Californicms in Florida

"The next national champion will be either Betz or Bundy," predicted U. S. tennis experts last fall, when Alice Marble turned professional. Last week, at Boston's Longwood Cricket Club, the finalists in the national indoor tennis championship turned out to be: 21-year-old Pauline Betz and 24-year-old Dorothy May Sutton Bundy.

Old-timers would like to see bouncing Dorothy ("Dodo") Bundy become U. S. tennis queen. Daughter of beloved May Sutton, first U. S. girl to win the All-England championship at Wimbledon (1905), Dodo has a powerful forehand, like her mother's. Four years ago she was good enough to be invited to play on the international Wightman Cup team. Three years ago she won the championship of Australia. But in the national indoor final last week, Dodo Bundy was not quite good enough to beat Pauline Betz. After a tough two-hour struggle, Miss Betz won the match and title, 6-1, 10-12, 6-2.

Pretty Pauline Betz, like Dodo Bundy, is a sun-kissed Californian. Daughter of a physical-education teacher, she learned her tennis in Los Angeles' public parks. Southern California's pride in the Misses Betz and Bundy was mixed with chagrin. For both of them had deserted California, enrolled as students at Florida's Rollins College.

Rollins is a pleasant little institution cuddling among the palms in north central Florida. It is within 200 miles of St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, other headline-hunting resorts that put on winter tennis tournaments. So when little Rollins offered them tennis scholarships last summer, it was hard for Miss Betz and Miss Bundy to refuse. Rollins also scooped up Tennis Aces Jack Kramer (U. S. No. 6) and Eddie Alloo (U. S. No. 17).

Rollins' investment has already begun to pay dividends. Sportswriters and photographers have beaten a path to its campus to get better acquainted with its twinkling stars. Miss Betz, known as "Bobbie," is the belle of the campus. An all-round athlete, she is forward on the basketball team, table-tennis champion of Florida. In part payment for her scholarship, she helps teach tennis, has boosted attendance at tennis classes from 35 to 250 (half the student body) within six months.

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