Background
Fitzjohn was born on 2 June 1878 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the son of the "Steward of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh golfers".
Fitzjohn was born on 2 June 1878 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the son of the "Steward of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh golfers".
He finished tied for second in the 1899 United States. Open and finished tenth in 1900.
Fitzjohn had two brothers, Fred and Ned, who were also professional golfers. In 1894 he emigrated to the United States and by 1896 had been appointed as the first golf professional at Otsego Golf Club at Springfield Center, New York, and remained there until 1899. By October 1900, Fitzjohn was the superintendent of the Van Cortlandt Park links in Brooklyn.
An article at the time published in The New York Times described Shippen as "the colored lad".
In October 1900 Fitzjohn and John Reid, Junior. took on Harry Vardon in a match at Albany, New New York During most of his 1900 exhibition tour, Vardon played alone against the best ball of what were usually the two best players at each club where he played matches.
Fitzjohn"s driving off the tee was described as unusually low, with a long run on it, and those shots captured the gallery, although his short game "was not quite up to the mark..".
By 1901 Fitzjohn was the professional at the Mohawk Golf Club in Schenectady, New York, having prior been engaged at the Otsego Golf Club. In 1930, Fitzjohn was living in Greenwich, Connecticut.
1899 United States. Open
The 1899 United States. Open was the fifth United States. Open.
The golf tournament was held 14–15 September 1899, at Baltimore Country Club. Scottish golfer Willie Smith of the Midlothian Country Club, Chicago, recorded a record 11-stroke victory for his first United States. Open title. Fitzjohn, George Low, and Bert Way finished tied for second.
Fitzjohn had rounds of 85-80-79-82=326.
1900 United States. Open
Fitzjohn placed tenth in the 1900 United States. Open, held 4–5 October 1900, at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. 1901 United States. Open
Fitzjohn also competed in the 1901 United States. Open held at the Myopia Hunt Club near Boston.
He had a T12 finish in the tournament. The Myopia golf course, designed by Herbert Leeds, was difficult to score on.
Number player entered in the tournament managed to break 80 in any round.
Fitzjohn died in 1934. He is best remembered for having two top-10 finishes in the United States. Open, including a fine T2 finish in the 1899 United States. Open.