THE QUESTION: Pro Golfer Lloyd Mangrum says amateurs should not be permitted to compete in tournaments with professional golfers. Do you agree?

BOB ROSBURG
Palo Alto, Calif.
1959 PGA champion
Yes and no. We should tell our sponsors just how many amateurs are advisable in a particular tournament. Mangrum was upset by the fact that the amateurs playing were not top caliber. It's true that too many amateurs who should not be in our tournaments are able to get in.

JACK NICKLAUS
Ohio State University
1959 Amateur golf champion
He is wrong. Golf is not a business. If it were, millions of Americans would not be such avid golfers and lots of pros would be out of jobs. If an amateur has a chance to beat the pros, he should compete with them. The number of amateurs should be limited, but that's no problem.

JAY HEBERT
Lafayette, La.
Member, U.S. Ryder
Cup team
They should be restricted to top amateurs. It's a great experience for them. Jack Nicklaus played with us and I'm sure this helped him a lot. When we are pressed for time in our tournaments, only six or seven amateurs should be allowed to compete.

DOW FINSTERWALD
Tequesta, Fla.
Pro at Tequesta
Country Club
Yes and no. During the winter there are so many pros that a limit must be placed on numbers because of the few daylight hours. Yet, there is a place for amateurs in open competition, but only those amateurs chosen during qualifying rounds in competition against pros.

WARD WETTLAUFER
Buffalo, N.Y.
Member, 1959 U.S.
Walker Cup team
I don't agree. Top amateurs should be allowed to compete in all the opens. The qualifying round eliminates those who should not compete. Amateurs should get the valuable experience of competing against the pros, just as most of the top pros got their experience in the past.

JULIUS BOROS
Southern Pines, N.C.
Golf pro at Mid
Pines Club
Mangrum's reason was that an amateur takes the place of a pro and deprives him of the chance to make some money. However, I think it is good to have some amateurs. It adds color and gives local amateurs a greater interest in golf. But we shouldn't have too many of them.

BILLY JOE PATTON
Morganton, N.C.
Member, 1959 U.S.
Walker Cup Team
In most open competitions he may be right, but he certainly wasn't thinking of all amateurs. At times, I am sure the pros are happy to see amateurs. I'm thinking about tournaments like the Open and the Masters where many pros and amateurs play mainly for the prestige and not the money.

CHARLES COE
Oklahoma City
Captain, 1959 U.S.
Walker Cup Team
I talked with Lloyd Mangrum after he made that statement because I definitely feel that amateurs are an asset to any open tournament. However, it would be fairer to the pros if the qualifying rules were tightened. I think a man should have a two or better handicap before being considered as an entrant.

DEANE BEMAN
U. of Maryland
British Amateur Champion
He is both right and wrong. Something should be done, but I don't think he answer is to exclude the amateurs. I'd hate to be told I couldn't compete because of my amateur status. However, there could be stiffer qualifications to make sure the field isn't too cluttered and the caliber of the play is not harmed.

BILLY CASPER JR.
Apple Valley, Calif.
U.S. Open champion
Yes. An amateur on a lark shouldn't take a position from a pro who makes his livelihood playing golf. In the U.S. Open we all qualify together, and amateurs take spots away from the pros who are trying to make a living. If not too many pros are playing, a few qualified amateurs should compete to fill the tournament.

ELEVEN PHOTOS