The First Los Angeles Open (Genesis Invitational)

The First Los Angeles Open (Genesis Invitational)

The Los Angeles Open — now generally known as the Genesis Invitational — was first performed January 7 – 10, 1926 on the Los Angeles Nation Membership. (For what it’s value, the LA Nation Membership is scheduled to host the 2023 US Open.)

The occasion was sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles as a part of a promotional “golf week.” The thought, nevertheless, apparently got here from sports activities columnist D. Scott Chisholm. Chisholm wrote within the LA Night Specific in July 1925:

A golf week for Los Angeles within the very useless of the winter season. Are you able to think about what that may imply in the way in which of priceless publicity for Los Angeles? Doesn’t that golf week sound fairly good to you?

Not withstanding the truth that it was the author who first prompt “golf week,” we’re of the opinion that it’s a darned effective suggestion and should be completely thought-about.

How would we have a good time golf week, you would possibly ask. We may run off a 36-hole stroke occasion for males with handicaps of 12 and fewer on the Monday and Tuesday on a course aside from the one on which the massive open could be performed. In actual fact, to unfold the honors round, a unique course for every spherical would possibly eb chosen, however they need to be shut collectively and never too distant from the scene of the massive open. That might show a crackerjack opening for a golf week and web appreciable entry cash for the [professional] pot.”

D. Scott Chisholm, LA Night Specific 27 July 1925

Finally, greater than 200 golfers signed as much as play the event, which had a handbag of $10,000. Simultaneous tournaments for newbie golfers have been held at Brentwood Nation Membership and El Caballero Nation Membership.

By the use of comparability, the Lengthy Seashore Open purse was $2,500. The large (for the time) purse absolutely had a lot to do with the attraction of the occasion.

In actual fact, so many entered that the South Course on the Los Angeles Nation Membership was additionally employed for the primary two rounds.

That final minute change brought on a ruckus among the many execs who had been practising solely on the North Course. The professionals really put up a petition in protest. (LA Night Specific, Jan. 5, 1926)

It was to no avail. The committee stood agency.

D. Scott Chisholm famous “I consider the event committee is doing the easiest it is aware of how. There appears no different logical means out of it, and in view of the truth that no more than a dozen of the native execs have performed the south course in two or extra years, it appears to me that it’s as truthful for one as the opposite.

Favored for the Open have been “mashie wielders from east of the Mississippi,” based mostly on their performances on the early January Lengthy Seashore Open. These included Invoice Melhorn, MacDonald Smith and Al Espinosa.

Harry Cooper of Texas and famend trick shot artist Joe Kirkwood led after the primary two rounds, with a complete of 138. Tied for third at 143 have been Al Espinosa, Willie Hunter, Bobby Cruickshank, Al Watrous and Chick Frazer.

Lurking simply behind was celebrated newbie George Von Elm of Utah. Von Elm would win the US Newbie in 1926.

Cooper can be an fascinating story. His father was a golf professional who had apprenticed to Previous Tom Morris. His mom additionally was a golf professional. The Cooper household had moved to Texas when Harry was younger so his father may take a job as a Dallas membership skilled.

Heading into the ultimate spherical, Kirkwood had the lead at 211, with Cooper and Von Elm one stroke behind.

On the primary gap of the ultimate spherical, Cooper and Von Elm each have been in for a chook and the sport was on. Cooper picked up one other chook on the second and barely missed one on the fourth to get a par. Von Elm, in the meantime struggled and obtained down in six on the par three second.

Within the house of 4 holes, Cooper had gained three on Kirkwood and 4 on Von Elm.

Then Von Elm went on a five-hole birdie streak, ending the entrance 9 in three below par.

In the meantime Cooper had struggled a bit. Von Elm and Cooper each ended with 33s on the flip.

On the tenth, Von Elm’s tee shot discovered a entice and a protracted putt for par lipped out. Cooper was down in 4.

Each birdied eleven.

On 13, Cooper drove out of bounds and ended with a six. Von Elm additionally discovered hassle and took a six.

Cooper and Von Elm each parred the par 3 fourteenth.

