Alex Campbell (golfer) explained

Alex Campbell
Fullname:Alexander Campbell
Nickname:Alec, Nipper
Birth Date:28 November 1876
Birth Place:Scotland
Death Place:Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse:Nancy Campbell
Status:Professional
Masters:DNP
Usopen:3rd: 1907
Open:DNP
Pga:T9: 1923

Alexander Campbell (28 November 1876 – 16 December 1942)[1] was a Scottish professional golfer and golf course architect of the late 19th and early 20th century. In total, Campbell had five top-10 finishes in major championships.

Early life

Alex/Alec "Nipper" Campbell was born in Scotland on 28 November 1876, the son of Alexander Campbell and Margaret Campbell née Patterson. He had five brothers who also became golf professionals.

Golf career

Campbell was the head professional at several golf clubs,[1] including The Country Club (Brookline, Massachusetts, 1896–1916),[2] Baltimore Country Club (Baltimore, Maryland),[3] Northmoor Golf Club (Celina, Ohio), Losantiville Country Club (Cincinnati, Ohio), Miami Valley Golf Club and Moraine Country Club (Dayton, Ohio). He was also a golf course architect, designing the Moraine Country Club.[4]

In 1913, at The Country Club, he played a friendly match against Wilfrid Reid upon the Englishman's arrival in Boston to play in the 1913 U.S. Open. During his 20-year career at The Country Club, he was involved in the development of caddy Francis Ouimet as a player.

1901 U.S. Open

Campbell finished in eighth place in the 1901 U.S. Open at Myopia Hunt Club.[5] Willie Anderson won his first of four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over Alex Smith.[6] Campbell had rounds of 84-91-82-82=339—the high second round 91 being detrimental to this overall scoring—however he finished strongly and won $25 as his share of the purse.

1905 U.S. Open

In the 1905 U.S. Open held September 21–22, 1905, at Myopia Hunt Club, Willie Anderson won his third consecutive U.S. Open title, and his record 4th overall, by two strokes over Alex Smith. Campbell finished in sixth place, carding rounds of 82-76-80-81=319, and won $70.[7]

1907 U.S. Open

Campbell's best finish in the U.S. Open was third in the 1907 U.S. Open, held June 20–21, 1907, at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania.[8] Alex Ross posted four sub-80 rounds to win his first U.S. Open title by two strokes over Gilbert Nicholls. Campbell played consistently good golf, posting rounds of 78-74-78-75=305, and won $100.

1912 U.S. Open

The 1912 U.S. Open was the 18th U.S. Open. The golf tournament was held August 1–2, 1912, at the Country Club of Buffalo, which is now Grover Cleveland Golf Course (the Country Club of Buffalo has since relocated to Amherst, New York). 20-year-old John McDermott successfully defended his U.S. Open title with a two-stroke victory over Tom McNamara. Campbell fired rounds of 74-77-80-71=302, finishing 8 strokes behind the winner, and won $70 for his excellent performance.

Death

Campbell died at his home on 16 December 1942 in Dayton, Ohio. He had suffered from a heart ailment for some time. He is interred in the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum.

Results in major championships

Tournament19201921192219231924
U.S. Open?T5552?53
PGA ChampionshipDNPDNPDNPR16DNP
Note: Campbell never played in the Masters Tournament or The Open Championship.

NT = No tournament
R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play"T" indicates a tie for a place
? = unknown
Yellow background for top-10

Notes and References

  1. News: Famous Golfer Dies In Dayton . Toledo Blade . INS . 17 December 1942 . 32.
  2. News: English Golfer Says Good Word For American Crowds . 15 May 2015 . The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. . 19 September 1913 . 16.
  3. News: Hutchison to Play Here . 15 May 2015 . Evening Star . Washington, D.C. . 9 November 1917 . 19.
  4. Web site: History & Traditions: The 1930 Birth of a Classic . Moraine Country Club . 15 May 2015.
  5. News: Alexander Smith and Willie Anderson Tied for the Open Championship at 331 . 9 April 2015 . 9 . New York Tribune . 16 June 1901.
  6. News: Alec Smith Beaten in Open Championship Match . 9 April 2015 . 9 . New York Daily Tribune . 18 June 1901.
  7. Book: Brenner, Morgan G. . The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008 . 2009 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-3360-5.
  8. News: Won U.S. Golf Championship . 8 April 2015 . Daily Press . Newport News, Virginia . 22 June 1907.