1895 U.S. Open (golf)
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 4, 1895 |
| Location | Newport, Rhode Island 41°27′43″N 71°20′49″W / 41.462°N 71.347°W |
| Course | Newport Golf Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Format | Stroke play − 36 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Length | 5,510 yards (5,038 m)[1] |
| Field | 11: 10 pros, 1 amateur[2] |
| Cut | none |
| Prize fund | $335 |
| Winner's share | $150 |
| Champion | |
| Horace Rawlins | |
| 173 | |
| Location map | |
Newport Location in the United States Newport Location in Rhode Island | |
The 1895 U.S. Open was the first U.S. Open, held on Friday, October 4, at Newport Golf Club in Newport, Rhode Island. Horace Rawlins won the inaugural event, two strokes ahead of runner-up Willie Dunn.[3]
Eleven players began the tournament (three withdrew before play began), completing four loops around Newport's nine holes, which measured 2,755 yards (2,519 m).[1] At the end of the first 18-holes Willie Campbell, Willie Dunn, and James Foulis were tied for the lead with 89, with Horace Rawlins two back at 91. Rawlins shot 41 on each of the last two loops of the course to post an 82 and 173 total, two ahead of Dunn and three ahead of Foulis and Canadian Andrew Smith, the lone amateur in the field. Rawlins won a winner's share of $150 and a gold medal.[1][4]
Background
The event was held as part of the first championship meeting of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The U.S. Amateur championship was contested by match-play and was held from October 1st to the 3rd. The Open Championship was held the following day. The two championships were held on the same course for the next two years, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 1896 and the Chicago Golf Club in 1897.
The USGA championships at Newport were originally scheduled for September, but were rearranged to avoid clashing with the America's Cup yacht races, held in early September.[5]
Course
The championship was played on the 9-hole course of the Newport Golf Club.[6]
| Hole | Name | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plateau | 240 |
| 2 | Reef | 385 |
| 3 | Cop | 165 |
| 4 | Rock | 190 |
| 5 | Orchard | 340 |
| 6 | Quarry | 485 |
| 7 | Harbor | 300 |
| 8 | Meadow | 360 |
| 9 | Home | 290 |
| Total | 2,755 | |
Field
Four amateurs entered the event: Charles Blair Macdonald, Winthrop Rutherfurd, Andrew Smith and L. B. Stoddard.[6] However Macdonald, Rutherford and Stoddard withdrew before the event started, leaving only the Canadian amateur Andrew Smith in the event. Ten professionals entered, Newport being the only club with two entries.[6] It was also reported that George Strath had tried to enter. Strath had only arrived in the United States on September 28.[7]
Final leaderboard
Friday, October 4, 1895
| Place | Player | Score | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horace Rawlins | 91-82=173 | 150 |
| 2 | Willie Dunn | 89-86=175 | 100 |
| T3 | James Foulis | 89-87=176 | 50 |
| Andrew Smith (a) | 90-86=176 | 0 | |
| 5 | William Davis | 94-84=178 | 25 |
| 6 | Willie Campbell | 89-90=179 | 10 |
| T7 | John Harland | 93-90=183 | 0 |
| John Patrick | 94-89=183 | ||
| 9 | Samuel Tucker | 97-88=185 | |
| 10 | John Reid | 100-106=206 | |
| WD | Willie Norton | 109 |
- (a) denotes amateur
Scorecard
Source: [8]
References
- ^ a b c Gola, Hank (June 15, 1995). "U.S. Open challenges golf's best". Wilmington Morning Star. (New York Daily News). p. 4C.
- ^ "10 pros, 1 amateur in first Open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 13, 1983. p. 58.
- ^ "Rawlins is Champion". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. October 25, 1895. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "British dominate early history of Open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 13, 1983. p. 44.
- ^ Gundelfinger, Phil (May 15, 1962). "The Open has grown up since 1895 Rawlins win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "Now for Golf Champions". The New York Herald. September 30, 1895. p. 9 – via Newspaper.com.
- ^ "The Golf Championships". The New York Herald. October 1, 1895. p. 4 – via Newspaper.com.
- ^ "Beat the Cracks". The Boston Globe. October 5, 1895. p. 5 – via Newspaper.com.