GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 11

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

LEADERS IN FIRST ROUND.

FINE SCORE BY ALUS.

KEEN PLAY BY AMERICANS.

Australian Press Association—United Service (Received May 9, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 8.

In tho British open golf championship at Muirfield, at tho end of the first round tho leaders wero: Allis, 69; Diegel (America), Barnes (America), 71; Jolly, Mitchell, Farrell (America), Dudley (America), 72; Williamson, Macdonald Smith, Sarazen, Cruickshank, Watrous (all America), and Williamson, 73. Other scores were: Melhorn (America), Boomer, 0. J. Tolley, 74; Armour (America), Hagon (America), 75; Horton Smith (America), Compston, 76; C. Whitcombe, R. Whitcombe, Jurado (Argentine), 77; Duncan, Ockenden, Robson, 78; Cotton, J. Taylor, 79; Havers, 80; Massy, 81; Vardon, 82.

Everyone recognises that the championship is a contest between tho British and the Americans. Tho end of tho day showed that the Americans are foimidable challengers, with 12 representatives in the first 24. Still, the British players were not outclassed. Cotton and Compston in Storm. Allis, who has been in Berlin for some years, broke Diegel's record with tho wonderful scoro of 69, a feature of which was his brilliant iron play. Tho morning opened perfectly, a light breeze presaging good figures. Mitchell was an early starter and played magnificently, with no sign of the nervousness that has characterised him at recent championships. He went out in 33, and would have easily broken 70 if he had been a trifle luckier with putts that stopped at tho lip of tho hole at least on three occasions.

Most of the Americans went out knowing Mitchell's figure, with the determination to beat it. Cotton and Compston have left themselves some leeway to make up later. They were very unlucky, as they had to play through a heavy thunder shower, the only bad weather of the whole day. Compston had a bad adventure, taking three strokes to get out of a deep bunker. Brilliancy of Many Players.

Hagen, partnering Cotton, put up a brave performance. He said: " "With the rain streaming down my back I am satisfied with my 75." The storm seemed to " ginger him up " as after it he came back with a meritorious 36. Duncan took seven strokes at the 15th hole. In playing out from a bunker the ball jumped back and struck him on one arm, involving a penalty. Tolley played his typical game. Ho was occasionally magnificent and never monotonous. He brought off some amazing recoveries from trouble. The critics express the opinion that, there h;u*o never been so many players capable of sustaining brilliance for four rounds in any previous open championship. PHENOMENAL BOUND. HAGEN'S SCORE OF 67. NEW RECORD FOR COURSE. Australian Press Association—United Service (Received JJay 10, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. In the second round of the open golf championship to-day,at Muirfield, Walter Hagen (America) returned a score of 67, a now record for the course. The news that Percy AUis leads the field at the closo of the first round, says "Fairway," is one more good omen, in addition to the Ryder Cup victory and the good showing of the British players in the qualifying rounds, for Percy Allis is an Englishman. He is professional to the Warmsee Golf Club, Berlin, on whose course, about a week hence, the open championship of Germany will be played. Most of the leading players, British and American, at Muirfield will engage in that championship 100. Allis was one of (he ten British Ryder Cup players this year, but he was not called upon to play in tlnS match. Last year he finished fourth in the open with 298, three strokes behind Compston. He was sixth in 1925 and tenth in 1927. A very consistent golfer, he may be relied on to continue upon a good level for the four rounds. Not since 1924 has a British player led in the opening round of the championship. In 1925 Barnes led with 70, in 1926 Hagen with 68, the next year Jones with 68, and last year Melhorn with 71. The fact that Allis leads all the Americans at this stage should have a heartening influence upon himself and his compatriots just as the flying start of the Americans in other years had a discouraging influence. Diegel has declined very little from his fine 70 ol the day before, and Jim Barnes, the tall Cornishman who won the title four years ago is level with him at 71. Two of the best British representatives are only one stroke behind that, namely, Mitchell and Herbert Jolly. Wo have almost given up expecting great things from Mitchell in the open championship. Reports from Home this year have been markedly reticent in their estimates of Mitchell's chances in the championship. Since his supporters seem to have abated their expectations somewhat, Mitchell probably feels more untroubled in his mind, ana may bo all tlio more likely to do himself justice. We hope so. His 72 puts him in a, very good position. Jolly is not likely to keep up such good scoring although I am not dogmatic about that. He was one of the British Ryder Cup team two years ago and was beaten in America by Johnny Golden, who also is a competitor at Muirfield. Farrell is American open champion, and one of the best putters in the game. He had very bad luck last time he crossed the Atlantic lo play in the open, for a poisoned hand kept him out of the event. Dudley is a Californian, and one of the younger American players. It is only in the past few months that he has becomo really prominent in open tournaments. Williamson is the only British player among the five who tie at 73, and he is rather a veteran, being only a few years the junior of Braid and Vardon and other members of the old brigade. I suppose, therefore that Tom Williamson will not last for four rounds at this level of play. Mac Smith and Hobby Cruickshank are intent upon winning this championship on a course within sight of their former golfing haunts. And Tommy Armour shares their purpose. Cruickshank has kept on a very high level since the first qualifying round—74, 73, 73. Cotton, Duncan and Robscn have placed themselves very far behind with their rather mediocre opening rounds, but Duncan won the title nine years ago after commencing with two 80's. C. A. Whifccombe and Jurado will probably improve considerably and . I expect Horton Smith and Compston to bo close to the lead when two more rounds have been played. Smith nearly always finds himself a few strokes in arrears in tlio early stages of an open tournament, but lie finishes liko a lion. The same may be said of Compston. The others who are better than 76 are all in (lm running for the title and good enough to have a chance of winning.