John Shippen

John Shippen
Shippen, c. 1899
Personal information
Full nameJohn Matthew Shippen
Born(1879-12-02)December 2, 1879[1]
Washington, D.C.
DiedMay 20, 1968(1968-05-20) (aged 88)
Newark, New Jersey
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight158 lb (72 kg)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
U.S. OpenT5: 1896, 1902
The Open ChampionshipDNP

John Matthew Shippen Jr. (December 2, 1879 – May 20, 1968) was an American golfer who competed in several of the early U.S. Opens. Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of a former slave and Presbyterian minister, John Shippen Sr. and Eliza Spotswood Shippen,[2] and is believed to be the first American-born golf professional.[3]

Shippen, was of African American and Native American descent. At the age of 16, Shippen earned an assistant professional post at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club where he began giving lessons to some of the club members and became an accomplished player in his own right.[3] Shippen's best finishes came at the 1896 U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, and the 1902 U.S. Open held at Garden City Golf Club in Garden City, New York, where he tied for fifth place at both.[2]

  1. ^ John Matthew Shippen's WWII Draft Registration Card. National Archives. 1942.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Shippen Biography was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "NJSGA Hall of Fame". New Jersey State Golf Association. Retrieved July 3, 2021.