John Shippen
| John Shippen | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | John Matthew Shippen |
| Born |
2 December 1879 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | 20 May 1968 (aged 88) Newark, New Jersey |
| Nationality |
 United States
|
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships |
|
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | T5: 1896, 1902 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
John Matthew Shippen, Jr. (December 2, 1879 – May 20, 1968) was an African American/Native American golfer who competed in several of the early U.S. Opens. Born in Washington D.C., he was the son of Presbyterian minister John Shippen, Sr. and Eliza Spotswood Shippen.
Shippen's best finishes came at the 1896 U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York and the 1902 U.S. Open held at Garden City Golf Club in Garden City, New York, where he tied for fifth place at both.
When he was nine his father was sent to serve as minister on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation—close to Shinnecock Hills—one of America's earliest golf clubs. John, Jr. worked as a caddy at the course and was taught to play by the club's Scottish professional, Willie Dunn, Jr.
The Shinnecock Hills course was chosen to host the second U.S. Open in 1896. Shippen played superb golf, finishing in fifth place. Prior to the start of the tournament, some club members had been so impressed with Shippen's talent for the game that they decided to pay his entry fee for the tournament, along with that of his close friend, Oscar Bunn, a Shinnecock Indian. Shippen was allowed to play because he registered as an Indian (his mother was Shinnecock) rather than as a black.
When the professional entrants for the competition found out a racial controversy had begun and they threatened to boycott the event, but they backed down after USGA president Theodore Havemeyer stated that the tournament would proceed even if only Shippen and Dunn took part. Shippen was paired with Charles B. Macdonald, winner of the first U.S. Amateur in 1895. He was tied for second place after the first of the two rounds, and remained in contention until he drove his ball onto a sandy road at the 13th hole and scored an eleven. If he had made par on that hole, he would have made a playoff for the championship, but he still finished in a tie for fifth and won $25 as the fourth-placed non-amateur. Scottish-born James Foulis won the $150 first prize.
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