SPORTS
1955 Golf
In the 1955 United States open golf championship. a play-off for the title developed between unheralded Jack Fleck, 32-year-old Davenport, Ia., professional and Ben Hogan, the Fort Worth Texan, who had won the championship on four previous occasions. Another triumph would have placed Hogan on a higher rung in the sport than any other golfer had attained.
To the surprise of those gathered at the Olympic Country club course, outside San Francisco, Calif., Fleck defeated Hogan after a thrilling 18 hole play-off. This was necessitated when they both finished the regulation 72 holes with identical scores of 287. In the extra session, Fleck beat Hogan, 69 to 72. After the tournament, Hogan, 42 years old, announced he was "through with competition."
While the big golf plum went to Fleck, the Professional Golfers association championship, in which Fleck also played, went to Doug Ford, registering from Kiamesha Lake, N.Y. Competing in the tournament for the first time, Ford defeated Cary Middlecoff of Memphis, Tenn., 4 and 3 in the scheduled 36-hole final at the Meadow Brook Country club, Detroit, Mich.
The top money winner among the professionals, however, was Julius Boros of Southern Pines, N.C., who collected more than $61,000 in winnings for the playing year. The largest part of this total came from a triumph in the George S. May sponsored "world's championship" in Chicago, where Boros captured a $50,000 first-place prize.
Middlecoff won the Western open in addition to the Masters tournament that is played annually at Augusta, Ga.
The British open crown was retained by Peter Thomson, 25-year-old Melbourne, Austr., representative. At St. Andrews, Scot., Thomson clinched the famed cup with an aggregate of 281 that was two below the score of second-place John Fallon of England. Lieut. Joe Conrad, U.S. air force, however, captured the British amateur championship, defeating Alan Slater of England, his final opponent at St. Anne's, Eng., by 3 and 2. Conrad was also low amateur scorer in the British open as well as a member of the U.S. Walker cup team. The team triumphed easily at St. Andrews by 10–2, after making a 4–0 sweep in the foursomes, which comprised the opening day's program.
The Canada cup matches, sponsored by John Jay Hopkins, president of the International Golf association, were held in Washington, D.C.
The United States pair of Chick Harbert and Ed Furgol won with a team score of 560, while the Australians were second. Furgol won the individual title after a play-off with Flory Van Donck of Belgium and Peter Thomson of Australia. The United States amateur championship was staged at the Country Club of Virginia, in Richmond. Harvie Ward, 29-year- old San Francisco automobile salesman who was born in boro, N.C., carried off this honour, defeating William Hyndman of Philadelphia, Pa., in the 36-hole final by a decisive 91 margin. Ward previously had been a Canadian and into legiate champion and a 1955 Walker cup team member.
Arnold Palmer, the 1954 amateur winner, scored success during his first year as a pro by winning the Canadian op Toronto with a score of 265.
In women's golf, Pat Lesser, a 22-year-old Seattle, college student, became the U.S. women's amateur champion. Miss Lesser succeeded the California girl, Barbara Roma lost in the second round of the 1955 tourney at the Myers Country club, Charlotte, N.C. Miss Lesser won the amateur title prior to her national victory. In the final latter, she turned back an Indianapolis schoolteacher, Jar son, 7 and 6.
The U.S. women's open championship was won by Crocker of Montevideo, Urug., over a windy Wichita, course, with a 72-hole score of 299. Mary Lena Faulk Louise Suggs were tied for second at 303 in this $7,500.00 compe- tition.
Beverly Hanson of Indio, Calif., won the ladies' Prof Golfers association title at Fort Wayne, Ind., beating Suggs, 4 and 3, in the final.
The British Ryder cup team of professionals made a mi. trip to oppose the United States group at Palm Calif., in the biennial series staged in November. The States retained the trophy by 8 to 4, after gaining a 3•1 in the foursomes at the Thunderbird Country club. Chick bert was the U.S. captain
Although 20-year-old Don Bisplinghoff of Orlando, reached the final of the men's amateur at Chantilly, Fr., to Henri de Lamaze, French star, 5 and 4.
The United States Golf association sponsored a senior men's championship for the first time. This was won by J. Wood Platt of Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pa. The womens senior championship was won by Mrs. Harrison Flippin of Ardmore Pa.
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