Jess Sweetser

Jesse W. Sweetser (April 18, 1902 – May 27, 1989) was an amateur golfer, best known as the first American-born player to win the British Amateur (the first U.S. citizen to win it was the Australian-born naturalized-American Walter Travis).

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sweetser later attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University.^[1] In 1920, Sweetser won the individual title at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships.

Sweetser won the 1922 U.S. Amateur at the age of 20, defeating Bobby Jones 8 & 7 in the semi-final and then Chick Evans 3 & 2 in the final match. The following year, he again made the finals but lost on the second playoff hole to Max Marston.

In 1926, Sweetser won the British Amateur at Muirfield, defeating A.F. Simpson 6 & 5 in the final match. The 1904 winner, Walter Travis, was a naturalized American citizen born in Australia, but Sweetser's victory was the first time an American-born golfer had won the tournament.

Sweetster won the Metropolitan Amateur in 1922 and 1925.

Sweetser was a member of the original Walker Cup team in 1922, and also played in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, and 1932. Later, he was non-playing captain for the 1967 and 1973 teams. He was also captain for the 1966 U.S. Eisenhower Trophy team.

In his professional life, Sweetser started as a stockbroker in the 1920s, and later went to work for Curtiss-Wright. He retired in 1967 as a vice-president with Martin Marietta.^[1]

Sweetser also served as treasurer and on the executive committee of the United States Golf Association.^[2] In 1986, he was named the Bob Jones Award winner, given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

Tournament wins

this list may be incomplete

• 1920 NCAA Championship
• 1922 U.S. Amateur, Metropolitan Amateur
• 1923 Gold Mashie Tournament
• 1925 Metropolitan Amateur
• 1926 British Amateur
• 1927 Gold Mashie Tournament

Amateur major championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	Winning Score	Runner-up
1922	U.S. Amateur	3 & 2	Chick Evans
1926	British Amateur	6 & 5	A.F. Simpson

Results timeline

Tournament	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929
Masters	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF
U.S. Open	DNP	T14	DNP	DNP	WD	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
U.S. Amateur	DNQ	R16	QF	1	2	DNQ	QF	DNP	DNP	R16	QF
British Amateur	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	R256	DNP	DNP	1	DNP	DNP	DNP

Tournament	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940
Masters	NYF	NYF	NYF	NYF	58	DNP	WD	40	33	T29	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
U.S. Amateur	SF	DNP	DNQ	DNP	R64	DNP	R128	DNP	R32	DNP	R16
British Amateur	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	NT

NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
DNQ = Did not qualify for match play portion
R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

Source for The Masters: www.masters.com

Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database

Source for 1923 British Amateur: The American Golfer, July, 1923, pg. 10.

Source for 1926 British Amateur: The American Golfer, July, 1926, pg. 9.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Nunn, Sam (June 16, 1989). "Tribute to the Late Jesse W. Sweetser". Congressional Record (Senate) 1989-1990. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r101:S16JN9-39:. Retrieved 2006-12-30. 
2. ^ Michel, Robert H. (June 22, 1989). "Tribute to Jess W. Sweetser". Congressional Record 1989-1990 (Extension of Remarks). http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r101:@FIELD(FLD003+e)+@FIELD(DDATE+19890622). Retrieved 2006-12-30. 

External links

• Yale University profile
• U.S. Amateur 1922 page
• New York Times obituary
• 1926 Time Magazine article on the British Amateur

Persondata
Name	Sweetser, Jess
Alternative names	Sweetser, Jesse W.
Short description	Amateur golfer
Date of birth	April 18, 1902
Place of birth	St. Louis, Missouri
Date of death	May 27, 1989
Place of death