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
United States Jerome Travers (a)
297 (+1)
← 1914
1916 →
Baltusrol  is located in the United States
Baltusrol 
Baltusrol 
Baltusrol  is located in New Jersey
Baltusrol 
Baltusrol 
Walter Hagen
Mike Brady
Tom McNamara

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.

Round summaries

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First round

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Thursday, June 17, 1915 (morning)

Place Player Score To par
T1   Jim Barnes 71 −3
  Chick Evans (a)
3   Bob MacDonald 72 −2
T4   Jock Hutchison 74 E
  Fred McLeod
T6 Davis Ogilvie 75 +1
  George Sargent
  Louis Tellier
T9   Mike Brady 76 +2
  Alex Campbell
Joe Mitchell
  Jerome Travers (a)

Source:[2]

Second round

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Thursday, June 17, 1915 (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par
T1   Jim Barnes 71-75=146 −2
  Louis Tellier 75-71=146
3   Mike Brady 76-71=147 −1
4   Jerome Travers (a) 76-72=148 E
T5   Bob MacDonald 72-77=149 +1
  Tom McNamara 78-71=149
7   Fred McLeod 74-76=150 +2
T8   Walter Hagen 78-73=151 +3
  Alex Campbell 76-75=151
T10   Chick Evans (a) 71-81=152 +4
  George Low 78-74=152
  George Sargent 75-77=152

Source:[2]

Third round

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Friday, June 18, 1915 (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1   Jerome Travers (a) 76-72-73=221 −1
T2   Mike Brady 76-71-75=222 E
  Bob MacDonald 72-77-73=222
  Louis Tellier 75-71-76=222
5   Tom McNamara 78-71-74=223 +1
T6   Jim Barnes 71-75-79=225 +3
  Alex Campbell 76-75-74=225
8   Fred McLeod 74-76-76=226 +4
9   Walter Hagen 78-73-76=227 +5
10   George Low 78-74-76=228 +6

Source:[3]

Final round

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Friday, June 18, 1915 (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1   Jerome Travers (a) 76-72-73-76=297 +1 0
2   Tom McNamara 78-71-74-75=298 +2 300
3   Bob MacDonald 72-77-73-78=300 +4 150
T4   Jim Barnes 71-75-79-76=301 +5 90
  Louis Tellier 75-71-76-79=301
6   Mike Brady 76-71-75-80=302 +6 70
7   George Low 78-74-76-75=303 +7 60
T8   Jock Hutchison 74-79-76-76=305 +9 45
  Fred McLeod 74-76-76-79=305
T10   Alex Campbell 76-75-74-81=306 +10 6
  Emmet French 77-79-75-75=306
  Walter Hagen 78-73-76-79=306
  Tom Kerrigan 78-75-76-77=306
  Gilbert Nicholls 78-81-73-74=306
  Jack Park 77-77-75-77=306
  Wilfrid Reid 77-78-75-76=306
  George Sargent 75-77-79-75=306

Source:[3]

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

References

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  1. ^ a b Hinckley, Rockwell (June 19, 1915). "Golf". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Harry C. (June 18, 1915). "Eastern pros tie for lead in golf meet". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 12.
  3. ^ a b c Smith, Harry C. (June 19, 1915). "Travers wins golf classic at Baltusrol". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 10.
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40°42′18″N 74°19′41″W / 40.705°N 74.328°W / 40.705; -74.328