On the 13 September 1866, the Scottish professional golfer, Willie Park, Sr. (1833-1903), won the 7th Open Championship by two shots, from his brother Davie Park. Played in a strong wind.
Willie Park, one of 16 competitors at the Prestwick Golf Club, set the pace with a score of 54. In the second round his score of 56 extended his lead, and after a final round of 59, set a useful target of 169. Davie Park’s final round of 56 gave him a total of 171 and second place. It was Park Senior’s third of four wins in the Open Championship.
Leader Board: 1: Willie Park Senior, Scotland, 54-56-59-169 – £ 6.00; 2: Davie Park, Scotland, 58-57-56-171 – £ 3,00; 3: Robert Andrew, Scotland, 58-59 59-176 £ 2.00; 4: Tom Morris Sr, Scotland 61-58-59-178
Born in Wallyford, East Lothian, Park started out as a caddie, and later ran a golf equipment manufacturing business. On the course, he made money from ‘challenge matches’, the most popular form of spectator golf in his era, against rivals such as Old Tom Morris, Willie Dunn and Allan Robertson,
13 September, 2019