| Show Backseat t Driving Dri ving By Frank K Ir Baker Telegram Sports Editor Few Expected to Break In State Open A total will likely be a rare thing in the state slate open golf tournament ment meat at Fort Douglas within the next two weeks The tricky fort layout with its narrow narrow nar nar- row fairways and sloping greens is sure to invite plenty of trouble when the golfers unlimber their clubs in inquest inquest inquest quest of Utah's choice golfing goWn prize Only four finished under at the Country club with its wider fairways last summer Owen Cove Covey winning with a seven over par Whoever wins at Fort Douglas this year will have to be hitting his tee shot precision for the moment a pla player cr gets off line in either cither direction direction tion on that la layout out it means extra strokes to get set out of ot the rough Nor will the players player's problems be over once he reaches the greens for the post velvets with their sloping and rolling surfaces always take their toll of three putts Covey will have to shoot mighty good golf gol if he is to keep his title from falling into the hands of Charles E. E Foley Tei Branca Sid Harmon or Ralph There are arc others who have outside chances of lifting liftin the crown but these four are arc without doubt the stars whose chances arc brightest 9 Par for Four Rounds Is Mere Total A par Is a rare score among the Fort Douglas membership and even the best of visiting golfers often find difficulty in equaling the par 71 That the winner inner will likely be 12 to 16 strokes over the 72 hole par of is no reflection on the kind of golf played in Utah Fort Douglas simply is a tough medal assignment for nn anybody body on four successive rounds Many I of the Ule boys will find findan an 80 or two behind their names before the three day classic is over Because the fort is his home course an amateur w will ll be a dangerous dangerous dan dan- contender but so far this season season sea son he has not been playing with near near the brilliance he displayed last summer summer sum sum- mer when he was burning up the intermountain courses for a flock nock of records Foley who has turned professional since Covey nosed him out on the last two h for the open laurels last summer has been playing fine golf gal recently His tc tee tec shots have been shorter than even their modest custom cus tom torn but the they're re well down the mid middie middle die dle and the rest of his game is clicking clicking clicking click click- ing in great style His two par Usand Us and a n 70 on his last three trips to the fort are proof enough of that Branca is deserving in of far better belter pairing this year year than he had in previous seasons his second place tic tie with Foley Toley last summer entitling him to that consideration Last year he was relegated far back in the field licht not bein being privileged to the Inspiration of the stronger company compan his play merited His Ills pIa play this season season sea sea- son In the team matches has been none too strong but be he had bad a 71 at the fort this week eck to Indicate he lIe is again getting his game well under control Harmon was somewhat some some- what of a disappointment in competitive com corn play last year car after his brilliant work the previous summer His IUs game famo has begun to approach the old luster again however so he belongs to the select group of favorites Many Others Strong But Also Erratic What of those others someone will ask What about Harry Borg Abel bel Larson Clyde Thomsen George Georgc Schneiter Bob Bird and md Bill Willes Larson won the Ule state amateur last summer beating Thomsen in in th finals but neither has showed the steadiness to be considered as a fa fa- fa Larson could do no better than sixth last year in the open his leaving him behind Borg who r had Borg was off the line repeatedly on the first day but swung a charmed set of irons and kept recovering well enough for a 73 73 only one over par He Ie was still erratic from the tee teethe teethe teethe the second day but his recovery shots weren't clicking so he staggered home with an 82 when anything near par would have enabled him to win in a walk for he added fine cards of 75 and 73 in his last two rounds Schneiter the Ogden professional hits his tee shots a mile but he is also just as likely to lam a short pitch shot just as far over the green He lie has been poison to opponents on the Ogden layout this spring but not so effective on strange courses Foley eat cat him in a team match at Bonne vill yule ville Bird surprised with a fine ine demon demon- Nation in the intermountain at Ogden Ogden Og Og- den ien bowing finally to Covey for the title after disposing of at such favorites is s and Larson on the day before the finals That stamps him ts IS a coming star but hardly as a favorite in this years year's open for he helas has Sas las no other achievement to substantiate bate it as his regular caliber It being his home course Willes night be figured to celebrate his recent wedding with a championship jut ut Bills Bill's game is below its fine level f a year ago Somebody may spring an upset but bul buln butin in n the basis of at performances Coveys Covey's becomes a race to keep the thc atle Ue away from Foley Brana Bran Bran- a or Harm Harmon n. n |
