Jess Sweetser

Who was Jess Sweetser?

Jesse W. Sweetser was an amateur golfer, best known as the first American-born player to win the British Amateur.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sweetser later attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University. In 1920, Sweetser won the individual title at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships.

Sweetser won the 1922 U.S. Amateur at the age of 20, defeating Bobby Jones 8 & 7 in the semi-final and then Chick Evans 3 & 2 in the final match. The following year, he again made the finals but lost on the second playoff hole to Max R. Marston.

In 1926, Sweetser won the British Amateur at Muirfield, defeating A.F. Simpson 6 & 5 in the final match. The 1904 winner, Walter Travis, was a naturalized American citizen born in Australia, but Sweetser's victory was the first time an American-born golfer had won the tournament.

Sweetster won the Metropolitan Amateur in 1922 and 1925.

Sweetser was a member of the original Walker Cup team in 1922, and also played in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, and 1932. Later, he was non-playing captain for the 1967 and 1973 teams. He was also captain for the 1966 U.S. Eisenhower Trophy team.