Sam Parks Jr.


Samuel McLaughlin Parks Jr. 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 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)

Source:

Other wins (4)

this list may be incomplete

Wins (1)

Results timeline

Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
Masters TournamentT19NTNTNT
U.S. OpenT29T33NTNTNTNTCUTCUT
PGA ChampionshipR32NT

Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters Tournament507261T65CUTCUTCUT
U.S. OpenCUT
PGA Championship

Tournament196019611962
Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUT
U.S. Open
PGA Championship

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
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2