Then Cooper went on a tear, parring the fifteenth, with a birdie on sixteen and and eagle three on the eighteenth. Von Elm dropped a shot on fifteen, then dropped one other on sixteen with a 3 putt on the par 5.

Bobby Cruikshank, a pre-tournament favourite, additionally was within the combine till the seventeenth, the place he carded a six.

Von Elm additionally had a shot at an eagle on the eighteenth. His second was over the inexperienced, and the pitch again apparently barely missed.

The entire textual content of an article from the 1926 Los Angeles Instances follows. The writing is totally florid, with no obvious recognition of the perils of a run-on sentence.

Harry Cooper Wins Open Tourney

Texas Professional Wins Enormous Prize With 279 Card

Von Elm Is Runner Up

Los Angeles, January 11, 1926

By Invoice Sensible

A par 4 on the fifteenth, a birdie 4 on the sixteenth  – an eagle 3 on the eighteenth, for a 67, a 72-hole combination of 279 and Harry Cooper, Texas Flash had defeated George Von Elm, the best newbie within the West, by three strokes for the primary annual Los Angeles open title – an authorized verify for $3500 – and extra {golfing} glory than even the fast-stepping youth stopped to contemplate after taking part in his closing shot on the north course of the Los Angeles membership yesterday.

Al Espinosa of Chicago and Joe Kirkwood of New York completed with 285 to tie for third place, whereas Wee Willie Hunter of the Brentwood Membership, who fought his means via 4 heart-breaking rounds, Macdonald Smith of New York, twice California open champion, Johnnie Golden, Patterson J.J. and Willie Creavy of Oklahoma Metropolis tied with 290 for fourth place within the nice basic.

Little Vic D’Alberto, assistant skilled on the Los Angeles membership and Bobby Cruickshank, Scots veteran of Oklahoma Metropolis landed within the fifth-place bracket with 291, one stroke below John Black of Wichita, Kan.

Smiling Invoice Melhorn of Chicago, via the medium of a complete flock of missed putts, Al Waltrous, the handsome boy from Furnitureland – via taking part in from the tough repeatedly, Joe Lally, El Paso and Phil Taylor, Victoria, with greater than the typical variety of event breaks have been 294.

Fred Morrison, Ojai, Cal.; Joe Turnsesa, New York, and Jack Hart, Fresno, 295; Ernest Martin, Corona, Cal. and John Rogers, Pittsburg, 296; George Kerrrigan, Pasadena, Frank Walsh, Appleton, Wis. and Harold Sampson, Burlingame, 297, landed within the cash.

As soon as Upon A Time

Leaving the primary tee along with his morning lead of 5 strokes evaporated in a cloud of {golfing} mud that resulted from a 74, two strokes over par for the primary half of his closing thirty-six-hole drive, the cockiest youth in the entire pounding State of Texas challenged the California State, southern, northern newbie and southern open title-holder to a course-burning eighteen gap duel that discovered a document gallery of greater than 10,000 individuals swarming within the wash of California’s biggest title tilt.

Von Elm, with a 67 for the morning spherical, had completed on even phrases with one of many biggest exponents the traditional tee and greens pastime has ever identified – Joe Kirkwood, trick shot wizard, had slid via to a slender main margin of 1 stroke – Al Espinosa and Vic D’Alberto have been one stroke behind – the good MacDonald Smith trailing by however three strokes and others have been coming.

Cooper Bolts

Whereas sympathy for the flagging youth tempered the admiration for fantastic golf of California’s biggest, the erstwhile flagging youth, with the legendary bit between his tooth that seldom closed, clawed his means via hundreds of encouraging followers to a good looking birdie 4 on the primary gap of the afternoon spherical. Von Elm’s birdie for a half on the opening was simply as lovely and the gallery sensed {the golfing} due that can dwell lengthy within the reminiscence of the surging, racing throng that fought for place.

The unconscious nerve – the excusable conceit and the snorting cost of the Texas Twister dropped a twenty-foot putt for an additional birdie – a 2 this time – on some of the harmful holes of the Los Angeles north course.

