Jess Sweetser

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Jess Sweetser
— Golfer —
300px
A sketch of Sweetser by syndicated cartoonist Robert W. Edgren in 1922.
Personal information
Full name Jesse W. Sweetser
Born (1902-04-18)April 18, 1902
St. Louis, Missouri
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Bethesda, Maryland
Nationality  United States
Spouse Nan Lewis Sweetser; Virginia Lee Sweetser
Children Nan, Jess Jr., Charles
Career
College Yale University
Status Amateur
Best results in major championships
(wins: 2)
Masters Tournament T29: 1939
U.S. Open T14: 1920
The Open Championship DNP
PGA Championship DNP
U.S. Amateur Won: 1922
British Amateur Won: 1926
Achievements and awards
Bob Jones Award 1986

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).

Early life

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. He received golf lessons from noted Siwanoy Country Club professional Tom Kerrigan.[2]

Golf career

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 R. 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.

Walker Cup

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.

Professional life

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.[3] In 1986, he was named the Bob Jones Award winner, given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

Death and legacy

Sweetser died on May 27, 1989 in Bethesda, Maryland. Sweetser served as treasurer and on the executive committee of the United States Golf Association.[3] 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

Amateur major championships

Wins (2)

Year Championship Winning Score Runner-up
1922 U.S. Amateur 3 & 2 United States Chick Evans
1926 British Amateur 6 & 5 Scotland 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.

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

  • Walker Cup: 1922 (winners), 1923 (winners), 1924 (winners), 1926 (winners), 1928 (winners), 1932 (winners), 1967 (winners, non-playing captain), 1973 (winners, non-playing captain)

References

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External links