The Southern amateur crown remains in Georgia, though it has moved further south. Arnold Blum of Macon succeeded Charles Harrison of Atlanta by defeating Doug Sanders of Miami Beach, Fla., one up in 36 holes May 12 at Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta. Arnold became the Golden A.nniversarv champion of the Southern Golf Association.

For Sanders the tourney ended three weeks of frustrating golf. Through three tournaments he was under par. Now he goes to work on his game, to keep it in top shape for his trip to England and the British amateur.

Blum, winner of the Southern title in 19,51 and twice quarter finalist in the national amateur championship, took advantage of Doug's only bogey on the afternoon round to squeeze out his triumph. It came on the 35th hole, 215 yards. Doug's tee shot faded into a trap to the right of the green. He blasted out and couldn't get down in one. Arnold parred the hole and halved the last one. Both birdied the final hole. Arnold had to sink a 14- foot putt.

Arnold's biggest lead, two up, came after a morning round of 69. He scored 68 in the afternoon. Doug was 71 in the morning and 67 in the afternoon. The final was strictly a battle of birdies. Arnold was seven under Druid's par 144 for 36 holes. And it took that to whip Sanders.

Arnold, 71-74-145, qualified eight strokes higher than medalist Charlie Dudley, Greenville, S. C. He then made his way in the championship flight of 64 by defeating, in order, Neat Herring, Atlanta, 7 and 6; Eddie Merrins, Meridian, Miss., 3 and 2; Jack Lumpkin, Athens, Ga., 19 holes; Gene Dahlbender, Atlanta, 4 and 3; Art Butler, Tallahassee, Fla., 4 and 3.

Doug, posting the second best qualifying score of 69-70-139, just two strokes over Dudley's 66-71-137, Southern amateur record, defeated Bill Brooker, Atlanta, 4 and 3; E. R. Collins, Atlanta, 2 and 1; Harry Webb, Huntsville, Ala., 5 and 4; Ed Gravely, Rocky Mount, N. C., 5 and 4; Lew Oehmig, Chattanooga, Tenn., 4 and 2. Dudley lost in the third round to Gene Dahlbender, 3 and 2.

There were 63 scores of 158 or better to make up the top flight. Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C., qualified with 156 ,but withdrew. This left one spot open to five players with 159. Bill Ireland, Atlanta, won the place by parring the second playoff hole. Charlie Harrison, defending champion, did not have to qualify. He was knocked out in the second round by George Hamer of Columbus, Ga.

The field of 150; included nearly all the top flight Southern amateur players except 1955 finalist Billy Joe Patton of
Morganton, N. C., and Jo Conrad, San Antonio, Texas.
As part of the qualifying, four players from Tennessee won the Bobby Jones four-ball trophy. Hillman Robbins, Jr.,Memphis (74-73-147) ; Curtis Person, Memphis (71-71-142) ; Lew Oehmig, Chattanooga (70-71-141), and Mason Rudolph, Clarksville (71-74-145), composed the winning team.

Tom Walsh of Greenville, Miss., won the overall senior title with rounds of 76-82-158. He was five shots ahead of Bill McWane of Birmingham, Ala., 83-80-163.

At the annual meeting of the Southern Golf Association it was decided that Birmingham will be the site of the 1958 championship. Next year the event will be at La Gorce CC, Miami Beach.

Golf World--May 19th, 1956

Match Play Results: