Cary Middlecoff

Cary Middlecoff, 35, representing the Riverlake Country Club, Dallas, Texas, won his second Open Championship with a score of 71-70-70-70-281, one over par, over the East Course of the Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, N. Y. After an opening day devoted to a series of unusual questions on the Rules of Golf, the event developed into a drama on the final day as Ben Hogan, Julius Boros and Ted Kroll successively moved into striking positions after Middlecoff had posted his score.

First, Hogan came to the 70th needing three pars to tie. He missed by a stroke when a putt of 30 inches on the 71st failed to drop, and he finished with 282. Then Boros needed one birdie in the last three to tie. His birdie put on the last hole hit the hole but spun out. He had to be content with three straight pars and a second-place tie with Hogan at 282. Finally, Kroll, needing four pars to win, went 4-7-5-4 against par of 3-4-4-4. A hooked drive under a tree on No. 70 contributed to his undoing.

He finished in a tie for fourth with Ed Furgol and Peter Thomson, the British Open Champion, at 285. Ken Venturi, of San Francisco, California finished strongly to place eighth at 289 and lead the amateurs. Jack Fleck, of Davenport, Iowa, the defending Champion, scored 150 for the first two rounds and failed by one shot to qualify for the final 36 holes.