New York City is located in the United States
Location in the United States
Fresh Meadow CC  is located in New York
Location in New York
Fresh Meadow CC  is located in New York City
Location in New York City

The 1930 PGA Championship was the 13th PGA Championship, held September 8–13 in New York City at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Flushing, Queens. Then a match play championship, Tommy Armour defeated Gene Sarazen 1 up in the finals for the second of his three major titles.

Johnny Farrell and Horton Smith were co-medalists at 145 (+5) in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier on Monday. Two-time defending champion Leo Diegel lost in the second round to Harold Sampson in 38 holes, ending his bid for a third straight title. Runner-up Sarazen was the club pro at Fresh Meadow; he previously won the PGA Championship in 1922 and 1923.

During the 36-hole Monday qualifier, Diegel shot 81 in the morning round and was in danger of not advancing to match play. He followed up with a 69 (−1) in the afternoon and his 150 (+10) put him only five strokes behind the medalists, in a tie for 8th place, easily within the top 32. Starting in 1931, the defending champion was exempt from qualifying.

The course where this PGA Championship was played in Queens no longer exists. Designed by A. W. Tillinghast, it opened in 1923 and also hosted the U.S. Open in 1932, won by Sarazen. 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.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1930 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in six days:

  • Monday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier top 32 professionals advanced to match play
  • Tuesday – first round – 36 holes
  • Wednesday – second round – 36 holes
  • Thursday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
  • Friday – semifinals – 36 holes
  • Saturday – final – 36 holes

Final results

Saturday, September 13, 1930

PlacePlayerMoney ($)
1United States Tommy Armour1,000
2United States Gene Sarazen500
T3Australia Joe Kirkwood250
United States Charles Lacey
T5United States Al Espinosa200
United States Johnny Farrell
United States Harold Sampson
United States Horton Smith

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals September 11Semi-finals September 12Finals September 13
Tommy Armour2&1
Johnny Farrell
Tommy Armour1up
Charles Lacey
Charles Lacey4&3
Harold Sampson
Tommy Armour1up
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen2&1
Al Espinosa
Gene Sarazen5&4
Joe Kirkwood
Joe Kirkwood1up
Horton Smith

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole123456789101112131415161718
ScotlandUnited States Armour444454542453424544
United States Sarazen443454443443525554
LeaderS1S1S1S1S2S2S1S1S2S2S1S1A1A1

Afternoon

Hole123456789101112131415161718
ScotlandUnited States Armour544264453434435544
United States Sarazen445254453343445545
LeaderA1A1S1S1S1A1
  • Source:

External links

  • – 1930 PGA Championship

40°43′59″N 73°46′48″W/40.733°N 73.78°W/ 40.733; -73.78