HAGEN WINS “OPEN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 352, 12 May 1928, Page 9

HAGEN WINS “OPEN”

GOLF TITLE HELD FOR U.S.A. NECK-AND-NECK STRUGGLE GENE SARAZEN SECOND British Official Wireless noon. RUGBY, Friday. A RCHIE COMPSTON, the British golfer, made a magnifiui cent fight to recover the open golf championship for Great Britain at Sandwich. The American, Walter Hagen, however, won with 292, Gene Sarazen (United States) being second. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.)

Reed. 11.45 a.m. LONDON, Friday. Walter Hagen’s lionheartedness gave him his third British championship, after a neck-and-neck struggle in which Gene Sarazen, Jurado, and Archie kept in the running

till the last round. The young Argentinian surprised everyone in the earlier rounds. lie is a slight-built, graceful, art-not-strength type of player, but he found a gruelling

ordeal in the fourth round fatal, and

lost all chance when he took 41 for the first half of the last round. Compston, Britain’s greatest hope, lost his hopes of the championship at the third hole in the last round with a fearful seven. His drives went past the bunker there. Disregarding the safety-first rule, he tried a forcing long shot, with the result that he pushed the hall further into the sand. Compston made a dreadful five at the short sixth, but for the remainder of the round he played wonderful, courageous golf.

. All the week the British had hoped against hope that Abe Mitchell or George Duncan would have an Inspired round and come to the front, but neither could keep out of trouble. There was fine weather throughout, but strong and often bitterly cold winds.

Large crowds followed the players. The Duke of York on Thursday walked round a good way with Mitchell. Today the Prince of Wales, after playing an early-morning round on the Prince’s course with Wethered, the Hon. Michael Scott and Major Lees, mingled freely with the gallery in the afternoon. He was generally not recognised. He later presented the prizes. Hagen said he had never won a championship with less confi-

dence. He scarcely felt himself master of any club in his bag, and he was surprised that he did so

well. The fact that he knew the course well was a great help. The “Daily Express” in an editorial says that golfers all the world over must do homage to Hagen, who, except possibly Bobby Jones, must be reckoned the world’s greatest tournament golfer. Hagen’s victory is particularly meritorious, after his suffering such a drubbing by Compston. which would have shaken the nerves of anyone with a less persistent will to win.