Stewart Gardner

Background

Gardner was born on 31 October 1878 in Troon, Scotland, the son of Robert Gardner and Agnes Gardner (née Snoddy) who were both born in Ireland.

Career

He had seven top-10 finishes in the United States. Open. His best performance was a T2 finish in the 1902 United States. Open. In 1924 he served as vice president at large of the Professional Golf Association of America.

He grew to be a tall man, and had blue eyes and brown hair.

He emigrated to the United States in 1899 and on 6 November 1919 he applied for, and was granted, United States. citizenship. He registered for the draft during World War I on 12 September 1918 but it is unknown whether he saw any combat since the war would be over only two months later.

He occasionally took trips back to Scotland, presumably to visit his mother and other family members, but would then return to the United States. One such trip was aboard the Steamship Cameronia which left Glasgow on 28 February 1914 and arrived in New York on 9 March 1914. Gardner placed third in the 1903 United States. Open and ninth in the 1900 United States. Open.

Gardner also finished fourth in the 1901 United States. Open held at Myopia Hunt Club.

In 1901 the Myopia Hunt Club course played extraordinarily difficult. Number players in the event broke 80. Gardner was one of the first of a large group of Scottish golf professionals to come to America around the turn of the 19th century.

He arrived in the United States in 1899 and took his first position at Lenox, Massachusetts.

He served as head professional at Garden City Golf Club on Long Island, New York, but his longest stint was a 10-year posting at Exmoor Country Club. In 1905 he was tied for the lead after the first day in the United States. Open with Alex Smith but he had a third round 85 and eventually finished fifth.

The Western Open was considered to be a major tournament in the early 20th century. By 1930 Gardner was single and rooming with the Alfred Stupple family in Highland Park, Illinois.

Gardner died at his home in Highland Park on 12 April 1931 after a lingering illness at the age of 52.

He is best remembered for a T2 finish in the 1902 United States. Open. He was buried at North Shore Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Achievements

• Gardner was best known for a strong finish in the 1902 United States. Open where he finished tied second with Walter Travis, but a distant six shots behind winner Laurie Auchterlonie. In his prime, he won many tournaments between 1901 and 1904. In 1909 he was runner-up in the Western Open, nine shots behind winner Willie Anderson.