THE FIFTEENTH NATIONAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE FIFTEENTH NATIONAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP"

Malcolm Oswald Johns
5 years ago
Views:

1 THE FIFTEENTH NATIONAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYED AT THE MERION CRICKET CLUB, HAVERFORD, PA., OCT. TH-9TH The last occasion in which the Women's Championship was played at Merion, in 190, Miss Lottie Dod, who at that time was the British lady champion, took part. She was, however, beaten in the first round by Miss Pauline Mackay, (Mrs. Bruce Smith) who won the championship the following year at the Morris County Golf Club. Five years later no less than six fair British invaders took part over the same course, representing virtually the cream of the golfing world on the other side Miss Dorothy Campbell, of North Berwick, British lady champion 1909 and runner-up to Miss Titterton in 1908, and who also reached the semi-final in 190, 190 and 1906, and moreover won the Scottish lady championship in 190, 1906 and 1908, being runner-up in 1907; Miss Frances Teacher, Scottish lady champion 1907; Miss S. Temple, of Westward Ho!; Miss Grace Spurling, Barnehurst; Mrs. R. C. B. Lethbridge, East Herts and Miss Jane Spence, Moreton. In 190 Miss Dod tied with Miss Harriet Curtis, of the Essex County Club, Manchester, Mass., and Miss L. Vanderhoof, Ardsley, for the low score prize, at 93. This year there were also three ties for medal honors, at 86 seven strokes less than in the championship five years ago Mrs. Caleb F. Fox, of Huntingdon Valley, Miss Margaret Curtis, (a sister of Miss Harriet Curtis) of Essex County and Miss Anita E. Phipps, Springfield Country Club. Miss Dorothy Campbell was one stroke more. A field of sixty-seven starters represented the strongest combination of talent that has been witnessed in any women's championship in this country, there being no less than six previous winners of the title among the entrants. The course was in excellent condition and the play was from the regular tees. During the last five years a great number of additional hazards have been put in, thus making this year's scores show up very well indeed in comparison with those of 190 and (Copyright 1909 by The American Golfer, Inc. All rights reserved.)

THE AMERICAN GOLFER (From left to right) MISS S. TEMPLE, MISS DOROTHY CAMPBELL, MISS FLORENCE TEACHER. indicating a very gratifying improvement in the play.

2 THE AMERICAN GOLFER (From left to right) MISS S. TEMPLE, MISS DOROTHY CAMPBELL, MISS FLORENCE TEACHER. indicating a very gratifying improvement in the play. The course has a playing length of,6 yards as follows : Out In Total...6 The play throughout the entire week was under splendid weather conditions...day after day of real Indian summer, marked toward the close by gradually increasing warmth which the foreign element characterized as "almost tropical, don't you think?" Of the British entrants Mrs. Lethbridge and Miss Spurling failed to qualify in the first thirty-two. There was a tie for thirty-second place between Miss Noblitt, Wilmington Country Club; Miss Louisa A. Wells, of the Country Club, Brookline, Mass.; Mrs. W. S. Hilles, Wilmington Country Club and Mrs. Frismuth, Riverton Country Club, at 103. In the play-off Miss Noblitt won. Miss Wells did not take kindly to the Merion Greens. She confesses to a decided partiality for Massachusetts greens and in doing so, it must be admitted she shows excellent taste. The three low scores are worth reproducing: Mrs. Fox Out In Miss M. Curtis Out In 6 86 Miss A. Phipps Out In Miss Katherine Harley, last year's champion, had a string of 7's on the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth holes, but even at that she got a very creditable 9. As against these 7's, Miss Phipps had 's on each of these holes a really very fine performance indeed. Miss Campbell, by virtue of a flub-

THE AMERICAN GOLFER bed second going to the first hole and a weak putt, ran up a 6, which, combined with rather indifferent putting on several other holes, made her score 87, one stroke behind the

