 Hagen had close calls in this event; his first round match with low qualifier Al Watrous went to 39 holes and the quarterfinal match with future two-time champion Leo Diegel went to 40 holes after Diegel built an early lead.Hagen defeated Diegel the following year in the finals, then Diegel beat Hagen on the way to his two titles in 1928 and 1929.The four 18-hole courses at Olympia Fields were reduced to two in the 1940s when the club sold half of its property.