GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 11

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.

SECOND ROUND LEADERS. AMERICANS HEAD LIST* HAGEN'S WONDERFUL SCORE. Australian Press Association —United Service LONDON. May 10. At the end of the second round of the British open golf championship on the Muirfield course the leading positions were as follows : Ist 2nd Rd. Rd. Agg. Diegel (U.S.) »<. 71 69 140 Hagcn (U.S.). t v<■ 75- 67 142 Mitchell .. .. 72 72 144 All is 69 74 145 Cruickshank (U.S.). . 73 74 147 Farrell (U.S.) .. 72 75 147 Sarazen (U.S.) .. 73 74 147 Armour (U.S.) *. 75 73 148 Bonmer . . .» 74 74 148 Melhorn (U.S.) ■.. 74 74 148 Compston . . .* 76 73 149 Other scores at the end of the second round were:—Golden (America), 147; •Turado (Argentine), 1.50; C. J. Tolley, 150; Mac Donald Smith (America), Barnes, 151; Jolly, R. Whitcombe, 152; Horfon Smith (America) 153; Havers, Oekenden, Robson, Duncan, 154; Ray, 156. Under the rules players whose scores exceeded 154 would bo eliminated from the remaining rounds, but there must be at least 60 competitors, so that 64 players are left in, 157 being the highest qualifying score.

Apart from veterans like Vardon, Herd and Massy,, all tho leading golfers qualified. The remaining rounds will be played to-morrow.

Hagen's score of 67 to-day is a new record for any championship round on any British course. The previous best score was Bobby Jones' 68 in 1927 at St. Andrews.

Hagen was bunkered twice, yet each time he got a " birdie," one under par, but otherwise he did not leave the line. liis card read:—Out: 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 5, 4-33. Home: 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 5, 4—34. This included six " birdies " and two " eagles," two under par. He never exceeded par figures. He got a four at tho longest hole, 510 yards, and threes at holes measuring 380 yards, 450 yards and 450 yards. A crowd of 10,000 people followed Hagen, who kept them waiting usually about two minutes while he surveyed the line of his putts from all angles. At least two competitors suffered from Hagen's

greatness. Tho American Cruickshank beat Hagen's figures for 13 holes, and he only required par figures at tho remaining five holes to equal Hagen's record. The crowds scampering across the course to witness Hagen's finish held him up. Duncan does not play well unless he hits quickly. The many checks to enable Hagen's crowd to get clear put him off his game.

Diegel did woaderfully until the crowd hampered him. Compston had one bad slip. His card included a seven, but his fighting spirit remains.

The leading eleven competitors include eight Americans.

At the close of the second round of the championship last year Walter Hagen, the winner, was in second place with the score of 148, writes Fairway. This year at Muirfield he is again second with 142. The Muirfield course is probably one stroke less difficult than the course of the Royal St. George's Club, Sandwich, where the championship was held last year. The standard of play among the leaders seems to be about four strokes better this year than last at the half-way stage. At Sandwich Jurado led with two rounds played. His score then was 145. This week at the same stage Leo Diegel leads with 71 and 69. making 140, immaculate golf on Muirfield.

It was in 1912 that the open was last played at Muirfield. On that occasion I saw Ted Rav win the title with the total of 295 for the four rounds. After that championship many of the professionals complained that Muirfield was too easy a course for the open and Andra Kirkaldv called the course "an ' auld water meadow.' " A year or two ago Muirfield was laid out anew with the idea specially in view that it ■would certainly bo a hard enough test for the most exacting of champions. It is nearly 7000 yds. long and, as the cablegrams tell us. has hundreds of bunkers. On that difficult course the leading scores? for two rounds in this year's championship represent the highest standard of play yet witnessed in a British championship. The British standard has gone on improving along with the American, which is satisfactory, but it has not yet caught up to the American.

Last year, at this stage of the event, Compston was four strokes behind the leader. Jurado, 149 to 145. while Hagen was 148. At the close of the third round Jurado was 221. while Hagen was 220 and Compston 222. That put Compston within very possible overhauling range of Hagen, who >vas leading. On this occasion it is Abe Mitchell and Percy AUis who are closest to Diegel and Hagen. The two Englishmen have a fighting chance of overtaking the two Americans. Mitchell has had two 72's. The third round may find him able to break 70. AUis, who declined to a 76 after his 69, may a'gain achieve a brilliant round. /■-. Within 10 strokes of the leader are six British players, all of them capable of brilliance. The leaders find the third round the most trying of the four as a rule. If Hagen and Diegel are able to get through the third round with a good score they will be extremely hard to overtake by anyone after that. But the third round is the acid test for them. The third and fourth rounds are both played on Friday after the field has been reduced to about 60 by the operation of the formula that all players 14 strokes or more behind the lea'der drop out. In 1920 George Duncan at this stage was 13 strokes behind the leader and yet won the title after that by a brilliant finish. One has the feeling that a dramatic finish may be in store for us in this championship.