1903 U.S. Open (golf)


The 1903 U.S. Open was the ninth U.S. Open, held June 26–29 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, west of New York City. Willie Anderson won the second of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over David Brown. The championship was played on the original course at Baltusrol, now known as the Old Course, which no longer exists.
Anderson led after each of the first three rounds, with a six-shot lead after 54 holes, but carded 82 in the final round on Saturday afternoon. Brown's 76 equaled them at 307 total, eight strokes clear of the field. The playoff was moved to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play, and was played in a heavy rainstorm. Anderson took a two-stroke lead at the turn, but Brown managed to tie after 14. At the next hole, Brown made a seven after his tee shot went out of bounds, but Anderson only gained a single stroke after three-putting for a six. At 16, Brown made a six to Anderson's five, and both made fours on the last two holes; Anderson ended at 82, two shots ahead.
Anderson had won in 1901 and was the first to win the U.S. Open twice; it was the first of three consecutive titles, a feat yet to be repeated. His four U.S. Open wins set a record which has been equaled by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.
Donald Ross, who would become known as one of the greatest golf course architects, designing several courses that hosted future U.S. Opens, had his best U.S. Open finish with a 5th place showing. Baseball Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward played in his first of two U.S. Opens here, finishing in 56th place.
The Old Course at Baltusrol hosted the U.S. Open again a dozen years later in 1915, then 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

Source:
Did not play: Harry Vardon, Fred Herd, James Foulis.

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 26, 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson73
2Laurie Auchterlonie75
T3Jack Campbell76
T3Jack Hobens76
T5Findlay Douglas 77
T5Stewart Gardner77
T5Alex Smith77
T8George Tuttle Brokaw 78
T8William Norton78
T10David Brown79
T10Alex Campbell79
T10Donald Ross79

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Second round

Friday, June 26, 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson73-76=149
T2Laurie Auchterlonie75-79=154
T2Stewart Gardner77-77=154
T2Alex Smith77-77=154
T5David Brown79-77=156
T5Findlay Douglas 77-79=156
7Jack Hobens76-81=157
8Donald Ross79-79=158
T9Jack Campbell76-83=159
T9William Norton78-81=159
T9Horace Rawlins82-77=159

Source:

Third round

Saturday, June 27, 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson73-76-76=225
2David Brown79-77-75=231
3Alex Smith77-77-81=235
T4Stewart Gardner77-77-82=236
T4Donald Ross79-79-78=236
6Horace Rawlins82-77-78=237
T7Laurie Auchterlonie75-79-84=238
T7Findlay Douglas 77-79-82=238
9Jack Hobens76-81-82=239
10Isaac Mackie83-80-78=241

Source:

Final round

Saturday, June 27, 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney
T1Willie Anderson73-76-76-82=307Playoff
T1David Brown79-77-75-76=307Playoff
3Stewart Gardner77-77-82-79=315125
4Alex Smith77-77-81-81=316100
5Donald Ross79-79-78-82=31880
6Jack Campbell76-83-83-77=31970
7Laurie Auchterlonie75-79-84-83=32150
8Findlay Douglas 77-79-82-84=3220
T9Jack Hobens76-81-82-84=32333
T9Alex Ross83-82-78-80=32333
T9Willie Smith80-81-83-79=32333

Source:
Amateurs: Douglas, Reinhart, Travis, Brokaw,
Croker, Carnegie, Kellogg, Gillespie,
Tappin, Watson, Ward, McDonald.

Playoff

Monday, June 29, 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney
1Willie Anderson42-40=82200
2David Brown42-42=84150

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