Francis Ouimet

Francis Ouimet ( born May 8, 1893 in Brookline, Massachusetts, † September 3, 1967 in Newton, Massachusetts) was an American amateur golfer. He was the first amateur to have won the U.S. Open.

His father Louis was a French- Canadian immigrant, while his mother was an immigrant from Ireland. He married Stella M. Sullivan on September 11, 1918 with whom he had two daughters: Jane Salvi and Barbara McLean.

Ouimet won the 1913 U.S. Open as a 20 -year-old amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, where he had previously worked as a caddy. He defeated the jump-off for 18 holes at that time regarded as the worlds best Englishman Harry Vardon and Ted Ray his compatriot. The only 10 year old Eddie Lowery was Ouimets caddy.

He also won the U.S. Amateur Championships in 1914 and 1931. He played in the first eight Walker Cup teams and was with a team record of 11-1 captain in the next four participants. In 1951, he became the first American elected Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and was the first winner of the 1955 Bob Jones Award, the highest award of the United States Golf Association.

Ouimet was among the first golfers who were included in the newly created World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He remained throughout his amateur golf career.

Tournament Win

Filming

The film The Greatest Game Ever Played by Walt Disney Studios in 2005 based on the U.S. Open victory in 1913.