| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 23–25, 1932 |
| Location | Flushing, New York |
| Course(s) | Fresh Meadow Country Club (original course) |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play − 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 70[1] |
| Length | 6,815 yards (6,232 m)[2] |
| Field | 150 players,[4] 72 after cut |
| Cut | 160 (+20) |
| Prize fund | $5,000[3] |
| Winner's share | $1,000 |
| Champion | |
 Gene Sarazen | |
| 286 (+6) | |
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The 1932 U.S. Open was the 36th U.S. Open, held June 23–25 at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Flushing, New York, a neighborhood in the north-central part of the borough of Queens in New York City. Gene Sarazen won his second U.S. Open championship,[5] and the fifth of his seven major titles, ten years after his first U.S. Open win. Earlier in the month, he won the 1932 British Open in England.[3]
Sarazen began with rounds of 74 and 76, which left him five strokes behind co-leaders José Jurado and Philip Perkins.[6] With a three-under-par back-nine in the third round, Sarazen carded an even-par 70 to get within a shot of Perkins after 54 holes. Perkins continued his solid play in the final round, shooting a 70 and a 289 total, while Bobby Cruickshank shot 68 to tie him. They were no match for Sarazen on this day, however, who carded a 66 (−4) to earn a three-stroke victory at 286.
Sarazen set several scoring records on his way to the Open title. His 66 in the final round set a new tournament record, and a champion did not shoot a better final round until Arnold Palmer closed with 65 in 1960. His 286 total tied the tournament record, while his 136 over the final 36 holes set a record that stood until 1983. Sarazen was certainly helped by his familiarity with the venue; he was club pro at Fresh Meadow for five years, from 1925 to 1930.
Four-time major champion Jim Barnes played his final major and finished in 55th place. Johnny Goodman won low-amateur honors at 14th; he went on to win the championship the following year, and remains the last amateur champion.
The course where this U.S. Open was played in Queens no longer exists. Designed by A. W. Tillinghast, it opened in 1923 and also hosted the PGA Championship in 1930, won by Tommy Armour. Under increasing development and tax pressure, the Fresh Meadow Country Club sold the property in 1946, which was developed as a residential neighborhood (the Fresh Meadows section of Queens). The club then purchased the property, clubhouse, and golf course of the defunct Lakeville Golf & Country Club in Lake Success, its current home.[7]
Daily admission for the U.S. Open in 1932 was $2.20, or $5.50 for all three days.[8]
- ^ "Olin Dutra leads Open field with 69". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 24, 1932. p. 14.
- ^ "Favor Diegel in golf Open". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. June 22, 1932. p. 13.
- ^ a b Gould, Alan (June 26, 1932). "Sarazen rallies to win Open title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 15.
- ^ Pettey, Tom (June 23, 1932). "150 tee off in National Open tourney today". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 19.
- ^ Pettey, Tom (June 26, 1932). "Sarazen's 286 wins Open; finishes in 66". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ Pettey, Tom (June 25, 1932). "Jurado, Perkins card 145; lead Open golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 15.
- ^ "About FMCC". Fresh Meadow Country Club. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ Gould, Alan (June 23, 1932). "Sarazen gets 70 at Fresh Meadow; is Open favorite". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 11.