Jerome Dunstan "Jerry" Travers (May 19, 1887 – March 29, 1951) was one of the leading amateur golfers of the early 1900s. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1907, 1908, 1912 and 1913, the New Jersey Amateur three times, and the Metropolitan Amateur (New York) five times. He was regarded as one of the finest match play golfers of his time and had a famous rivalry with Walter Travis. He won the 1915 U.S. Open.

Early life

Travers was born on May 19, 1887, in New York City, New York.

Golf career

On September 16, 1905, a then 18-year-old Travers partnered with Herbert Strong to tie for second place, shooting 72, in a four-ball tournament held at Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island as part of the 1905 Metropolitan Open. The stroke play portion of the tournament was won by Alex Smith.

Jerome Travers
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In 1915 Travers won the U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club, making him the second of the five amateurs to win the event. It was his only top ten finish in four appearances at the U.S. Open – he never entered the tournament again once he had won it.

Although all of Travers' notable victories came as an amateur, he later became a teaching professional and gave exhibitions.

Death and legacy

Travers died on March 29, 1951, in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Jerome Travers
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Awards and honors

In 1976, Travers was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame

Tournament wins

1904 Nassau Invitational

1906 Metropolitan Amateur, Eastern Scholastic, Lynnewood Hall Cup

1907 U.S. Amateur, Metropolitan Amateur, New Jersey Amateur

1908 U.S. Amateur, New Jersey Amateur, Morris County Invitation Tournament, Lynnewood Hall Cup

1910 Montclair G.C. Invitational

1911 Metropolitan Amateur, New Jersey Amateur

1912 U.S. Amateur, Metropolitan Amateur

1913 U.S. Amateur, Metropolitan Amateur, New Jersey Amateur

1914 Prince of Wales Medal

1915 U.S. Open, Lynnewood Hall Cup

Note: Major championships in bold

Major championships

Professional wins (1)

Amateur wins (4)

Results timeline

Note: Travers played in only the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, and The Amateur Championship.

NT = no tournament

"T" indicates a tie for a place

R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in match play

Sources: U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur, Amateur Championship: 1909, 1914