SPORTS
1957 GOLF
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the golfing year 1957 was the outcome of the Ryder cup matches between the pro. fessionals of the United States and Great Britain. Played over the Lindrick course at Worksop, Eng., the British won by 7 to 4 for their first triumph in this biennial series since 1933. The triumph was all the more startling to the United States squad since they led after the first day in the foursome competition by 3 to I.
However, in the singles encounters next day, the British, under the leadership of Dai Rees, their captain, swept off with six of the eight matches. The lone victor for the United States was Fred Hawkins who earned one point in the total when he de• feated Peter Allis. The U.S. open champion, Dick Mayer, was not beaten but finished all even to halve his match with Harry Bradshaw. Neither side receives credit in a halved match.
The British did not fare as well in the Walker cup matcher for amateurs. Their side bowed at Minneapolis, Minn., to the United States by an 8 to 3 margin, after they had trailed in the foursomes by 2 to 1. It marked the 15th triumph in 16 meet- ings for a U.S. team in the series that began in 1922.
Shortly after the Walker cup matches, the visiting British amateur team participated in the U.S. amateur championship played at the Country club, Brookline, Mass. The British cup stars did not fare as well as the members of the U.S. team. four of whom eventually filled the semifinal places.
Lieut. Hillman Robbins of the United States air force, a resi- dent of Memphis, Tenn., became the champion when he defeated Frank (Bud) Taylor, 4o-year-old dentist from Pomona, Calif,. by 5 and 4 in a scheduled 36-hole final. Robbins, 25 years old, a former intercollegiate champion from Memphis State college vanquished Rex Baxter, Jr., of the University of Houston and intercollegiate champion by 2 up in the semifinal. Taylor defeated army private Mason Rudolph of Clarksville, Tenn., 5 and 4 to gain the final.
Robbins succeeded Harvie Ward, Jr., of San Francisco, Calif., as champion after the latter was declared ineligible to compete by the United States Golf association because of a violation of their amateur status rule.
Golf's big money winner of the year proved to be Dick Mayer. Mayer succeeded in winning two major titles in the U.S. open and in the George S. May's "world" tourney with its first prize of $50,000. Mayer's earnings exceeded $65,000.
At the Inverness club course in Toledo, O., Mayer gained the open crown after a playoff with Cary Middlecoff. Back of them was Jimmy Demaret at 283. In the extra 18 holes, Mayer won easily with a 72 to 79 for Middlecoff, twice the open winner. Mayer carried off the "world's" honours at Tam O'Shanter, outside Chicago, Ill., and golf's largest money reward by scoring 279. Sam Snead, early leader, finished in a tie for second at 280 with the Canadian star, Al Balding.
The most discussed incident of the year was the disqualification of Mrs. Jackie Pung. Hawaiian-born former amateur champion in the U.S. women's open. Mrs. Pung was the apparent winner at the Winged Foot Golf club, Mamaroneck, N.Y., with a score of 298 for 72 holes. After being hailed as the champion it was learned she erred in reporting her last round score. Al-though her total of 72 was correct, she had inadvertently put down a 5 instead of a 6 at the fourth hole. Officials disqualified her. Betsy Rawls of Spartanburg, S.C., with 299 automatically became champion. Betty Jamison, Mrs. Pung's playing partner, also was disqualified when her card was found to be incorrectly marked. Spectators and officials joined in raising a special fund, which exceeded the first prize, for Mrs. Pung. Barbara McIntire of Toledo, 0., was low amateur scorer at 313.
JoAnne Gunderson, 18-year-old Seattle, Wash., youngster be-came the women's national amateur champion, beating Mrs. Ann Casey Johnstone of Mason City, Ia., 8 and 6 at the Del Paso Country club, Sacramento, Calif.
Doug Ford, who won the Masters tourney at Augusta, Ga., with 283 and Lionel Herbert, victor in the Professional Golfers Association championship were others gaining golfing glory. Herbert beat Dow Finsterwald in the final at the Miami Valley course. Dayton, O., by 2 and 1 for his first major triumph.
Bobby Locke of South Africa scored 69–72–68–70–279 to win the British open at St. Andrews, Scot., for the fourth time, thus ending Peter Thomson's string of three consecutive triumphs. Reid Jack of Glasgow captured the British amateur final at Formby. Eng., by 2 and 1 from Master Sergeant Harold Ridgley of Haverford, Pa., stationed in England.
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