The 1915 U.S. Open was the 21st U.S. Open, held June 17–18 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, west of New York City. Four-time U.S. Amateur champion Jerome Travers captured his only U.S. Open title, one stroke ahead of runner-up Tom McNamara. The championship was played on the original course at Baltusrol, now known as the Old Course, which no longer exists.

Future U.S. Open champions Jim Barnes and Chick Evans shared the first round lead, with Travers five behind. After a 72 in the second round, Travers pulled to within two-shots of leaders Barnes and Louis Tellier.

Travers took the lead in the third round with a 73, a shot ahead of Barnes, Tellier, Bob MacDonald, and Mike Brady, with McNamara two behind. MacDonald shot a 78 in the final round to finish in third, while Barnes and Tellier both shot 79 to finish in fourth. McNamara posted a 75 to total 298 as Travers made the turn at 39, and needed a 37 on the back-nine to win the title. His drive at the 10th went out of bounds, while his second shot found the rough. His third shot cleared the water surrounding the green and settled less than three feet (0.9 m) from the hole. He managed to save par with a 15-footer (4.5 m) at the 11th, three-putted for bogey at the 12th, but then made a birdie at 15. Pars over the final three holes saw him finish with a 76 and a 297 total.

Shortly after this win, Travers announced his retirement from competitive golf and never played in the U.S. Open again.

Defending champion Walter Hagen finished nine strokes back, in a tie for tenth place.

The Old Course at Baltusrol was plowed under three years later in 1918 by course architect A. W. Tillinghast to create the Upper and Lower Courses.

Round summaries First round Thursday, June 17, 1915 (morning) PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Jim Barnes 71 −3 Chick Evans (a)3 Bob MacDonald 72 −2T4 Jock Hutchison 74 E Fred McLeodT6 Davis Ogilvie 75 +1 George Sargent Louis TellierT9 Mike Brady 76 +2 Alex Campbell Joe Mitchell Jerome Travers (a) Source:

Second round Thursday, June 17, 1915 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Jim Barnes 71-75=146 −2 Louis Tellier 75-71=1463 Mike Brady 76-71=147 −14 Jerome Travers (a) 76-72=148 ET5 Bob MacDonald 72-77=149 +1 Tom McNamara 78-71=1497 Fred McLeod 74-76=150 +2T8 Walter Hagen 78-73=151 +3 Alex Campbell 76-75=151T10 Chick Evans (a) 71-81=152 +4 George Low 78-74=152 George Sargent 75-77=152 Source:

Third round Friday, June 18, 1915 (morning) PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Jerome Travers (a) 76-72-73=221 −1T2 Mike Brady 76-71-75=222 E Bob MacDonald 72-77-73=222 Louis Tellier 75-71-76=2225 Tom McNamara 78-71-74=223 +1T6 Jim Barnes 71-75-79=225 +3 Alex Campbell 76-75-74=2258 Fred McLeod 74-76-76=226 +49 Walter Hagen 78-73-76=227 +510 George Low 78-74-76=228 +6 Source:

Final round Friday, June 18, 1915 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)1 Jerome Travers (a) 76-72-73-76=297 +1 02 Tom McNamara 78-71-74-75=298 +2 3003 Bob MacDonald 72-77-73-78=300 +4 150T4 Jim Barnes 71-75-79-76=301 +5 90 Louis Tellier 75-71-76-79=3016 Mike Brady 76-71-75-80=302 +6 707 George Low 78-74-76-75=303 +7 60T8 Jock Hutchison 74-79-76-76=305 +9 45 Fred McLeod 74-76-76-79=305T10 Alex Campbell 76-75-74-81=306 +10 6 Emmet French 77-79-75-75=306 Walter Hagen 78-73-76-79=306 Tom Kerrigan 78-75-76-77=306 Gilbert Nicholls 78-81-73-74=306 Jack Park 77-77-75-77=306 Wilfrid Reid 77-78-75-76=306 George Sargent 75-77-79-75=306 Source:

Amateurs: Travers (+1), Evans (+11), Stone (+12), Ouimet (+21).

References

External links USGA Championship Database USOpen.com - 1915