1951

There was a defending Champion for the first time at the University of Illinois, in July 1951, but he lasted only four rounds. Billy Ford, of Charleston, S.C., upset Mason Rudolph by one hole.

K. Tommy Jacobs, of Montebello, California, another 16-year-old, defeated Floyd Addington, 17, of Dallas, 4 and 2, in the final. Jacobs had lost in the third round the previous year.

Entries this year rose to a new high of 596, and, as in the first year, 41 sectional qualifying rounds were held to accommodate them; Jimmy Powell's 69 at San Antonio, Texas, was the low score. The caliber of junior play was improving steadily.

Twelve of the Junior qualifiers subsequently gained places in the Amateur, and Jacobs went to the semifinal round of that Championship. The new Junior Championship Committee also began to take shape and eleven members were present at the University of Illinois to assist in the conduct of play and to discuss policies at three evening meetings.