3 THE AMERICAN GOLFER bed second going to the first hole and a weak putt, ran up a 6, which, combined with rather indifferent putting on several other holes, made her score 87, one stroke behind the leaders. Her card: Out 66 6 In Miss Campbell found the greens of a somewhat different texture to those abroad and really was never quite at her best in this department. Mrs. Ormsby McCammon, of Chevy Chase, got into the road on the seventeenth, taking 7 for a hole, which just lost her a place by one stroke among the qualifiers. Mrs. Wm. Fellowes Morgan, of Baltusrol, by getting into trouble on the home hole and also finding several other bunkers on the outward journey, was 2 strokes outside the coveted division. Miss Spurling, of Barnehurst had 107 and Mrs. Lethbridge, the other British player, 117. SUMMARY. Championship Division. Mrs. Caleb F. Fox, Huntingdon Valley, 3, 3 86; Miss Margaret Curtis, Essex County,, 2 86; Miss Anita E. Phipps, Springfield, 3, 3 86; Miss Dorothy Campbell, North Berwick,, 3 87; Mrs. R. H. Barlow, Merion,, 89; Mrs. S. F. Lefferts, Englewood,, 6 MRS. CALEB Fox, at the sixteenth tee.

4 6 THE AMERICAN GOLFER 90; Miss M. B. Adams, Wollaston,, 6 91; Mrs. E. H. Fitler, Merion, 8, 92; Miss Kate C. Harley, Fall River,, 0 9; Miss S. Temple, Westward Ho!, 1, 3 9; Miss E. Smith, Evanston, 7, 7 9; Mrs. C. T. Stout, Richmond County, 2, 3 9; Miss Jane S. Spence, Moreton, 1, 96; Miss F. C. Griscom, Merion,, 1 96; Mrs. H. L. C. Roome, Merion, 6, 1 97; Mrs. F. McNeeley, Merion, 7, 0 97; Miss H. Curtis, Essex County, 1, 6 97; Miss M. W. Phelps, Brookline, 6, 1 97; Miss E. S. Porter, Brookline, 8, 0 98; Miss Vida Llewellyn, La Grange, 1, 7 98; Miss Frances Teacher, North Berwick, 9, 9 98; Miss Grace Semple, St. Louis, 7, 2 99; Mrs. C. W. McKelvey, Essex County, 0, 0 100; Miss C. Shreve, Brae Burn, 0, 0 100; Mrs. C. H. Vanderbeck, Philadelphia C. C., 3, 8 101; Miss G. M. Bishop, Brooklawn, 8, 3 101; Mrs. F. C. Colburn, Evanston, 0, 1 101; Miss Frances Dallet, St. David's, 9, 2 101; Miss F. McCallum, Merchantville, 2, 9 101; Miss M. Mc- Cain, Chevy Chase, 1, 1 102; Mrs. William West, Woodbury, 9, 3 102; Miss Noblitt, Wilmington, 9, 103. Non-Qualifiers Mrs C. S. Frishmuth, Riverton, 2, 1 103; Mrs. W. S. Hilles, Wilmington, 2, 1 103; Miss L. A. Wells, Brookline,, 8 103; Mrs. Ormsby McCammon, Chevy Chase, 1, 3 10; Mrs. J. R. Price, Oakmont, 0, 10; Mrs. W. F. Morgan, Baltusrol,, 1 10; Miss L. E. Elkins, Oakmont,, 1 10; Mrs. G. H. Converse, Brae Burn, 2, 106; Miss Elinor Allen, Oakley,, 2 107; Mrs. Howard Street, Merchantville, 1, 6 107; Mrs. James Akroyd, Merchantville, 6, 1 107; Miss J. Spurling, Barnehurst, 6, 1 107; Mrs. E. W. Alexander, Detroit,, 2 107; Miss E. C. Hood, Philadelphia C. C., 6, 2 108; Miss K. A. Townsend, Merion, 2, 7 109; Mrs. W. J. Faith, Wykagyl, 7, 3 110; Miss M. E. Maul, Merion, 2, 8 110; Mrs. M. C. Work, Huntingdon Valley, 8, 3 111; Miss Mary Fownes, Oakmont,, 6 111; Mrs. F. G. B. Triece, St. David's,, 8 112; Mrs. M. St. John Smith, Portland,, 60 11; Mrs. P. de Wolf, St. David's, 61, 11; Mrs. W. S. Johnston, Whitemarsh, 8, 7 11; Mrs. E. C. Belknap, Evanston, 6, ; Mrs. H. G. Garrett, Wilmington, 66, 2 118; Mrs. E. E. Giles, Pittsburg, 7, ; Miss E. T. Chandler, Philadelphia C. C., 7, ; Mrs. R. C. B. Lethbridge, East Hert, 68, 1 119; Mrs. G. O. Suddards, Whitemarsh, 61, 8 U9; Mrs. F. M. Bacon, Jr., Baltusrol, 6 120; Mrs. R. C. Hanford, Wykagyl, 8, ; Mrs. C. M. La--- Merchantville, 6, 6 120; Mrs. -. C. Fownes, Oakmont,, ; Miss M. Maul, Philadelphia C. C., 61, ; Mrs. E. R. Miller, Philadelphia C. C., 70, The draw was rather unfortunate, most of the strong players being in the upper half. In the first round Miss Adams was drawn against Miss Harley, 1908 champion, but the latter's weakness on the drive was responsible for her defeat by 2 holes, thus reversing affairs at last year's championship at Chevy Chase, when Miss Harley, the ultimate winner, beat Miss Adams by 2 and 1. Miss Adams, out Miss Harley, out Miss Adams, in Miss Harley, in

THE AMERICAN GOLFER 7 MISS GRACE SEMPLE, of St. Louis. In the background are MR. C. H. GRAY, of the Barnehurst Golf Club, England, and MISS FRANCES TEACHER, of North Berwick, Scotland. Mrs.

5 THE AMERICAN GOLFER 7 MISS GRACE SEMPLE, of St. Louis. In the background are MR. C. H. GRAY, of the Barnehurst Golf Club, England, and MISS FRANCES TEACHER, of North Berwick, Scotland. Mrs. Stout in her match against Miss Phipps played excellent golf. Out in 3 to Miss Phipps', she was 2 up at the turn; annexing two more holes on the in-journey, she won easily by and 3. Mrs. Stout, out Miss Phipps, out Mrs. Stout, in 6 3 Miss Phipps, in 6 Mrs. Fox continued her good work and disposed of Miss Margaret Curtis, who is generally admitted to be the longest driver among the American women, by 2 up and 1 to play. Mrs. Fox, out.. Miss Curtis, out. Mrs. Fox, in 6 Miss Curtis, in Miss Llewellyn, the women's Western champion, found Miss Bishop somewhat off her long game and after a very good match, one of the features of which was a fine of 3 by Miss Bishop at the seventeenth hole, entered the second round by 2 up Miss Llewellyn, out Miss Bishop, out... 6 Miss Llewellyn, in Miss Bishop, in Miss Temple had a ding-dong match with Mrs. Lefferts, winning only on the last hole. Miss Temple, out Mrs. Lefferts, out Miss Temple, in Mrs. Lefferts, in Miss Isabella Smith, who has won many honors around Chicago and in California, had her hands full in disposing of Miss Florence McNeely, whom she beat by the narrow margin of one hole, as also did Miss Porter against Miss Harriet Curtis. In the second round Mrs. Stout got going very strongly in her match with Miss Griscom, whom she beat by 2 and 1. The match of the day was that of Mrs. Fox against Miss Adams. Out in, Mrs. Fox turned one up, but Miss Adams squared at the twelfth

6 8 THE AMERICAN GOLFER only to lose the lead again on the thirteenth, where Mrs. Fox secured a very fine 3. At the fourteenth, Miss Adams again brought matters to an even basis by losing the fifteenth. The sixteenth she won in to 6. This advantage, however, she did not long maintain, as she lost the seventeenth in to and also the eighteenth in 7 to 6. This left Mrs. Fox the winner by one hole: Mrs. Fox, out Miss Adams, out Mrs. Fox, in Miss Adams, in Miss Campbell had a very hard time in disposing of Mrs. Fitler, the former's putting being exceptionally weak, while Mrs. Fitler, on the contrary, was seen to great advantage on the greens. Two up at the sixth hole, Mrs. Fitler lost the seventh and eighth holes and the ninth being halved the match turned all square. Again she took the lead at the tenth, only to lose it on the eleventh, where Miss Campbell got a very fine four and the next four holes being halved, left the match all square with 3 to play. Miss Campbell, by annexing the sixteenth and seventeenth in to 6 and to 6 respectively, qualified to meet Mrs. Stout in the next round. Miss Campbell, out Mrs. Fitler, out MISS DOROTHY CAMPBELL and MRS. FITLER (driving).

7 THE AMERICAN GOLFER 9 Miss Campbell, in Mrs. Fitler, in Miss Smith was out in to for Miss Porter, the latter being then one up. Give and take followed. Miss Porter squaring the match by dividing the seventeenth with a very good. The home hole being halved, an extra hole was necessary, which Miss Smith won in a splendid four. Notwithstanding the fact that Miss Spence consistently outdrove Mrs. Barlow, the latter showed her superiority in the short game and reached the eighteenth tee dormie. She also won the eighteenth hole. In the match between Miss Teacher and Miss Llewellyn, the Western woman champion, the former was one up at the turn. Miss Llewellyn squared at the tenth with a good, but after that was not prominent, finally losing at the seventeenth by 3 and 1. Miss Phelps played a very plucky game against Miss Temple. Three down at one time, the Boston player reduced Miss Temple's lead to one at the ninth. One up going to the seventeenth, the Westward Ho! player lost that in to, thus squaring the match. Miss Phelps laid her approach dead on the home hole, thus winning by one up. The meeting between Mrs. Fox and Miss Campbell was a notable one. Although the former has never won a National Championship, she has a record to be proud of. In 1899, at the Philadelphia Country Club, she was runner-up to Miss Ruth Underhill, who beat her in the final by 2 up and 1 to play. In 1902, at the Country Club, Brookline, she reached the semifinal; was beaten in 190 at Morristown in the third round by Miss Mackay, the ultimate winner, 3 and 1, and again reached the semi-final in 1908 at Chevy Chase, being beaten only by one hole by Miss Harley, last year's champion. Going out Mrs. Fox had no less than three 7's, at the fourth, sixth and seventh holes. At the turn they were all square, Miss Campbell being rather weak through the green. The scores were 6 to 7 in favor of Mrs. Fox. Coming in Miss Campbell played really excellent golf, although she was lucky at the tenth, where her second shot ran over the bridge which spans the brook guarding the green, while Mrs. Fox found the water and lost the hole in to 6. A beautiful recovery by Miss Campbell was made at the thirteenth (19 yards) where her tee-shot found the ditch; she however made amends by laying the next dead, securing a half in, meanwhile having won both the tenth, eleventh and twelfth. The fourteenth and fifteenth were halved in par 's and the sixteenth in very good 's, thus enabling Miss Campbell to reach the final. Meanwhile Mrs. Barlow and Miss Phelps were hard at it. Four down at the turn, the result of very indifferent play, as indicated by her score being 2, as against Mrs. Barlow's 6, the issue was never in doubt. At the tenth Mrs. Barlow got off a very weak drive and topped her second, taking to reach the green. Miss Phelps was on in 3 but only secured a half in 6 by weak putting. By winning the eleventh and twelfth Mrs. Barlow found herself in the comfortable position of dormie. With a very fine 3 on the thirteenth at the hands of both players, the match came to an end, Mrs. Barlow winning by 6 up and to play. The final between Miss Campbell and Mrs. Barlow was marked by

8 10 THE AMERICAN GOLFER MISS FRANCES TEACHER, at the tenth tee. very good golf. With an eight at the eighth hole, Mrs. Barlow was out in to 6, being one up. By missing a short putt on the ninth hole, Mrs. Barlow absolutely threw away what looked like an almost certain win. For the first time, Miss Campbell squared accounts at the eleventh, winning in to 7, owing to her opponent first slicing her drive and afterwards reaching the pot-bunker to the right of the green. At the thirteenth, Mrs. Barlow's tee-shot did not carry the ditch in front of the green and she lost in to, thus placing Miss Campbell in the lead for the first time. An indifferent half in resulted at the fourteenth. Miss Campbell won the next in a very fine four, thus making her 2 up with 3 to go. By annexing the sixteenth in to 6, Miss Campbell won the match and the title. Scores: Miss Campbell, out Mrs. Barlow, out Miss Campbell, in... Mrs. Barlow, in Her success constitutes a new chapter in golf history, this being the first occasion on which the title has been won except by a native-born player. The paramount feature of Miss Campbell's play is her accuracy both with wood and iron. This, joined to her fine abilities as a putter, makes

