Sam Parks, Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel McLaughlin Parks, Jr. (June 23, 1909 – April 7, 1997) was an American golfer best known for winning the 1935 U.S. Open.
He played in 18 Master Tournaments, 14 U.S. Opens and 12 PGA tournaments. Parks, who was born in Bellevue, Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh, used his knowledge of the nearby Oakmont Country Club to win in June 1935. Although a comparatively recent convert from college and amateur ranks and little-known nationally, Parks, the professional at the nearby South Hills Country Club, was the only player to negotiate Oakmont's furrowed bunkers and shaved greens in less than 300. After winning the U.S. Open, Parks played for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, matched against Alf Perry (the reigning British Open champion), the first time the U.S. Open champion would play the British Open Champion of the same year in the Ryder Cup Match. During that event, at the 36th hole, Parks, Jr. made a 30-foot putt birdie to win the hole and tie the match so that both he the British champ remained undefeated in Ryder Cup play.
He died in Clearwater, Florida.
[edit] Results in major championships
Tournament | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Masters | NYF | NYF | NYF | T46 | T15 | T20 | T36 | 24 | DNP |
U.S. Open | CUT | T66 | DNP | T37 | 1 | CUT | T16 | CUT | T38 |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T9 | DNP | T17 | T33 | T33 |
Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Masters | DNP | T19 | DNP | NT | NT | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | T29 | T33 | NT | NT | NT | NT | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | T17 | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | 51 | 72 | 61 | T65 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
U.S. Open | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 |
---|---|---|---|
The Masters | CUT | CUT | CUT |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP |
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10