CAN LITTLE ESTABLISH NEW RECORD?

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1935, Page 12

CAN LITTLE ESTABLISH NEW RECORD?

AMERICAN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP STIFF OPPOSITION LIKELY TO BE MET WITH ' (By “Stance.”) current week the best amateur golfera of the United States, together with contingents from Canada and Great Britain, are doing battle on the course of the Country Club, Cleveland, Ohio, fpr the United States amateur crown. Chief interest will without doubt centre round the fortunes of the present holder of the title, W. Lawson Little, who will be attempting to establish a new record for amateur golf. So far no player has ever won both the'British and American titles in successive years, but Little laat year won both and this year has already won the British again.

With almost 2,000,000 men playing golf in the States and thousands of promising youngsters coming on every season, Little is faced with a heavy task but the burty Californian is a great player, whom many shrewd judges consider rpore than equal to the task in front of him. H® was not at the top of his form on his trip to Great Britain, but proved equal to winning the amateur and finishing fourth in the open. On his return home in July he was given an audience with President Roosevelt and then proceeded to Chicago to have a week of practice with his teacher, the astute Scot, Tommy Armour, who some three years ago brought Lawsoil’s mighty smites on to the straight and harrow track.

In England, far away from his guide and philosopher, Little’s long wood shots were often astray and he was only saved by his wonderful play with his irons. If Armour has straightened out that tee

shot for the champion, one cannot help thinking that his opponents are working overtime at Cleveland this week. Every successive American amateur brings so many fresh names into the foreground that it is hard to predict who are likely to be Little’s most dangerous opponents. No news has come through lately regarding last year’s runner-up, Dave Goldman, or the other two semifinalists, Reynolds Smith and Don Armstrong, but they are sure to be on the

scene. Several amateurs figured prominently in the American open and this m|y prove a better line for form. C. A. Brjnke, Johnny Goodman, Zel Eaton, Charlie Yates, and Maurice 'Me- • Carthy were all in the final 50. and since then. Yates'has won the Western amateur, second only in importance to the national title. Yates, who hails from Bobby Jones' own home course at East Lake, Augusta, is regarded, as a most promising player and he was. unlucky last year running into an opponent who negotiated the first nine holes 'in 32, or four under par. Another strong contender will be Willie ' Tuynega, the youngest of a well-known / , golfing family, one of whom was rufinerup to Bobby*Jones in the open of 1926. Last year* Willie accounted for Dunlap and Yates before falling before the onslaught of Little ip the quarter finals, A wonderfully smooth swinger and a fine putter, this youngster may go even further this time. , Ross Somerville, the Canadian who won in 1932, and John Goodman, who was runner-up to him, are two seasoned match player? who should make strong bids. Craig Wood’s 17-year-old protege Bobby Jacobsen, who created something in’ the nature of a sensation when he put out Goodmap last year, should also be in the picture... Few of the-, great names of eight or nine years ago, Francis Ouimet, George Voight, Jess Sweetser, Mar Marston and Jess Guilford are capable of holding their own to-day against the surging tide of youth, though last year two of the real veterans in Chandler Egan, who won the title in 1904, and Chick Evans, who scored in 1916, both made brave a showings. “ The week is providing its full share of classic contests with Little and mighty hitting the main centre of attraction. Should he falls, by the jvayidde the new champion may gome from Turpesa and Goodman. ' JfcrflT