Arnold Palmer, 24, of Latrobe, Pa., defeated Robert Sweeny, 43, of New York, 1 up, in a colorful and thrilling final in the second playing at the Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Palmer was two over par for the 36 holes.

He had come through what many considered the strongest quarter of the draw and defeated, among others, Frank Stranahan in the fifth round of his last Championship as an amateur.

Stranahan, in turn, had defeated E. Harvie Ward, Jr., fresh from his victory the previous week in the Canadian Amateur Championship.