For the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1902, the medalist went all the way and captured the crown in the Southern Amateur Golf Championship.

Dashing Dale Morey, the flashily attired Texan from Dallas, terminated the four-year reign of Georgia golfers by solidly trouncing defending champion Tommy Barnes of Atlanta, 8 and 7, in the finals of the 44th annual SGA championship played over the beautiful New Orleans Country Club layout. Barnes had previously won the 1947 event at Louisville, Kentucky, and the 1949 tourney at Asheville, North Carolina.

For Morey, the former Louisiana State University basketball coach, golf and cage star, the New Orleans Country Club course has been the scene of his greatest performances. In the spring of 1950, the sandpaper salesman captured the New Orleans Country Club Invitation tournament in which he established a new course record--a blazing six-under-par 65. In fact, he accomplished the feat twice, the first time unofficially because front tees were used and the second time officially. The converted Texan, who was reinstated as an amateur following a brief and uneventful career as a professional in his native state of Indiana, won the sectional qualifying round for the National Open on the same New Orleans Country Club links in 1950.

Posting a brilliant five-under-par 66 in a driving rain on the first day of qualifying, Morey added an even-par 71 the following afternoon for a 137 to equal the tournament record of 137 set by Charlie Harper, Jr., of Jacksonville, Florida, in the 1947 Southern championship.

An added highlight of the quarterfinals was a match between two of the most sparkling performers ever to participate in the Southern--21 year-old Monty Hill of Greensboro, North Carolina, and 17-year-old Eddie Merrins, present holder of the Mississippi State amateur crown from Meridian. Merrins was one up through No. 15 but the sensational little Davidson College linksman started to rally and won the next three holes, taking the match 2 and 1.

Hill gave a splendid account of himself in his 36-hole semifinals encounter with Morey, but experience told the tale as Morey came out on top, 5 and 4. Barnes made his best showing against Gardner Dickinson, Jr., in the quarterfinals, and his magic putter gained for him a well-deserved 4 and 3 victory over the brilliant, former Louisiana State University links great.

The finals match between Mporey and Barnes was anti-climatic as most of the brilliant shooting and exciting matches were played in the earlier rounds. Barnes, apparently playing under a terrific strain because of his recent operation, admitted he had the worst scores of his career against Morey.

Dale fashioned a neat one-under-par 35 on the first nine of the morning round to lead four up. Barnes soared to an un-impressive 40. Morey stretched his advantage to eight up at the end of 18 after tabbing another 35 for a one-under 70. Barnes once again took another 40 strokes.

Marking the first time that the southern was played under a new set-up of only 64 low scorers qualifying, the field for the 1950 tournament attracted a slim field of 94 of Dixie's golfing elite. Because of his undergoing minor surgery, it was learned only at the last minute that Barnes would be able to defend his championship.

The wiry little Peach State pellet-pounder, who took the No. 1 position in the draw instead of competing for the coveted Sam Perry medal, downed Wayne Williams of Greenwood, Mississippi, 6 and 5, in the elimination round and brushed aside long-knocking Tony Frabbiele of New Orleans, 3 and 2 in the first round of the championship flight.

Morey registered 4 and 2 victories over former Alabama State champion, Harry Pritchett of Tuscaloosa, and Carling Dinkler, Jr., son of the hotel magnate, in his first two matches.

The second round found Barnes taking ex-Mississippi State amateur titleholder,Hunter George Weddington of Meridian, into camp, 3 and 2. Dunking an 18-foot putt on the 18th green gave Barnes a one up triumph over Dick Hackett of Rome, Georgia, in the quarterfinals. Morey experienced little difficulty in eliminating the twice national lefthanded champion, Allen Everett of Rome, Georgia, in the third round, 3 and 2, but found Arnold Blum of Macon, present king of the Georgia linksmen, a tough customer.

Blum was three up coming to No. 12 and it looked as though the medalist was faced with certain defeat. Morey's second shot landed on the fringe of the green to the right of the cup while Blum's ball was on the carpet about 15 feet from the pin. There was a question as to whether Morey's ball was in the trap or merely on sand on the green. Morey, playing the ball as if it were in the trap, therefore not grounding his club, made a spectacular explosion about five feet from the hole. Just after Blum started his first putt, a heckler in the gallery applied the "needle" to the Georgian and he putted long. Blum muffed his second putt, about a sic footer, while Morey calmly canned his to win the hole. Dale recovered brilliantly to bag the next four holes to win the heated duel, 2 and 1.

On the front side of the afternoon session, Barnes tried valiantly to trim Morey's almost insurmountable advantage, but he just couldn't come close. Tommy was even with regulation figures, tabbing a 36 while Morey, leading 7 up at the end of 27 holes, had a 37.

Morey canned a 20-footer for a birdie-duece on the 28th to go 8 up and then put the finishing touches on the game, but outclassed the Georgian on the next hole which was halved in bogey-fives.

Morey was the marvel of consistency throughout the tournament. While not a long hitter, his tee shots always split the fairways. His short game was superb and his putting magnificent. Barnes, one of the few times in his career playing the role of underdog, was under terrific pressure throughout the tournament. He made a game effort before surrendering his championship.

This tournament marked the first time in the four years that the Southern was held in New Orleans that a player from the Crescent City did not win the crown. Vincent D'Antoni, former National Intercollegiate titleholder from Tulane, and Dick CoIlord, Jr., the lone New Orleans survivors after the first two matches, caused the Crescent City tradition to be broken as they were eliminated in the third round.

New Orleans did, however, manage to gain some of the glory of the Southern as Charles Rosen, II, ex-city champion, won the consolation cup by defeating B. C. Nabers, a former Louisiana State amateur king, now playing out of St. Petersburg, Florida, 10 and 8, in the finals.

A little excitement was stirred up during the tournament concerning a member club of the SGA planning to conduct a Calcutta auction. But, all was quiet after Col. Lee S. Read, President James Tupper and his capable officials of the SGA, quieted things by strongly protesting the club's action by advocating against such actions. The SGA's stand on gamblng prevented the possibility of any events marring such a perfectly conducted tournament.

Special praise goes to Professional Harold Lee, his capable staff of assistants and greenkeepers for maintaining the wonderful condition of the New Orleans Country Club course despite rains during the opening day of qualifying. The officials of the New Orleans Country Club made all of the contestants always feel right at home during their stay, as the marvelous facilities of the club were available throughout the tournament. Never before was such hospitality shown.

Match Play Results: