Sam Parks, Jr.

Samuel McLaughlin Parks, Jr. (June 23, 1909 – April 7, 1997) was an American golfer best known for winning the 1935 U.S. Open.

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.

Parks played in 18 Master Tournaments, 14 U.S. Opens and 12 PGA Championships.

Parks, a University of Pittsburgh alumni who helped found the school's golf team in the 1920s [ cite book | last = O'Brien
first = Jim (editor)
title = Hail to Pitt: A Sports History of the University of Pittsburgh
pages = pp. 222
year = 1982
id = ISBN 0-916114-08-2
publisher = Wolfson Publishing Co] , died in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Results in major championships

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

References