1928 Open Championship

The 1928 Open Championship was the 63rd Open Championship, held 9–11 May at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Walter Hagen won the third of his four Open Championship titles, two strokes ahead of runner-up Gene Sarazen.[2][3] It was his second triumph at Royal St George's, the site of his first Open win in 1922.[4] It was the tenth of his eleven major titles; his second Open victory came in 1924 at Royal Liverpool.

1928 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates9–11 May 1928
LocationSandwich, England
Course(s)Royal St George's Golf Club
Statistics
Length6,616 yards (6,050 m)
Field113 players, 52 after cut[1]
Cut159
Prize fund£250
Winner's share£75
Champion
United States Walter Hagen
292
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Sandwich  is located in England
Sandwich 
Sandwich 
Sandwich is located in Kent
Sandwich
Sandwich
Location in Kent. England

For this year and the next, the Open was played earlier than usual, in early May, and Hagen won both. Qualifying was held on 7–8 May, Monday and Tuesday, with 18 holes at St George's and 18 holes at Prince's,[5] and the top 100 and ties qualified. José Jurado led the qualifiers on 144,[6] which included four Bradbeer brothers: James, Bob, Ernest, and Fred.[7] The qualifying score was 162 and 113 players qualified.[6]

Two-time defending champion Bobby Jones decided not to make the trip across the Atlantic this year, meaning all eyes were on other American stars. Two weeks prior, Walter Hagen played a match against Archie Compston and lost badly, 18 & 17.[4] Realizing he needed practice, Hagen resolved to skip the parties for which he had become famous and concentrate on his game.

On Wednesday, Bill Mehlhorn opened with 71 to take the lead, with Sarazen a stroke behind.[8][9] Mehlhorn had a poor 78 on the second day and José Jurado took over the lead on 145.[10]«» Hagen and Sarazen were second on 148 with Mehlhorn and Archie Compston on 149. To make the cut, players would need to be within 14 strokes of the leader after 36 holes; it was at 159 and 52 players advanced.[11]

On Friday morning, Hagen took the lead by a stroke from Jurado and Sarazen, two ahead of Compston. Hagen's 72 that afternoon gave him 292 and the victory, two shots ahead of Sarazen.[2] Jurado had a disappointing 80 and dropped into a tie for sixth place. The prizes were presented by the Prince of Wales.

Six-time champion Harry Vardon, age 58, made his last cut in the Open Championship and tied for 47th. He qualified for the Open just once more, the following year.

Round summaries

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First round

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Wednesday, 9 May 1928

Place Player Score
1   Bill Mehlhorn 71
2   Gene Sarazen 72
3   José Jurado 74
T4   Percy Alliss 75
  Archie Compston
  George Duncan
  Walter Hagen
  Bill Twine
  Syd Wingate
T10   Stewart Burns 76
  Jean Gassiat
  Fred Taggart

Source:[8]

Second round

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Thursday, 10 May 1928

Place Player Score
1   José Jurado 74-71=145
T2   Walter Hagen 75-73=148
  Gene Sarazen 72-76=148
T4   Archie Compston 75-74=149
  Bill Mehlhorn 71-78=149
T6   Stewart Burns 76-74=150
  Fred Taggart 76-74=150
  Tom Williamson 77-73=150
9   Percy Alliss 75-76=151
T10   Aubrey Boomer 79-73=152
  Henry Cotton 77-75=152
  Bill Davies 78-74=152
  George Duncan 75-77=152
  Fred Robson 79-73=152

Source:[11]

Third round

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Friday, 11 May 1928 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   Walter Hagen 75-73-72=220
T2   José Jurado 74-71-76=221
  Gene Sarazen 72-76-73=221
4   Archie Compston 75-74-73=222
T5   Stewart Burns 76-74-75=225
  Bill Mehlhorn 71-78-76=225
  Fred Robson 79-73-73=225
8   Percy Alliss 75-76-75=226
T9   Fred Taggart 76-74-77=227
  Tom Williamson 77-73-77=227

Source:[1][2]

Final round

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Friday, 11 May 1928 (afternoon)

Place Player Score Money (£)
1   Walter Hagen 75-73-72-72=292 75
2   Gene Sarazen 72-76-73-73=294 50
3   Archie Compston 75-74-73-73=295 25
T4   Percy Alliss 75-76-75-72=298 15
  Fred Robson 79-73-73-73=298
T6   Jim Barnes 81-73-76-71=301 10
  Aubrey Boomer 79-73-77-72=301
  José Jurado 74-71-76-80=301
9   Bill Mehlhorn 71-78-76-77=302
10   Bill Davies 78-74-79-73=304

Source:[1][2][12]

Amateurs: Perkins (307), Hezlet (309), Hope (312), R Hartley (316), Torrance (316), Evans (319)

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 109. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Hagen again champion". Glasgow Herald. 12 May 1928. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Hagen's 292 wins British Open golf tournament". Chicago Daily Tribune. 12 May 1928. p. 21.
  4. ^ a b "Hagen recaptures British Open title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. 12 May 1928. p. 1-part 2. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. ^ "American golfers do well in first qualifying round". Glasgow Herald. 8 May 1928. p. 7.
  6. ^ a b "Argentine leads the qualifiers". Glasgow Herald. 9 May 1928. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Golf - Open Championship - Qualifying Scores". The Times. London. 9 May 1928. p. 7.
  8. ^ a b "Open Championship". Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1928. p. 3.
  9. ^ "Mehlhorn's 71 leads British Open; Sarazen 2d". Chicago Daily Tribune. The New York Times. 10 May 1928. p. 19.
  10. ^ "Jurado leads for British golf crown". Chicago Daily Tribune. 11 May 1928. p. 21.
  11. ^ a b "Open Championship". Glasgow Herald. 11 May 1928. p. 9.
  12. ^ 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. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
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51°16′26″N 1°22′01″E / 51.274°N 1.367°E / 51.274; 1.367