Richard Davol Chapman (March 23, 1911 – November 15, 1978) was an American amateur golfer. Time magazine dubbed him "the Ben Hogan of amateur golf".

Career

Chapman was born in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Chapman won the 1940 U.S. Amateur. He was a member of Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, which was the site of his first major triumph. He remains one of only three players to have won a USGA title on their home course. He holds a place in the Masters Tournament record book for the most appearances (19) as an amateur, a distinction he shares with Charles Coe.

Although Chapman was quite the international player, winning the 1951 British Amateur and French Amateur twice. Chapman also won a number of notable domestic events, including the Connecticut Amateur, Massachusetts Amateur, New York Amateur, New England Amateur, and Carolinas Amateur. He also won the prestigious North and South Amateur. At the 1958 U.S. Amateur, Chapman and his son, Dixie, both qualified, giving a rare father-and-son appearance.

Chapman's career was put on hold for World War II, where he served as a major in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war, Chapman picked up where he left off, with a string of victories in the British, French, Canadian, and Italian amateurs. Chapman is one of only two players (the other is Harvie Ward) who has won the U.S., British, and Canadian Amateur Championships.

"Blessed with a strong competitive spirit and an inquiring mind into the technicalities of the swing," reads the entry on Chapman in Who's Who in Golf. "Chapman not only played the game but wrote about it and worked at its many phases."

In the 1950s, Chapman collaborated with the USGA on a handicap format for foursomes play called the Chapman System, also known as Pinehurst or American Foursomes. The system worked as follows: two golfers on the same team each tee off, then play the other's ball. From there, they select the ball with which to complete the hole and continue as in foursomes.

Chapman played on the winning Walker Cup teams in 1947, 1951, and 1953. Chapman was a member of The Tin Whistles. Chapman's final success came in 1967 with a victory in the International Senior Amateur.

Death

In the early 1970s, a stroke hampered his career. In 1978, he died in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Awards and honors

  • In 1986, Chapman was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Association Hall of Fame
  • In 2001, Chapman was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame

Amateur wins

this list is probably incomplete

Major championships

Amateur wins (2)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up
1940U.S. Amateur11 & 9United States Duff McCullough
1951British Amateur5 & 4United States Charles Coe

Results timeline

Tournament193419351936193719381939
Masters TournamentT37
U.S. OpenWDT50
British Open
U.S. AmateurR256SFR16
British AmateurR16R256QFQF
Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
Masters TournamentT19 LANTNTNTT41T14T40 LA50
U.S. OpenT36T49NTNTNTNTCUT
British OpenNTNTNTNTNTNT
U.S. Amateur1 MR64NTNTNTNTR16R16R128
British AmateurNTNTNTNTNTNT2R16
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters TournamentT35T20T553711T53T65CUTCUTCUT
U.S. OpenCUTT21CUT54
British Open
U.S. AmateurR32R32R256R64QFR16R64
British Amateur21R32
Tournament196019611962
Masters TournamentDQCUTCUT
U.S. OpenCUT
British OpenCUT
U.S. AmateurR64R32
British Amateur

Note: Chapman never played in the PGA Championship.

M = Medalist LA = Low Amateur NT = No tournament WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play "T" indicates a tie for a place

Source for The Masters: Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: Sources for British Amateur: , , , , , , Source:

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur