John's Turn to Lose

There were no divots or sliced tee shots when England and America found themselves bunkered on the first hole of a long struggle at Boston in 1775. The British approach fell short, if memory serves; General Gage picked up and returned to Boston. That was nearly 150 years ago. One hundred and thirty-one years later the British again suffered a defeat, this time at the hands of Walter J. Travis, when, at Sandwich, he sailed away with the British Amateur Golf Cup. From that day to this British Golf has rolled America in the dust of British bunkers.

On May 7, eleven American golfers will start shooting for the greens at Deal in the British Amateur championship. Their names: Jesse Sweetser, Francis Ouimet, Bob Gardner", Dave Herron, Max Marston, Fred J. Wright, Harrison Johnson, Jack Neville, Dr. O. F. Willing, George Rotan and Guy M. Sandifer. On the list are four American Amateur champions. With the exceptions of " Chick " Evans, Bobby Jones and Jesse Guilford, the best of American amateur golf is bound for Deal. Later in May the group will pick eight men to play a British eight at St. Andrews for the Walker Cup.

As good, or better, teams than this have sailed away in quest of the British cup since Travis won it in 1904. Closest to success came Bob Gardner in his 37 hole battle with Cyril Tolley in the finals at Muirfield in 1920. Tolley won.