BRILLIANT GOLF.

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 7

BRILLIANT GOLF.

HAGEN’S NEW EECORD

SECOND ROUND OF THE ' BRITISH OPEN AMERICANS AT THE TOP (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, May 9. Walter Hagen’s 67 to-day in the second round of the British Open Golf Championship is a new record for any championship round on any British course. The previous best, was Bobby Jones’s 68 in 1927. Hagen bunkered twice yet each time got out and holed for a “birdie”; otherwise he did not leave the line. His card read: Out—4, 4,3, 4,3, 3,3, 5, 4-33 In—4, 4,4, 3,3, 4,3, 5, 4,-34 His score included six “birdies” and two "eagles.” He never exceeded par figures. He got four for the longest hole, 510 yards, and threes at holes measuring 380, 450 and 450 yards. Ten thousand followed Hagen, who kept them waiting usually for a couple of minute.s while he surveyed the line of putts at all angles. At least two competitors suffered from Hagen's greatness. The American, Cruickshank beat his figures for thirteen holes and only required par figures for the remaining five to equal Hagen’s record. Crowds scampering across the course to witness Hagen’s finish held him up. Duncan does not play well unless he can go quickly. The many checks to enable Hagen’s crowd to get clear put him off. Diegel did wonderfully until the crowd hampered him. Compston made one bad slip. His card included a seven, but the fighting spirit remains. The leading eleven competitors include eight Americans. Under the rules scores exceeding 154 would be eliminated in the remaining rounds but they provide that at least 60 competitors must be left, thus 64 are left in, 157 being the highest qualifying score. Apart from the veterans like Vardon, Herd and Massy, all the leading golfers qualified. The remaining rounds will be played tomorrow. The following are the leaders:—

Leo Diegel, professional champion of U.S.A., appears to be going great guns, and if he can last will be hard to catch. He played the first, qualifying round on the Gallane course, but scored 70 in his second qualifying round over the Muiffield championship course. He has followed this with 71 and 69 in the championship itself — three marvellous rounds on a course 6738 yards in length, with a scratch score of 77. The best score ever made in the British open championship was 285 at St. Andrews in 1927, when Mr Bobby Jones was the winner. Two 72's will enable Diegel to beat that figure. Can the American do it? Walter Hagen's dazzling 67 in the second round ten under the scratch score, has brought him up into second place within two strokes of Dicgel. Walter is a great man in a finish, and in spite of the pace Diegel is setting Hagen was probably favourite after the totals for the first two rounds were posted. Abe Mitchell is going very consistently. He can do a 67 at Muirfield just as well as anybody else in the game, but he has never yet pulled out his best golf just when he needed it in the championship. Last year, at Sandwich, he "crashed” in the third round with an 82. So far as Britain is concerned it is now Mitchell and Alliss for it, for barring something wholly improbable, Boomer and Compston are too far behind to make any impression on the leaders. British golfers can only hope that this is "Mitchell’s year,” or Alliss’s, and that one of them will “burn up the course,” as the Americans say, in the third and fourth rounds. Alliss fell away badly in the second round, taking a mediocre 76 after his brilliant 69. But he is a strong player and a resolute finisher, and he may shake the leaders yet.

The rules provide that after the second round all competitors who are 15 strokes or more behind the leader must retire, but it is also provided that a minimum of sixty must be left. in. So hot has Diegel’s pace been that less than sixty in the field of 106 were able to keep within 14 strokes of him, and so, instead of 154 being the outside figure necessary to enable a competitor to continue, all who did not exceed 157 for the first two rounds have been left in. In all 64 players would set out on the last two rounds, but on the scores for the first two' rounds not more than half a dozen would have the slightest prospect of success. All that the majority can fight for is as creditable a position as possible in ■“he final list.

L. Diegel (U.S.A.) . . 1st. Rd. 2nd Rd. Ag. 71 69 —140 W. Hagen (U.S.A.) . . 75 67 —142 Abe Mitchell (Brit.) . 72 72 —144 P. Allies (Brit.) . . . 69 76 —145 R. Cruickshank (U.S.A. 73 74 —147 J. Farrell (U.S.A.) . . 72 75 —147 G. Sarazen (U.S.A.) 73 74 —147 J. Golden (U.S.A.) . . —- 147 T. Armour (U.S.A.)., . 73 —148 A. Boomer (Brit.) . . 74 74 —148 W. Mehlhorn (U.S.A.) 74 74 —148 A. Compston (Brit.) . 76 73 —149 U. Seymour (Brit.) . . — 149 J. Jurado (Argentine) — 150 C. J. Tollev (Brit.) . . 74 76 —150 McD. Smith (U.S.A.) . 73 78 —151 J. Barnes (U.S.A.) 71 80 —151 H. C. Jolly (Brit.) . . 72 80 —152 R. Whitcombe (Brit.) 77 75 —152 Horton Smith (U.S.A.) 76 77 —153 J. Ockenden (Brit.) . 78 76 —154 F. Robson (Brit,) . . 78 76 ■—154 Geo. Duncan (Brit.) . 73 76 —154 E. Ray (Brit.) . . . — 156