Cape Cod Open

The Cape Cod Open was a golf event in the early 1930s. The tournament was held at Eastward Ho! Country Club in Chatham, Massachusetts on the Cape Cod Peninsula. The event was generally known for its strong fields and windy weather. The first event, won by English golfer Jim Barnes in 1930, was later deemed to be an official PGA Tour win.

History

The first event was held in 1930. It was held at Eastward Ho! Country Club in Chatham, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe featured a full-length preview of the inaugural event. The journalist W.A. Whitcomb deemed that the amateur Jess Sweetser and professional Joe Turnesa were the favorites because they had the two lowest scores of all-time at the course. Other notable golfers scheduled to play were Francis Ouimet and Johnny Farrell. The event was sanctioned by the Massachusetts Golf Association. It was intended to be 72-holes-long and held over two days, on Friday August 22 and Saturday August 23. The purse was $900.[1] There were more than 60 players at the event.[2] Late in the week, it was announced that Jim Barnes and Bobby Cruickshank were "among the late entries" for the tournament.[3] On Friday, the tournament began. It was reported by the Associated Press that a "strong northeast wind raised havoc with the scores."[4] Barnes and Turnesa held the first round lead at 76.[5] After a second round 73, Barnes was the solo leader.[2] He held a seven-stroke lead over Silas Newton. Turnesa, Jack Curley, and Sweetser followed them respectively.[4] In the third round, Barnes shot an 80 but playing against a "fierce northeast wind and rainstorm" it was enough to maintain the lead. In the final round, he shot a 76, the second best round of the day, to finish at 305 to defeat Sweetser by 12 shots.[6] Curley finished at 319, in solo third place.[7]

The second Cape Cod Open was held the following August. According to the Associated Press, there was again a "strong field" as well as challenging, "wind-swept" weather.[8] Jess Sweetser opened the tournament with a "brilliant" 33. In the first round's homeward half, he closed with a 39. He recorded a second round 78 to win.[9] He defeated Charles McAndrew of Quincy, Massachusetts by one shot.[10][11]

The third and final event was played at Eastward Ho! in August 1932. There were 77 players in the field. Defending champion Jess Sweetser "was unable to play because of illness." Conditions were relatively similar as previous years with "heavy showers" and "gale swept" winds. Roland Hancock, a club pro from Unicorn Club in Stoneham, Massachusetts, shot a one-over-par 73 to take the solo lead. He led by one over Jim Shephard, Joe Turnesa, and Tom Kerrigan. Other notable names near the lead included Ted Bishop, Mike Turnesa, Jack Curley, Leo Diegel, and Johnny Farrell.[12] In the second and final round, Curley shot a 71 (−1) to defeat Hancock by one shot. Farrell and Kerrigan finished another shot back at 149.[13]

This event is different from the modern Cape Cod Open founded in 1992.[14] That event is now entitled the Jim & Lois Gaquin Memorial Cape Cod Open.[15]

Winners
Year Winner Score Margin
of victory		 Runners-up Ref.
1930 England Jim Barnes 305 12 strokes United States Jess Sweetser (a) [7]
1931 United States Jess Sweetser (a) 150 1 stroke United States Charles McAndrew [10][11]
1932 United States Jack Curley 148 1 stoke United States Roland Hancock [13]

References
  1. Whitcomb, W. A. (August 18, 1930). "Fine Field in Cape Cod Open". The Boston Globe. p. 9. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Jim Barnes Leads in Cape Cod Open". Rutland Herald. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1930. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Barnes and Cruickshank Enter the Cape Cod Open". The Boston Globe. August 22, 1930. p. 20. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jim Barnes Leads Cape Cod Open". The Atlanta Constitution. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1930. p. 15. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Three Share Lead in Cape Cod Open". New York Daily News. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1930. p. 105. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Jim Barnes, With 205, is Cape Cod Open Winner". The Tennessean. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 24, 1930. p. 10. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Jim Barnes Scores 76 in Final Day's Play to Win Cape Cod Open". Hartford Courant. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 24, 1930. p. 35. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Sweetser Golf Winner". The Washington Star. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1931. p. 52. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Sweetser Wins in Cape Cod Open Tourney". The Salt Lake Tribune. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1931. p. 13. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Jess Sweetser Wins Cape Cod Open Title By One Stroke Edge". Hartford Courant. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1931. p. 29. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Sweetser's 150 is Low". Democrat and Chronicle. Chatham, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 23, 1931. p. 25. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Hancock Scores 73 in Rain at Chatham". The Boston Globe. Chatham. August 20, 1932. p. 7. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Cape Cod Open Tournament Won By Jack Curley". Hartford Courant. Chatham Port, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 21, 1932. p. 31. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Gaquin, James F. Jr". The Boston Globe. March 12, 2021. p. B5. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Home of the Cape Cod Open". www.ccopen.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
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