1915 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1915 U.S. Open was the 21st U.S. Open, held June 17–18 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, west of New York City. Four-time U.S. Amateur champion Jerome Travers captured his only U.S. Open title, one stroke ahead of runner-up Tom McNamara.[1] The championship was played on the original course at Baltusrol, now known as the Old Course, which no longer exists.

1915 U.S. Open
Travers with the winner's cup
Tournament information
DatesJune 17−18, 1915
LocationSpringfield, New Jersey
Course(s)Baltusrol Golf Club
Old Course (no longer exists)
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Par74
Length6,212 yards (5,680 m)[1]
Field66 players
Winner's share($300)
Champion
Jerome Travers (a)
297 (+1)
Baltusrol 
Location in the United States
Baltusrol 
Location in New Jersey

Future U.S. Open champions Jim Barnes and Chick Evans shared the first round lead, with Travers five behind. After a 72 in the second round, Travers pulled to within two-shots of leaders Barnes and Louis Tellier.[2]

Travers took the lead in the third round with a 73, a shot ahead of Barnes, Tellier, Bob MacDonald, and Mike Brady, with McNamara two behind. MacDonald shot a 78 in the final round to finish in third, while Barnes and Tellier both shot 79 to finish in fourth. McNamara posted a 75 to total 298 as Travers made the turn at 39, and needed a 37 on the back-nine to win the title. His drive at the 10th went out of bounds, while his second shot found the rough. His third shot cleared the water surrounding the green and settled less than three feet (0.9 m) from the hole. He managed to save par with a 15-footer (4.5 m) at the 11th, three-putted for bogey at the 12th, but then made a birdie at 15. Pars over the final three holes saw him finish with a 76 and a 297 total.[3]

Shortly after this win, Travers announced his retirement from competitive golf and never played in the U.S. Open again.

Defending champion Walter Hagen finished nine strokes back, in a tie for tenth place.

The Old Course at Baltusrol was plowed under three years later in 1918 by course architect A. W. Tillinghast to create the Upper and Lower Courses.

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Fred McLeod Scotland190874767679305+9T8
Walter Hagen United States191478737679306+10T10
George Sargent England190975777975306+10T10
Francis Ouimet (a) United States191377798081317+21T35

Source:[3]

Did not play: John McDermott (1911, 1912), Alex Smith (1906, 1910), Alec Ross (1907),
                     Laurie Auchterlonie (1902), Harry Vardon (1900), Willie Smith (1899).

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, June 17, 1915 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Jim Barnes England71−3
Chick Evans (a) United States
3Bob MacDonald Scotland72−2
T4Jock Hutchison Scotland74E
Fred McLeod Scotland
T6Davis Ogilvie75+1
George Sargent England
Louis Tellier France
T9Mike Brady United States76+2
Alex Campbell Scotland
Joe Mitchell
Jerome Travers (a) United States

Source:[2]

Second round

Thursday, June 17, 1915 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Jim Barnes England71-75=146−2
Louis Tellier France75-71=146
3Mike Brady United States76-71=147−1
4Jerome Travers (a) United States76-72=148E
T5Bob MacDonald Scotland72-77=149+1
Tom McNamara United States78-71=149
7Fred McLeod Scotland74-76=150+2
T8Walter Hagen United States78-73=151+3
Alex Campbell Scotland76-75=151
T10Chick Evans (a) United States71-81=152+4
George Low Scotland78-74=152
George Sargent England75-77=152

Source:[2]

Third round

Friday, June 18, 1915 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Jerome Travers (a) United States76-72-73=221−1
T2Mike Brady United States76-71-75=222E
Bob MacDonald Scotland72-77-73=222
Louis Tellier France75-71-76=222
5Tom McNamara United States78-71-74=223+1
T6Jim Barnes England71-75-79=225+3
Alex Campbell Scotland76-75-74=225
8Fred McLeod Scotland74-76-76=226+4
9Walter Hagen United States78-73-76=227+5
10George Low Scotland78-74-76=228+6

Source:[3]

Final round

Friday, June 18, 1915 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney ($)
1Jerome Travers (a) United States76-72-73-76=297+10
2Tom McNamara United States78-71-74-75=298+2300
3Bob MacDonald Scotland72-77-73-78=300+4150
T4Jim Barnes England71-75-79-76=301+590
Louis Tellier France75-71-76-79=301
6Mike Brady United States76-71-75-80=302+670
7George Low Scotland78-74-76-75=303+760
T8Jock Hutchison Scotland74-79-76-76=305+945
Fred McLeod Scotland74-76-76-79=305
T10Alex Campbell Scotland76-75-74-81=306+106
Emmet French United States77-79-75-75=306
Walter Hagen United States78-73-76-79=306
Tom Kerrigan United States78-75-76-77=306
Gilbert Nicholls England78-81-73-74=306
Jack Park Scotland77-77-75-77=306
Wilfrid Reid England77-78-75-76=306
George Sargent England75-77-79-75=306

Source:[3]

Amateurs: Travers (+1), Evans (+11), Stone (+12), Ouimet (+21).

References

  1. Hinckley, Rockwell (June 19, 1915). "Golf". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6.
  2. Smith, Harry C. (June 18, 1915). "Eastern pros tie for lead in golf meet". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 12.
  3. Smith, Harry C. (June 19, 1915). "Travers wins golf classic at Baltusrol". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 10.

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