Sure & Unshowy

Before the final round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Golf Championship in Atlanta, most of the experts confidently doped out the result. Chunky little Mae Murray,* 24, daughter of a Rutland, Vt. golf pro, was the sensation of the tournament. In successive matches marked by sometimes erratic, more often brilliant play, she had downed longtime Argentine Champion Fay Crocker and former U.S. Finalists Dot Kielty and Helen Sigel. On performance, seven out of eight sport-writers picked Mae to win.

In so doing, the experts overlooked another kind of performance. Beverly Hanson, 23, of Fargo, N.D., carried less brilliance in her bag, but she seldom strayed from par or from the fairways. In her own steady fashion, the lanky North Dakota girl had won seven of the nine tournaments she entered this year, and she was coolly bent on taking No. 10. In the final, while little Mae made most of the spectacular shots, Beverly Hanson held to her sure, unshowy game, was 4 up after 18. On the 32nd, where Mae topped her brassie shot and recovered for a par 5, methodical Beverly was on the green in 2, putted out for a birdie 4, had the championship won, 6 and 4.

* No kin to the ex-cinemactress of the same name.

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