BRITISH GOLF FINAL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 6

BRITISH GOLF FINAL

UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT. THIRD ROUND SCORES. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, May 12. The critics agree inat Hagen’s fourth. victory in the open championship is a superb and unique achievement, which is all the more admirable lor the manner in winch lie recovered ins nerve and self-confidence after his smashing defeat by Duncan in the Kyuer Cup. Eight thousand people welcomed Hagen at the last tamvay.

Hagen stated that he had landed in England with two cups. He had lost one of them at Leeds, but he was delighted at taking the other back, and he only wished that the British players would come to America m force. “It would be a grand thing for the game if one of them m.cd our eup, he said. “It has 'been a great struggle. I think I really won the Lrst round when I managed to lini.:h wLn seventy-five, despite being diene..ed in a thunderstorm. I. believe that i . a.ve never played better in any championship. I am proud I had only one six in the seventy-two. holes.” After Mitchell's failure, tile British hopes depended upon Alliss but lie did not play convincingly, lie lacked crispness in bis approaches while his putting was mediocre. Hagen was ini ruffled all day, despite an incident at the third green on the last round, when lie touched and mov - ed the ball in addressing a putt. The marker gave no decision until the end of the round, when lie declared that it would not be a penalty, as tlie club had not grounded. It would have worried many to have to play fifteen holes with such an issue undecided, but it did not affect Hagen, who leached the turn in thirty-five, and came back in forty. His only bad hole during the whole day was the fourteenth, where he duffed the mashie, and took three putts. When Hagen finished, Diegel and Farrell were liis only dangerous rivals. They needed 69 and 68 respectively. Both failed. Mitchell’s seventy-eight, which might easily, have (been seventy-two with better putting, meant that the championship was virtually decided at the end of the last round. Therefore, there was no last-minute excitement, for when Hagen finished with 292, everyone knew he. had won, though the closest fighters were still far away on the links in the middle of their last effort. - Hagen to-night, accompanied by the other Ryder Cup players, motored to Glen eagles, as he said, to escape the crowds and to rest after the strain of the championship. He is going to spend a quiet week-end playing golf.

THE LEADING SCORES. LONDON, May 12. In the championship the following were the nearest to Hagen:—Farrell HI.S.A.) 298, Diegel (U.S.A.) 299, Ailiss (Britain) 300, Mitchell (Britain) 300, Cruickshank 301, Barnes 303, Watrous and Sara/.on each 304, Armour 305, Havers 306, Coklon 308, Jolly, Boomer, Macdonald, Smith each 309, Duncan 311 and Perkins 312. LONDON, May 10. The perfect golfing weather of yesterday turned to-day to a furious half gale, which tested everybody, especially the lightweights like Alliss, Sarazen, and certainly Mitchell knew ho*v to heat the wind, but they putted sadly. Mitchell started finely with 4,3, 4,3. Then he took three putts at the eighth and ninth. He reached the thirteenth from the tee, but he took four putts. Thus the greatest British hope vanished. Hagen whs the chief American danger. Diegel, who is known in America as “Three Bound Diegel,” went to pieces. Going out in the morning! lie took three putts at the fifth, sixth and seventh, while the ninth cost him seven. At first he was bunkered, and then took three putts. Hagen brought all his skill to bear, and succeeded in beating the elements jbetter than the others, but he marked his first six in the six rounds at the fourteenth hole, where he putted three times and marked another six in the afternoon at the ninth when he pulled his second under a wall, and played out left-handed. Previously lie got a four at the third. It was then adjudged that he had moved the ball to the green during address but the Committee revoked the penalty after hearing the facts.