Sam Parks, Jr.

Samuel McLaughlin Parks Jr. (June 23, 1909 – April 7, 1997) was an American professional golfer, the winner of the U.S. Open in 1935, his only major title.

Career In 1909, Park was born in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He used his knowledge of the nearby Oakmont Country Club to win the 1935 U.S. Open at age 25.

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 strokes. 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 made a birdie putt to win the hole and tie the match, so that both he and the British champ remained undefeated in Ryder Cup play.

Personal life Parks, a University of Pittsburgh alumnus who helped found the school's golf team in the 1920s, died in 1997 at age 87 in Clearwater, Florida.

Professional wins (5)

PGA Tour wins (1) YearTournamentWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1935 U.S. Open +11 (77-73-73-76=299) 2 strokes Jimmy Thomson

Source:

Other wins (4) this list may be incomplete 1937 Tri-State PGA Championship 1940 Pennsylvania Open Championship 1943 Tri-State PGA Championship 1945 Tri-State PGA Championship

Major championships

Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1935 U.S. Open Tied for lead +11 (77-73-73-76=299) 2 strokes Jimmy Thomson

Results timeline

Note: Parks never played in The Open Championship.

NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (twice) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1935 U.S. Open – 1935 PGA)