1937

Stages Garrison Finish to Nose Out Guldahl Who Won Second Money
DUDLEY FINISHES THIRD
Nelson Scores Two Birdies and Eagle on Second Nine For Card of 70

By Tom Wall
Chronicle Sports Editor

Augusta, Ga., Monday, April 5, 1937 -- Clipping four strokes from par for a 32 on the second section, poker-faced Byron Nelson of Reading, Pa., put on a spectacular display of shot-making yesterday afternoon to capture the championship of the fourth Masters' Invitational Golf tournament in a driving finish on the water-logged Augusta National course.

Nelson, the leader at the end of 36 holes, came back to win after relinquishing the 54-hole leadership to dark-haired Ralph Guldahl of St. Louis, who finished second with 285, one stroke in front of Ed Dudley of Augusta, one of the pre-tournament favorites. Nelson collected $1,500 top prize money in addition to the more than $2,000 he picked up through the purchase of half interest in the Calcutta ticket issued in his name.

OVERHAULS GULDAHL

With Dudley's 286 already beaten by Guldahl, Nelson realized at the outset of his journey on the back nine that he would have to exhibit some near super golf if he were to overtake his Missouri rival in the short distance that separated the two. Gene Sarazen had needed to do the same in the 1935 tournament. And he had done it.

So, when the boyish-looking Nelson proceeded to pick up six strokes on that section - a feat the bookies would have been glad to book at the start as not being probable - Guldahl's fate was signed, sealed and delivered to Grantland Rice, internationally known sports commentator, who was designated to hand out the checks to the prize winners.

COLLECTS FEATHERS

Oddly enough, Guldahl's loss was Nelson's gain in more ways than one. Nelson picked up strokes on holes where Guldahl lost them. The Reading boy's deuce on the 12th compared with a five for Guldahl, who slumped farther back as he used up six strokes on the 13th where Byron picked up his eagle three.

Guldahl and Nelson engaged in a furious stretch drive after the rain-soaked course proved too much for eager Ed Dudley, who started with a seven on the difficult second hole and never recovered. He finished the journey with a 74 for a 72-hole 286.

By Kenneth Gregory
The Associated Press

Augusta, Ga., April 4 (AP) - Blazing over the home stretch with a spectacular 32, Byron Nelson, gangling Irishman from Reading, Penna., clamped a ``full Nelson'' on the field today to win the fourth Augusta National Golf tournament featuring the annual return to competition of Bobby Jones.

On two holes - the 12th and 13th - Nelson, the Metropolitan open champion, picked up six strokes. He dumped in a long putt for a deuce on the 12th where Guldahl took a five and chipped in from two feet off the green on the par five 13th to get an eagle, where Guldahl had a six. ``I never thought about my chances,'' said Nelson, smiling in his boyish manner. ``I just kept plugging away and hoping. It seemed that everything I did was right and the ball was rolling for me.''

``When I shook the lead during the third round I felt I was going to win,'' Nelson added.

For finishing second Guldahl received a check for $800 and Dudley got $600 as third place. Dudley, after three successive sub-par rounds, took a 74 on the last 18, going out in 39 after taking a bad seven on the long second hole. Light Horse Harry Cooper of Chicago, tied with Nelson for third place behind Dudley with 213s and four strokes back of Guldahl after 54 holes, wound up with a 74 and fourth place money of $500.

Bobby Jones, still lacking his old-time concentration about the greens, finished in 29th place, four steps ahead of his position a year ago. He had a fourth round 77 and a total of 303.

JONES LED STARS

Nelson's 72 hole tally was just one stroke over the record of 282 made two years ago when Sarazen knocked in his famous ``double eagle.'' Sarazen, taking a 73 on the final round, finished with a 300 and in a tie with Ray Mangrum of Oakmont, Penns., for 24th place. Young Nelson played over the final lap with the veteran Wiffy Cox of Washington, D.C., who wound up in the 11th place with 295.

Ky Laffoon of Chicago finished in fifth place with 290, one stroke ahead of Jimmy Thomson of Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa., who was one blow in front of Al Watrous of Detroit, who had 292. Next came the veteran Tommy Armour of Chicago and Vic Ghezzi of Deal, N.J., with 293s.

America's current professional champions, Tony Manero of Salem, Mass., the national open king, and Denny Shute of Boston, Mass., wearer of the PGA crown, finished in a tie for 13th place along with Clarence Clark of Bloomfield, N.J., and Johnny Revolta of Chicago, who was just six strokes away from the lead after 54 holes. Charlie Yates of Atlanta, former Western and National Intercollegiate Amateur champion, took honors in the simon pure ranks with a final tally of 301, six strokes in front of Charles (Chuck) Kocsis of Detroit, University of Michigan star.

Jones, whose 303 total was three blows in front of his 72-hole mark last year, was tied with Billy Burke of Cleveland, O., former national open champion, and Al Espinosa, from Mexico City.

Cards of the leaders for the final round of the tournament:

  Par out         454 343 454-36
  Byron Nelson       454 344 554-38
  Ralph Guldahl      454 352 465-38
  Ed Dudley          474 244 455-39
  Harry Cooper       554 343 465-39
  Ky Laffoon         453 453 445-37
  Par in         443 545 344-36-72-288
  Nelson            342 345 344-32-70-283
  Guldahl           435 644 354-38-76-285
  Dudley            343 544 345-35-74-286
  Cooper            443 444 354-35-74-287
  Laffoon           443 454 444-36-73-290