketed Fife, backed towards the north, and for a brief interval there were hopes of better things. But this, however, was not to be, and the mist came dowu again out of the east, making visibility very poor and conditions most trying for the rest of the morning. In these damp and chilly circumstances the visitors, unused to such weather, put up a very brave show. The “gallery,” shepherded by stewards with red and yellow flags and with a Union Jack and Stars and Stripes to mark the players’ balls, naturally followed the first match, between Miss W. Morgan and Mrs. Garon (Great Britain); Mrs. E. H. Vare and Miss Patty Berg (U.S.A.). This on the play ended quite fairly in a half. The match started with three halved holes. Then America took the lead. Great Britain squared with a grand 3 at “Blink Bonny,” where Mrs. Garon put an iron shot close to the hole and Miss Morgan holed the putt. America, however, became two up at the Whaup’s Nest, where Miss Morgan missed a short putt. Great Britain halved the ninth with the help of a stymie, but found trouble at the tenth, and that was two down again. America took three putts at the short 11th, and then came Mrs. Garon's memorable shot. Once again Miss Morgan was bunkered off the tee and Great Britain had to play the odd from 50 yards away, with America, in the like, lying safe for a 5. It looked like two down with six to play, but Mrs. Garon holed her pitch and run for a 4 and won the hole to square the match. America were in trouble all the way to "Braid’s” Brawest, and Great Britain took the lead for the first time. At the next hole America squared with a perfect three, Miss Berg laying an approach by the hole side. The 15th saw Miss Berg fail at a short putt, and it did look as if Great Britain might scramble home. Alas I Miss Morgan pulled her tee shot to the short 16th ; Mrs. Vare made no mistake, and once again it was a level match with two to play. The 17th provided a surprise almost as startling as the 12th. Great Britain were pin-high, 10 yards to the left, in 2. Mrs. Vare, unbalanced by a couple of stray wanderers crossing the back of the green, fluffed her second. Miss Berg played a very good run-up to within ten feet of the hole; Mrs. Vare holed out from that distance, Great Britain took three putts, and, instead of being dormy one, as seemed very likelv, were one down with one to play. To the “King’s Hame” Miss Morgan made ample amends. Left to play a full iron to the green in the like after Mrs. Vare —in trying to drive over the hill—was bunkered, she suddenly found her true swing and whipped the ball crisply and sweetly to within two yards of the pin. That was too much for America, and Great Britain was left with 2 for the hole and a halved match. The second match ended in a well-de-served victory for America by two- and one. In this Mrs. Cheney was the heroine, for she played very steadily. Mrs. Walker and Miss Pam Barton were two up with five holes played, but a quick change followed, for Great Britain took three putts on four of the next five greens and so were two down at the 10th. The third match, which went to Great Britain, was a curious one. The start was terrible, America (Mrs. 0. S. Hill and Miss Charlotte Glutting) winning the first two holes in 7 and 5 respectively. After that Great Britain (Mrs. A. Holm and Miss Jessie Anderson) gave of their best, reeled off the next eight holes in level 4 s (grand figures), were three up, and won eventually by three and two.

All To Fight For. , , After luncheon, accordingly, all was to fight for, but with the weather in favour of Great Britain. In the light of that thrilling finish the earlier play must ge passed over, and with it some excellent golf. In the first match Mrs. Vare turned one up on Miss Morgan, and, with always

a little in hand, turned her lead into two at the 14th, the end coming at the 16th, where both were bunkered, but Miss Morgan took two to recover. Mr o .Holm, playing great golf, went ou in 36 against Miss P. Berg, but turned only three up, and went on to win by four and three. Gallant Mrs. Garon then put Great Britain ahead with a runaway victory against Mrs. Hill, who found the combination of wind, driving mist, and golf too much for her. In the other three matches it was a case of cut-and-thrust, with very little in. it, that little being in favour of America. The first was between Miss Pam Barton and Miss Charlotte Glutting. Putting proved Miss Barton’s downfall. It was the same story with Mrs. J. B. Walker against Mrs. J. D. Crews, whom most will remember as Miss Maureen Orcutt. Mrs. Crews played the more convincing golf going out, turned three up, and was still two up going to the “Denty Den.” At the “Denty Den” Mrs. Crews was 15ft. from the hole, and above it, in 3, whereas, Mrs. Wnlkei in 2 was some six yards past. She putted not dead, but to within a yard. Mrs. Crews, seeing a bare, possible chance, banged her ball straight down that slope

and holed it. Mrs. Walker missed and was three down instead of one down. She did v* in two holes of the next three, but the Fates would not forgive. America, therefore, was dormy one, with onlv Miss Jessie Andei;son and Mrs. L. D. Cheney to come in, very, very late in the day. This was a rare fight. They were all square at the turn. At the 16th (the “wee bogle”) Miss Anderson made a grand recovery from a bunker and holed a putt of five yards to square the match. The 17th came as an anticlimax, for Miss Anderson fluffed a pitch (why will so many ladies take a lofted club to play this shot), and then Mrs. Cheney missed a very short putt to become dormy. To the home hole both were short of the green in 2, and both played brave approaches in the stress of the moment.

Miss Anderson, Saves the Day. . Mrs. Cheney had to play the odd from eight yards and laid her putt stone dead, leaving Miss Anderson with her putt of seven yards to save all. Miss Anderson went very calmly up to her ball and hit it smoothly. The ball travelled on and on and suddenly disappeared. The match was all even.

How the Ganics Went. Following were the results, the British players being mentioned first in each instance: — Foursomes. —Miss Wanda Morgan (Rochester and Cobham Park) and Mrs. P. Garon (Addington) and Mrs. E. H. Vare (Philadelphia Country Chib) and Miss Patricia Jane Berg (Interlachen Country Club), all square. Mrs. J. B. Walker (Island, Malahide) and Miss Pam Barton (Royal Mid-Surrey) lost to Mrs. J. D. Crews (Miami Biltmore Country Club) and Mrs. L. D. Cheney (San Gabriel Country Club), 2 and 1. Mrs. A. M. Holm (Troon) and Miss Jessie Anderson (Craigie Hill) beat Mrs.

O. S. Hill (Blue Hills) and Miss Charlotte Glutting (Rock Spring), 3 and 2. Singles.—Miss W. Morgan lost to Mrs. E. H. Vare, 3 and 2. Mrs. A. M. Holm beat Miss P. J. Berg, 4 and 3. Miss P. Barton lost to Miss C. Glutting. 1 down. Mrs. J. B. Walker lost to Mrs. J. D. Crews, 1 down. Miss J. Anderson beat Mrs. L, D. Cheney, 1 up. Mrs. R. Garon beat Mrs. 0. S. Hill, 7 and 5.