The overwhelming surge and swirl of the Twister, engulfed Von Elm – and the fair-haired Ranch membership star performed six pictures earlier than holing out on the identical inexperienced – and the Texas flash had picked up three strokes on the threatening Kirkwood – 4 on Von Elm – and was once more clawing his means via to a different par 4 on the fourth – when his daring twenty-five-foot attempt for an additional birdie missed by inches.

Von Elm Units Sail

George Von Elm, trailing by 4 strokes – nonetheless questioning about that heartbreaking 6 on the par 3 second – began a drive of his personal that collected 5 consecutive birdies and regardless of the loyal assault via as many miracle holes – California’s biggest newbie stepped up on the ninth tee with a par 3 for a 32 three strokes below par – and ten holes to go for probably the most consultant miracle ever handed out in western golf circles.

Three places on the ninth inexperienced – whereas hundreds struggled to see Cooper “go for an additional birdie” and the Texas Twister, lacking the birdie – took a par 3 and the youthful champions have been even on the flip – with 33s.

Three over on the second – one other on the ninth – and the ever-increasing gallery cheered California’s personal – and marveled on the native, State and doable nationwide document of six birdies over 9 holes providing one of many stiffest golf assessments within the nation.

Cooper Hyperlinks Lothario

“Faint coronary heart ne’er gained truthful girl,” and if “Girl Luck” “Dame Fortune” and all different legendary feminines had not capitulated to the stout coronary heart that hammered and pounded within the pigeon-like breast of the Texas invader, the legislation of Trigger and Impact was so as a sensational panning by no less than 5,000 ladies and kids – and plenty of extra boys ranging in age from 6 to 60 – and varied different be-ribboned and be-badged people who fought to protect some semblance of order within the biggest golf gallery the native sport has ever identified.

After the fourth, when Von Elm began his birdie drive – Cooper popped one over for a 5 on the canyon gap, whereas the native ace was dropping a brief putt for a fantastic birdie three. 

When the Texas Twister walked as much as his ball – he hit it and with a firmness that brought on veterans of the sport to shiver – and shudder – and the firmness that propelled his driver merged to a boldness along with his putter that was positively uncanny.

Von Elm’s pitch left him an eight-foot putt for a birdie 3 on the sixth – Cooper putted twenty-five toes for a similar rating – mulled over a difficult six-foot return that dropped for a par 4 – simply earlier than George’s ball clicked into the cup for this third consecutive birdie. 

Seventh Dramatic

It’s on the seventh gap that will probably be longest within the reminiscence of all who adopted the knicker-clad slashes. Cooper hooked his tee shot into the barranca forty toes beneath the underside of the fifth tee – greater than seventy-five toes beneath the extent of the timber which might be on the rise to the left of the seventh inexperienced leaving a blind pitch shot that even Walter Hagen would tremble to play – for outcomes.

Von Elm pulled his wooden excessive up on the fifth tee. Cooper – with a depressing lie ready simply lengthy sufficient to be taught he couldn’t sole his membership within the hazard – accepting as correct the road volunteered by a spectator pitched over the tree – fifteen toes wanting the flag.

Von Elm, taking part in over a few of the identical timber – between a lot of the identical shrubbery – holed his troublesome strategy for a birdie 2 – and it was minutes earlier than the gang would give Cooper his probability for a putt.

The entire specialists — alleged and in any other case – had picked Cooper to win – if he didn’t crack below the pressure. Not one of the aforementioned celebrities paused to remark upon the continuous smile that even Von Elm’s miracle pictures couldn’t erase – and the cocky little Texan hustled his little ball over fifteen toes of misleading inexperienced – for a par 3 and the gallery howled.

Von Elm’s second hooked to the left of the eighth inexperienced – Cooper was quick. Von Elm’s pitch left him a twelve-foot putt – Cooper’s ball was simply inside – and each have been down for birdie fours.

Each reached the ninth inexperienced from the tee. Von Elm was quick on his forty-foot strategy. Cooper made one other daring stab for a birdie 2 – was down in three and even along with his newbie accomplice when Von Elm missed a four-foot putt for a halve.

