Room at the Top for Amateurs

If, as Alexander Woollcott once wrote, the world's two oldest professions have been ruined by amateurs, it is equally true that golf owes its nonprofessionals a great debt. And no institution of golf acknowledges this debt more graciously than the Masters, which each year leaves room among its superstars and old pros for a sprinkling of new faces from amateur ranks. This year's crop, some of whom are seen on the next four pages, includes two golfers (opposite) who have all the physical equipment to win, even though tradition and the Augusta course conspire against them. Marvin (Vinnie) Giles III of Richmond (above), runner-up in the last three U.S. Amateurs, is making his third try at Augusta. Steve Melnyk (below) is a burly ex-collegian who won the 1969 U.S. Amateur with a slashing style very much in the Nicklaus-Palmer tradition. At Augusta, that means something.

Michael Bonallack, 35, a British truck-company executive, is a four-time British Amateur champion ('61, '65, '68 and '69) and seven-time Walker Cup competitor.

Tom Watson (left), a 20-year-old Stanford student, shot his way to Augusta by tying for fifth in last year's U.S. Amateur, his best finish in three tries.

Charles Coe, 46, an Oklahoma City stockbroker, has played in 17 Masters, made the cut in 14, finished second once. He won two Amateur titles, 1949 and 1958.

Richard L. Siderowf, 32, is a Connecticut stockbroker who made the Walker Cup team in 1969, which got him into the Masters. He was low amateur in the '68 Open.

Dr. Edgar Updegraff, 48, a Tucson urologist, came in seventh in the U.S. Amateur in 1969 and was on the Walker Cup team. This will be his sixth Masters.

John Bohmann, now in the Air Force, was a Texas college student when he played in his first Masters. He's back this year.

EIGHT PHOTOS

JAMES DRAKE