9 THE AMERICAN GOLFER 11 her a formidable opponent. She does not waste any time over strokes, her play in this respect being in sharp contrast with that of most of the American girls, who are painfully deliberate and exhibit every evidence of nervous uncertainty. The mixed foursome summary: Miss Campbell and W. M. Mc- Cawley, 8, % 80%; Mrs. Barlow and F. S. Douglas, 81, 0 81; Miss McCain and Mr. Wilson, ; Miss Phipps and Mrs. Francis, 87-83; Mrs. Vanderbeck and G. Scott, 87-83; Miss Spence and C. P. Lineweaver, 89-8; Mrs. Fitler andh. B. McFarland, ; Miss Wells and Herbert Jaques, 90-8; Miss Townsend and E. A. Service, ; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. West, 92- ½ 86½; Mrs. McCammon and Mr. Rosengarten, ; Miss Bishop and W. Sargent, ; Miss Shreve and Mr. Barlow, ; Mrs. Bacon and Mr. Scott, ; Miss Dallet and Mr. Fuget, ½ 88½ ; Miss Teacher and W. S. Pfeil, ; Mrs. Tierce and Mr. Harrison, ; Mrs. Fox and Mr. Ballantyne, ; Miss Maul and Mr. Bunting, ; Mrs. Elkins and C. B. Fownes, 96-½ 90½ ; Mrs. Alexander and E. R. Hansen, ; Miss E. S. Porter and W. P. Smith, 9-2½ 91½; Mrs. Morgan and J. S. Clark, 100-8½ 91½ ; Miss Semple and Mr. Lloyd, ; Miss Fownes and Mr. Halsey, 99-6½ 92½ ; Miss Elinor Allen and W. F. Morgan, ; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Gray, ; Miss M. Maul and J. I. Lineweaver, ; Miss De Wolf and Mr. Wendell, 10-9% 93½ ; Mrs. Work and Mr. McCammon, 10-9½ 9½. The consolation event was won by Miss Harriet Curtis, who beat Miss Carmelita Shreve 3 up and 1 to play. Miss Margaret Curtis won the Around the home green.

12 THE AMERICAN GOLFER play-off in the tie for the gold medal in the qualifying round when three were tied at 86. Scores: Miss Curtis, 7 90; Mrs. C. F. Fox, 8, 93; Miss A. E. Phipps, 8,.8 96.

10 12 THE AMERICAN GOLFER play-off in the tie for the gold medal in the qualifying round when three were tied at 86. Scores: Miss Curtis, 7 90; Mrs. C. F. Fox, 8, 93; Miss A. E. Phipps, 8, Miss Campbell and Mr. W. M. McCawley won the mixed foursome event. CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY 189 (Meadowbrook) Mrs. C. S. Brown; 1896 (Morristown) Miss Beatrix Hoyt; 1897 (Manchester, Mass.) Miss Beatrix Hoyt; 1898 (Ardsley) Miss Beatrix Hoyt; 1899 (Philadelphia C. C.) Miss Ruth Underhill; 1900 (Shinnecock Hills) Miss Frances C. Griscom; 1901 (Baltusrol) Miss Genevieve Hecker; PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS 1902 (Brookline) Miss Genevieve Hecker; 1903 (Chicago G. C.) Miss Bessie Anthony; 190 (Merion) Miss Georgiana Bishop; 190 -(Morristown) Miss Pauline Mackay; 1906 (Brae Burn) Miss Harriet Curtis; 1907 (Midlothian) Miss Margaret Curtis; 1908 (Chevy Chase) Miss Kate C. Harley.

photographs MRS. H. ARNOLD JACKSON, WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPION, l914.

photographs MRS. H. ARNOLD JACKSON, WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPION, l4. THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAM- PIONSHIP SECOND WIN FOR MRS. JACKSON. There were no less than entrants, all but three of whom handed in cards,