TMEHNEHWBT!
VOL. XXI, NO. 10
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 13, 1018
FIVE CENTS
ROBESON'S SPOON
Saves the Day and Wins North and
South Championship
Annnul Coif Tournament
in Xin DlvUlona
Flayed
SSI rr ALL HUNG on that
spoon shot. In all the
history of Pinehurst
golf, it is doubtful if
ever there was so much
discussion of a fairway
shot. Fancy approaches,
and twenty foot putts
have fisrured large in
almost every final championship match.
Irving S. Robeson was up against it.
One up at the end of the first eighteen
holes of the final round of the United
Xorth and South championship, he had
gone out against R. A. Stranahan of
Inverness a two to one favorite. But
as the brilliant itinerant gallery slowly
swept towards the finish, the hearts of
the Tin Whistles were heavy, and those
two to one fellows were strangely silent
and introspective. For Stranahan had
evened the match at the turn, and with
a succession of two hundred and fifty
yard drives, followed up with a streak
of genuine championship play had edged
two holes into the lead by the time they
reached the 13th. This hole wa3 halve 1
in par. Some nervy work by Eobeson
on the fourteenth saved one hole, the fif
teenth was tied again, and then at this
critical juncture the breathless multi
tude saw Bobeson drive dead into the
bottomless sands of the great pit just
over the pond. One down, one more as
good as lost and only two to go this
was the prospect when he shoveled out
on the edge.
. He lay 200 yards from the green. And
it was the green or bust. He selected
his spoon for this most vital of all
shots. "He won't get there,' ' said the
amateurs. "He will go over," said the
professionals, when he leaned on it with
all his might."
They still debate whether he hit it as
he intended, or whether it should have
been short or over. The fact is that the
ball came to rest ten feet from the cup
as if it had been trained for the part.
The score was not so wonderful at that.
He went down in five. Stranahan 's
third went over, he recovered himself
badly and lost the hole, leaving the score
even as they approached the 17th.
Here was the perfect dramatic finish
for the championship, not equalled since
Phil Carter saved his bacon two years
ago with a twenty foot putt on the same
green. The chances had suddenly svning
violently in Robeson's favor. For
Stranahan ?s strength lay in the long
game. He had consistently had a shade
the better of it getting to all the greens,
and had made the most of it. On the
other hand, he had only won one short
hole in the entire match. And the crux
of the battle was right there at this
short and ugly 17th. Eobeson 's drive
landed him safe from the innumerable
pitfalls by the edge of the green a
safe for a three as if it Lai already been
chalked up. Stranahans mahie Trent
wide, and left him straggling in vain for
a half from a vicious trap.
So, in the most dramatic style, with
the whole world looking on. and the
home grounds covered with tie expectant
throng, they drove from the last tee of
the thirty-six, with Bobeson ore up.
The erratics of this last hole left
everyone quite limp. Both -irixe? were
a bit off. Robeson's spoon carried Lira
nearly hole high on the swosi but into
the dangerous folds of a trap. -nLich
has been the grave of more than one
near-champion. Stranahan was short,
but had a clear shot for the green. It
was his last chance. If he could lay his
third dead, or near enough to sink a
desperate putt such as Paul won with in
the April tournament two years ago, he
had a chance. But sad to tell, he was
over anxious and looked up. His fourth
was perfect, a long straight run-up to
within a few inches of the cup. If!
There never was a game with so many
if. Robeson recovered on his third,
and rambled up within a couple of feet
on his fourth, at whien the Inverness
champion very gallantly conceded the
half, and so the match.
WHAT BECAME OF SCHOFIELD
Well, but what became of Schofield,
that romped Lome unchallenged with the
medal, and Fownea of the 74, and Doc
tor Gardner; what became of Gates,
champion of Carolina tournament, and
Mark well, the terror of Lake Shore? I
will tell yox For two rounds Schofield
held Out in hi old style, running away
with Howard Phillips 5 and 6, laying
out R. O. Tnnstall of Norfolk 5 and 4.
But on the third round there eame a big
wind, and it spoiled his style, while
Robeson proceeded on his inevitable and
placid way. Stranahan, unheralded and
unsung, developed a speed early in the
same that accounted for Ir. Gardner
no 3e-s than four op and three to go.
He was carne-i by Yat-es to the six
teenth, Larirg dirj.-osed of Donali Par
son without mercy on the twelfth green
Tie consolation narrorred into a bat
tle between Dr. Gardner and Ho-warl
Philips, in which Philips inevitable 7s
outbalanced Lis equally inevitable 2?,
leaving the Doctor vici-or 2 cp.
THE BATTLE CF THZ ICTUS.
The Tin Willies Lad their inning
-srien their champion took off the raia
i-TOph". The re?t of the lical brigade
THE SPRING MEET
Little
Hera Champion of
Pinehnrst Track
the
TimWy O Avtmy With Wmrtmm
IIdfild Sprlar m rprU and
lYIil aad CrjtmUtm 'fadlcafd
AND NOW CAME the
how down on the Track.
Heralded as the Spring
Steeple Chase, and aug
mented by a pure of
$2-0 put up for the
champion of the Flat
mile, the rtable-3 that
hare been contributing
to the gaiety of the Sandhills this Win
ter groomed their horses for the main
event, aud all wefct in to establish a final
classification.
When it corner right down to business
and the. big money, the -steeple chase
ha narrowed to Herd's Little Horn and
Xibbs fax&ous Melos. So the trade was
cleared, the full course was layed out,
and all rupercexneraries remored, to set
tle just where these two were to stand
for the Season. TLe old rival jockeji
took their places Why-mark respleadant
in the Blue and White, and Call riling
for Herd. TLe Pinehurst stables en
tered Firebrand as & pace maker, but he
could hardly taHlj even as that in this
rae of giants.
TLe story is qukkly told. JXelo
sprang to the leal in hi test form, and
twice circle 1 the field, leading at eTerr
jurtp. HI supporters are quite justii
in the delight expressed at Lis per
formance, his ityle and his speed, as
kng a. it lasted- TLe difference in the
ConUxif.d on cg
.4.
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