Andrew Smith (golfer)
| Andrew Smith | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Andrew W. Smith |
| Born |
c. 1870 Canada |
| Nationality |
 Canada |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | T3: 1895, 1896 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Andrew W. Smith (born c. 1870) was a Canadian amateur golfer. He finished tied for third place in the 1895 U.S. Open played at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island and had an identical result in the 1896 U.S. Open, held July 18, 1896 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
Early life
Smith, who was living in Toronto in 1895, traveled to the United States to play in the 1895 U.S. Open and returned to play in the 1896 U.S. Open.
Golf career
1895 U.S. Open
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 U.S. Open title, two strokes ahead of runner-up Willie Dunn. Canadian amateur Andrew Smith, who carded rounds of 90-86=176, finished tied for third place.[1][2][3][4]
1896 U.S. Open
Smith, the Canadian amateur player, scored well on the Shinnecok Hills course. His rounds of 78-80=158 put him in a tie for third place. He did not win any prize money due to his amateur status.
Details of play
The 1896 U.S. Open was held July 18 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. James Foulis won his first U.S. Open title, three strokes ahead of runner-up Horace Rawlins, the defending champion. Like the first Open, it was a sideshow to the U.S. Amateur. However, there were 35 entrants and 28 finished the 36 holes. [1][5]
Before play began, several players signed a petition stating that they would not play if John Shippen, an African-American, and Oscar Bunn, a Native American, were allowed to play. The petition was denied, however, and the players relented. Shippen, a caddie at Shinnecock Hills, shot an opening round of 78, which placed him just two back of leader Joe Lloyd. He was in a position to win the championship until an 11 on the 13th hole of the final round. He finished tied for 6th place. James Foulis, third-place finisher in the inaugural U.S. Open the year before, recorded rounds of 78-74 to prevail by three over defending champion Horace Rawlins. Foulis's 74 set a record that was not broken until 1903, after the rubber-core ball had come into use.[5]
At 4,423 yards (4,044 m), Shinnecock Hills played as the shortest course in U.S. Open history. Its next U.S. Open was 90 years later, in 1986, when Raymond Floyd won his fourth and final major.
Death and legacy
Smith's date of birth and date of death are unknown. He is remembered for having two top-3 finishes in the U.S. Open, in 1895 and again in 1896.
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | T3 | T3 | ? |
Note: Smith played only in the U.S. Open Championship.
"T" indicates a tie for a place
? = Unknown
Yellow background for top-10
References
- 1 2 Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
- ↑ "Rawlins is Champion". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. October 25, 1895. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "Great Golf By Foulis". The New York Sun. July 18, 1896. Retrieved April 10, 2015.