Dick Chapman
Encyclopedia
Richard D. Chapman was an American
amateur golf
er. Time
magazine crowned Chapman "the Ben Hogan of amateur golf".
Chapman was born in Greenwich, Connecticut
. He was the 1940 U.S. Amateur golf champion. He was a member of Winged Foot Golf Club
in Mamaroneck, New York
, which was the site of his first major triumph. He remains one of only three players to have won a USGA
title on their home course. He holds a place in the Masters Tournament record book for the most appearances (19) as an amateur, a distinction he shares with Charles Coe
.
Although Chapman was quite the international player, winning the 1951 British Amateur, he also won state amateur championships in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and the Carolinas. He also won the prestigious North and South Amateur. At the 1958 U.S. Amateur, Chapman and his son, Dixie, both qualified, giving a rare father-and-son appearance.
Chapman's career was put on hold for World War II
, where he served as a major in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war, Chapman picked up where he left off, with a string of victories in the British, French, Canadian
, and Italian amateurs. Chapman is one of only two players (the other is Harvie Ward
) who has won the U.S., British, and Canadian Amateur Championships.
"Blessed with a strong competitive spirit and an inquiring mind into the technicalities of the swing," reads the entry on Chapman in Who's Who in Golf. "Chapman not only played the game but wrote about it and worked at its many phases."
In the 1950s, Chapman collaborated with the USGA on a handicap format for foursomes play called the Chapman System. The system worked as follows: two golfers on the same team each tee off, then play the other's ball. From there, the team would play out the best shot.
Chapman played on the winning Walker Cup
teams in 1947, 1951, and 1953.
Chapman's final success came in 1967 with a victory in the International Senior Amateur. A stroke in the early 1970s hampered his career, and he died in Rancho Santa Fe, California in 1978.
Chapman was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
Note: Chapman never played in PGA Championship
.
LA = Low Amateur
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
DNQ = Did not qualify for match play portion
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
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 1935 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 24, 1935, pg. 22.
Source for 1936 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 26, 1936, pg. 20.
Source for 1937 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 29, 1937, pg. 21.
Source for 1939 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 27, 1939, pg. 3.
Source for 1948 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 28, 1948, pg. 6.
Source for 1952 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 30, 1952, pg. 2.
Source for 1961 British Open: www.opengolf.com
Source
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amateur golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine crowned Chapman "the Ben Hogan of amateur golf".
Chapman was born in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
. He was the 1940 U.S. Amateur golf champion. He was a member of Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club is a 36-hole golf course located in Mamaroneck, New York. The course architect is A. W. Tillinghast, who also designed Baltusrol , Bethpage Black, Shackamaxon Country Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Cedar Crest Park, and nearby Quaker Ridge Golf Club and Wykagyl Country Club...
in Mamaroneck, New York
Mamaroneck (town), New York
Mamaroneck is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of Mamaroneck...
, which was the site of his first major triumph. He remains one of only three players to have won a USGA
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
title on their home course. He holds a place in the Masters Tournament record book for the most appearances (19) as an amateur, a distinction he shares with Charles Coe
Charles Coe
Charles Robert "Charlie" Coe was an American golfer who is considered by many to be one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. A two-time U.S...
.
Although Chapman was quite the international player, winning the 1951 British Amateur, he also won state amateur championships in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and the Carolinas. He also won the prestigious North and South Amateur. At the 1958 U.S. Amateur, Chapman and his son, Dixie, both qualified, giving a rare father-and-son appearance.
Chapman's career was put on hold for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he served as a major in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war, Chapman picked up where he left off, with a string of victories in the British, French, Canadian
Canadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
, and Italian amateurs. Chapman is one of only two players (the other is Harvie Ward
Harvie Ward
Edward Harvie Ward, Jr. was an American golfer best known for his amateur career. He is best known for winning both the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur....
) who has won the U.S., British, and Canadian Amateur Championships.
"Blessed with a strong competitive spirit and an inquiring mind into the technicalities of the swing," reads the entry on Chapman in Who's Who in Golf. "Chapman not only played the game but wrote about it and worked at its many phases."
In the 1950s, Chapman collaborated with the USGA on a handicap format for foursomes play called the Chapman System. The system worked as follows: two golfers on the same team each tee off, then play the other's ball. From there, the team would play out the best shot.
Chapman played on the winning Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
teams in 1947, 1951, and 1953.
Chapman's final success came in 1967 with a victory in the International Senior Amateur. A stroke in the early 1970s hampered his career, and he died in Rancho Santa Fe, California in 1978.
Chapman was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
Tournament wins (16)
this list is probably incomplete- 1934 Westchester Amateur
- 1936 Connecticut Amateur
- 1938 Connecticut Amateur
- 1939 French Open Amateur, New York State Amateur
- 1940 U.S. Amateur
- 1948 Golf Illustrated Gold Vase (England)
- 1949 Canadian AmateurCanadian Amateur ChampionshipThe Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
- 1950 Massachusetts Amateur
- 1951 British Amateur, New England Amateur
- 1952 French Open Amateur
- 1953 Carolinas Amateur
- 1957 Carolinas Amateur
- 1958 North and South Amateur
- 1960 Italian Open Amateur
Amateur wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Winning Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | U.S. Amateur | 11 & 9 |  W. B. McCullough Jr. |
| 1951 | British Amateur | 5 & 4 | Charles Coe Charles Coe Charles Robert "Charlie" Coe was an American golfer who is considered by many to be one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. A two-time U.S... |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T37 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
WD | DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 | DNP |
| British Open The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | DNP | DNP | R256 | DNP | SF | R16 |
| British Amateur | DNP | R16 | R256 | QF | DNP | QF |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | DNP | T19 LA | DNP | NT | NT | NT | T41 | T14 | T40 LA | 50 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T36 | T49 | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP |
| British Open The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | 1 | R64 | NT | NT | NT | NT | R16 | R16 | R128 | DNP |
| British Amateur | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | 2 | R16 | DNP |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T35 | T20 | T55 | 37 | 11 | T53 | T65 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | T21 | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | 54 |
| British Open The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | R32 | R32 | DNP | DNP | DNP | R256 | R64 | QF | R16 | R64 |
| British Amateur | 2 | 1 | R32 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | DNP | DNP |
| British Open The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | CUT | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | R64 | DNP | R32 |
| British Amateur | DNP | - | - |
Note: Chapman never played in PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
.
LA = Low Amateur
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
DNQ = Did not qualify for match play portion
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
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 1935 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 24, 1935, pg. 22.
Source for 1936 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 26, 1936, pg. 20.
Source for 1937 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 29, 1937, pg. 21.
Source for 1939 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 27, 1939, pg. 3.
Source for 1948 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 28, 1948, pg. 6.
Source for 1952 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 30, 1952, pg. 2.
Source for 1961 British Open: www.opengolf.com
Source