GOLF

Evening Star, Issue 17697, 25 June 1921, Page 6

GOLF

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. WETHERED AND HUTCHINSON TIE. PLAYING OFF TO-DAY. KIRKWOOD SIX STROKES BEHIND. LONDON, Juno 24. (Received June 25, at 9.5 a.m.) Tlio leading aggregates after the third round in the open championship were: Barnes (U.S.AA, A. Herd, 222; Kirkwood, Ma*.scy (Fruit?.;), 223; Wctheied, 225; Hutchison (U.S.A.), Kerrigan, 226; G. Duncan, 227; Paul Hunter (U.S.A.). 229; Boomer, 230; Holland; 232; Abo Mitchell, 233; Josh Taylor, 235. The final result after the fourth ar.d last round was a tie between Wethcicd and Hutchinson, with 296 each. They play off to-morrow.. The leading other scores were: —Kerrigan, 298; Havers, 299; Duncan, 301; Williamson, He,rd, Leach, Kirkwood, Massy, Barnes, and Hagen, 502; Pnrsey and Mitchell, 304. KIRKWOOD'S PLAY. FAILED IN LAST ROUND. LONDON, Juno 24. Kirkwood, who took only 73 for his third round, showed magnificent steadiness, and given a little more luck with his short putts, ho would have returned sensational figures. His steadiness is in marked contrast with tho erratic form of some others who occupied leading places at halfway, Edward Ray taking 81, Hutchison 79, and M’Lean 82. (Received June 25, at 9.15 a.m.) The third round of the open championship was played in hot. weather and in a lighter wind. Kirkwood had a groat start with a perfect four at the first hole. He then sank a great putt of fifteen yards at the second hole for a three. He had very hard luck to just miss a fifteen yards putt at tho sixth hole for a three. At tho seventh hole he missed a four feet putt for a four. Early in tho homeward journey he slightly sliced a drive mto a pothole, bub made a magnificent recovery with, his rnashic, bis second reaching the green. At the thirteenth hole he missed a two yard putt for a four. At the fourteenth hole (516yds) a brilliant second with the baffy, found tho green, but he missed a yard putt for a four. At the seventeenth hole (436yds), known as the Road Hole, which lias ruined many cards, Kirkwood drove a glorious ball, and then reached pinhigh with Iris iron. A brilliant cut with tho niblick lofted him within safe putting distance, and he holed the next. His figures were; Out, 4, 3. 4. 5,5, 4,5, 3, 3, —36; in, 4, 4. 4,5, 5,3, 4,4, 4-37; total, 73. Kirkwood took 79 for tho last round, making his aggregate 302. (Received June 25, at 11 a.m.) Like many older and more experienced championship players, Kirkwood iii his fourth round (which was played in sultry heat) spoilt tho strong position he held at the end of tho third round. At tho second hole he sliced his drive. Fiery greens accounted for his bad figures at the fifth and seventh holes. Going homewards ho played beautifully until tho sixteenth holo. Ho narrowly missed a putt for a 3 at the fourteenth. At the sixteenth he pulled his drive, and this left him in a bush in a hazard, necessitating his playing backwards. He nullified the result of a good approach by missing an 18in putt for a 5. At the last two holes he dropped a stroke at each bv faulty run-up approaches. His score was: Out-4. 5,5, 4,6, 4,5, 3. 4.-40; in—4, 3, 4, 4,4, 4, 6, 5, 5—39. Total, 79. (Received Jimo 25, at 1.45 p.m.) Kirkwood interviewed by the Australian Press, said he was disappointed over the last round. Ho felt that he had had an unusually rough spin of bad luck. The steward ai the third holo put him oft' by shouting to the spectators when he was taking his drive, at which Kirkwood protested. This, rattled him for several hour;. However, though he had a hope, he had expected to finish bettor Still he felt he had not disgraced Australian golf by tying for sixth place. COMMENTS ON THE CABLES. The rather unusual position of a tie for leading place in the Open Championship leaves, America nearer than ever before to sonsummation of tho long-cherished ambition of taking this event. Her representative, however, is not American-horn. Jock Hutchinson until a few years ago was a professional at St. Andrews, but accepted a position across the Atlantic, and formed one of the team of a dozen American golfers who came over to compete in this week’s big event, recognised as the world’s championship. E. H. Wethered is an English amateur player, identified with the Oxford University and Worplesdon Clubs. He came into prominence last year along with the hardhitting C. J. H. Tolley, both showing up well in the 1920 _ Amateur Championship, which Tolley ultimately won, beating E. Gardner (U.S.A.) at tho 37th hole. Wethered ancf Tolley have been the backbone of the Oxford University team, lifting it high above average level. Of the pair Tolley has been regarded as the more brilliant, but Wethered as tho more reliable. Evidently he comes of a golfing family, as last year his sister, Miss Joyco Wethered, scored a fine win in the English Ladies’ Championship, beating in the final Miss Cecil Leitch, holder of the Women’s Open Championship. Owing to tho unsystematic way in which tho progress of tho Open Championship has been cabled out, it is impossible to give anything like a satisfactory table showing the rounds and aggregates of the leading players. Wethered’s name was nob mentioned among those who did best on the first day, and he evidently played splendid golf on the second day, both morning and afternoon. Ills third round brought him out of the ruck into fifth place, one stroke ahead of Hutchinson, whose third round of 79, on the other hand, caused the American to drop from first to sixth position. In the last round Hutchinson did 70 and Wethered 71, and it is evident that no ono else with any chance approached these figures. For what it is worth wo give the following list, figures in brackets giving the average of players’ rounds, in the absence of details :

[lfc is possible that Kerrigan is a cable error for Kerngan, ono of the ’ American team.] Last. year G. Duncan won tho Open Championship at Deal with 80, 80, 71, 22total 303; being followed by A. Herd (305), E. Ray (306), and A. Mitchell (307). Mitchell on that occasion led by 6 strokes at halfway, being no less than 13 ahead of Duncan, but had a ruinous third round of 84.' Thin year's aggregate of 296 is not the lowest for the Open Championship, the beet being James Braid’s 291 at Prestwick in 1908, tho next best being 295 by J. H. Taylor at Deal in 1909, and by B. Ray at Muirfield in 1912. It is, however, tho lowest yet recorded for the St. cobrse in this event, tho previous best being Braid’s 299 in the year 1910.

Hutchinson 72 75 79 70-296 Wothered (75) (75) (75) 7L-296 Kerrigan . 74 (76) (76) 72—298 Havers ... , 76 74 (75) 74-299 Duncan ... 74 75 78 74—301 Kirkwood 76 74 7,3 79-302 Herd ... 75 74 73 89—302 Massy ... ... 74,75 74 79—302 Barnes ... . (74) (74) 74 80—302 Hagen 74 — — 302 Williamson . — — — 302 Leach ... — — 302 Leach ... ■ — — — 302 Mitchell 78 77 78 81-304 Pureey — — — 304