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Show FRANK K. BAKER TELEGRAM SPORTS EDITOR. 11 Ulahha$ inorethancasuaI interest in the national amateur golf tournament, beginning in Portland Monday,' because the local delegation, headed by Ed Kingsley and including Abel Larson and Thornton D. Morris, the former for-mer Utah gridiron captain, represents the state's most formidable -representation in the national since George "Gix" Von Elm began his drive to stardom in the event. All three players are fully capable of qualifying for the match play if they are on their game, and in Kingsley the local golfing fraternity believes it has a potential title threat. Golf at best is a most uncertain game, especially in the tournaments, tour-naments, which means it would be a mighty big gamble to predict pre-dict that Kingsley or any of the other untouted Utahns are going to teach the rest of the country a golf lesson in this tournament. It is a well-known fact, however, that Kingsley is a right bandy individual with a golf stick. His record-breaking (1 aver tha par 72 Country club here recently, among other achievements, proves that. And the fart that he made a must uifseiilable lhowing in hs rainal nn this year even to beating a flock of the country's "big name" golfers, and subsequently went to (he semifinals in the transmissis-aippi transmissis-aippi tournament at Denver before bowing to Don Schumacher, Schu-macher, is further proof that Ed cannot be dismissed simply as a "borne club" golfer. Thee forays into faster competition have been improving improv-ing Ed's game, seasoning him to stronger rivalry and giving him the much-needed confidence. Let him have the right putting touch at Portland and he's apt to make another fine representation. Should Ed be fortunate enough to advance well into match play, it is quite possible that he would become potential po-tential timber for the U. S. Walker cup team, too. It is a well-known fact that the U. S. G. A. authorities scout the field in the national amateur pretty thoroughly for candidates on the team to play against Great Britain in international competition. Von Elm is the only Utahn ever chosen for the team. Kingsley's march to the transmississippi semifinals has already al-ready brought some attention from Walker cup scouts. In other words, they are aware that there Is a golfer named Kingsley. If he's able to refresh their minds at Portland next week and impress im-press them further by his play in the western amateur at Los Angeles, ten days later, he will be well on his way toward real recognition. Some of the local golfing adepts expected Ed to defend his Rocky Mountain championship in the tournament at Denverjast week, but the Utahn preferred to continue his local practice and make an early appearance at Portland to defending the Denver crown. Meanwhile, Jack Malloy of Oklahoma, player Ed disposed dis-posed of himself in an early round during last year's Rocky Mountain tournament, succeeded him as champion. The Portland course at 6601 yards, with par 37-33, la nearly 800 yards longer than the local Country club layout. Because of its nearly sea-level atmosphere, which is heavier than the local rarefied air and extremely soft fairways, this matter of distance dis-tance may give the Utahns some difficulty. The shadow of Chandler Egan, one of golfdom's most renowned figures, will be at Alderwood Country, club when Kingsley and the others try their fortunes in the big tournament. It was one of the late Egan's last recommendations, as a member of the United States Golf association committee, that Alderwood be selected for the amateur classic. The original course was laid out by A. Vernon Macan, Victoria, B. C, architect, several of the holes were revamped to allow for general improvement. This work was turned over to the veteran "stylist," which partially explains why the creek winding across the layout is named "Egan creek." Every time) Kingsley crosses that stream h no doubt will reflect upon his first appearance) in the national amateur threw years ago, when this same Egan "f av him a lesion' and eliminated him, 7 and 6, at Brookllne, Mass. Kingsley is a much better golfer today than th kid Egan laced that morning three years ago, partially, perhaps, because of that very beating. Who knows but that maybe Fate has picked . th "Grand Old Man's" home layout as another stepping ' stone in Kingsley's rise t stardom! |