Clan Gathers

Information of the course-burning tour of the Texas Twister and the Crimson Grange of California golf unfold over the ample acres of the Beverly membership – and the 2 youthful contestants all even on the flip, began for dwelling – with a gallery that has been conservatively estimated at 10,000 individuals.

George’s drive caught a entice to the suitable of the tenth fairway – Cooper laid a 250 yard screamer down the middle of the course. Cooper essayed a thirty-foot putt for a birdie – missed and was down in 4 and one stroke below Von Elm when the native star’s lengthy putt was a halve ringed the cup.

Two lovely drives – as many excellent approaches, and cooper dropped a ten-foot putt for a birdie three, whereas Von Elm’s putt rolled six toes earlier than discovering the underside of the cup on the eleventh for a halve.

Hassle Breaks

Hassle broke going to the lengthy thirteenth, when, after a 250-yard drive – Cooper sliced out of bounds. His third shot was simply wanting the inexperienced – and once more the daring shot for a birdie – that may have been a hybrid eagle – missed by inches and it was two putts earlier than he holed out for a six.

Von Elm, from a poor lie in the course of the green, pulled his brassie into the timber to the left of the green – absolutely 150 yards from the inexperienced. His out trickled between the identical timber – a good looking attempt, however sixty yards quick and after a pitch that left him a ten-foot putt for a 5 that rimmed the cup – George was down in six, one over, however nonetheless main Cooper by the slender margin of 1 stroke.

Von Elm laid his strategy useless for a par three on the fourteenth – Cooper barely missed a birdie two and was down in three.

The Texas Twister swept 275 yards down the middle of the fifteenth fairway, whereas Von Elm’s drive left him with a protracted troublesome down-hill lie for a protracted iron dwelling. George’s pitch was trapped over the inexperienced and Cooper dropped a good looking mashie useless for a three-foot putt. Von Elm’s out was quick, his fourth from the push behind the inexperienced, hit the again of the cup and he was down in 5.

Cooper in Farce

Cooper, confronted with one of many shortest putts of his cyclonic {golfing} spherical, missed his birdie however was down in 4 to catch Von Elm for the lead in probably the most thrilling basic the West will ever know.

Cooper barely missed the entice on the suitable of the lengthy sixteenth, along with his second, whereas Von Elm’s excellent iron rolled over to the far fringe of the inexperienced. Cooper laid his seventy-five-foot strategy useless and was down for a birdie 4. For the second time through the spherical that can occupy a lot house in native golf historical past, Von Elm three-putted and dropped one other stroke with a par 5 – two strokes down and two holes to play.

A lot has been stated concerning the trick seventeenth gap, however the teeming corsage of the California newbie and the cocky assurance of the Texas skilled thrilled hundreds when two excellent pictures reached the inexperienced and held.

The seventeenth ruined Bobby Cruickshank, with a 6 and the fast-stepping Texas Twister, with the $10,000 Los Angeles Open title in his golf bag, brought on the Goddess of Likelihood to hold her head in disgrace by placing twenty toes and lacking a birdie two by inches. The seventeenth inexperienced slopes towards the inexperienced at an alarming diploma and the slight parallel ledge resulting in the flag is a really, very small safety to maintain rolling balls from gathering pace and ending within the deep entice guarding the inexperienced. 

Cooper, placing from the ledge, despatched his ball in a semicircle and whereas even the uninitiated held their breath, the ball, after hitting the again of the cup, began for the barranca, when the Tee and Greens Angels that had carried Cooper via probably the most sensational golf competitors of his profession, intervened and the ball stopped rolling. Von Elm was down in three and Cooper dropped his troublesome putt for a half.

Dramatic Finale

Cooper reached the inexperienced with an ideal iron that traveled between surging rows of applauding hundreds. Von Elm was over the pin with is second and barely missed an eagle three, when up stepped the knicker-clad Twister from Texas, and as a becoming climax to probably the most meteoric 72 holes in native historical past, dropped his twenty-five-foot putt, uphill and every part, for an eagle tree, probably the most dramatic finale to what should all the time dwell as one nice event.

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