1895 U.S. Open (golf) explained

1895 U.S. Open
Dates:October 4, 1895
Location:Newport, Rhode Island
Course:Newport Golf Club
Org:USGA
Yardage:5510yd[1]
Field:11: 10 pros, 1 amateur[2]
Cut:none
Format:Stroke play − 36 holes
Purse:$335
Winners Share:$150
Champion: Horace Rawlins
Score:173
Next:1896

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 .[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]

The U.S. Open was played a day after the U.S. Amateur championship. 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 U.S. Open was 36 holes total through 1897, increased to 72 in 1898.

The golf championships at Newport in 1895 were originally scheduled for September, but were postponed due to the America's Cup yacht races,[5] won by Defender.

Final leaderboard

Friday, October 4, 1895

PlacePlayerScoreMoney ($)
1 Horace Rawlins 91-82=173 150
2 89-86=175 100
T3 89-87=176 50
Andrew Smith (a) 90-86=176 0
5 William Davis94-84=178 25
6 Willie Campbell89-90=179 10
T7 John Harland93-90=183 0
John Patrick94-89=183
9 Samuel Tucker97-88=185
10 John Reid100-106=206

(a) denotes amateur

External links

41.462°N -71.347°W

Notes and References

  1. News: U.S. Open challenges golf's best . Wilmington Morning Star . Gola . Hank . (New York Daily News) . June 15, 1995 . 4C .
  2. News: 10 pros, 1 amateur in first Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . June 13, 1983 . 58 .
  3. News: Rawlins is Champion . April 10, 2015 . The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. . October 25, 1895.
  4. News: British dominate early history of Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . June 13, 1983 . 44 .
  5. News: The Open has grown up since 1895 Rawlins win . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Gundelfinger . Phil . May 15, 1962 . 19 .