1865 British Open Winner and Scores

The 1865 British Open was the sixth one played. Andrew Strath became the first golfer other than Tom Morris Sr. and Willie Park Sr. to win the Open.

Winner: Andrew Strath, 162

Where it was played: Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire, Scotland

Tournament dates: Sept. 14, 1865

Leader after first round: Andrew Strath, 55

Leader after second round: Willie Park Sr., 108

What Happened at the 1865 Open Championship

The 1865 British Open was the sixth one played, but the first one won by someone other than Willie Park Sr. or Old Tom Morris. The champion golfer here was Andrew Strath.

The 1865 Open took place on Sept. 14 with three trips around Prestwick's 12-hole links. Strath had the best score over the first 12 with a 55, but trailed Park by one stroke following the second round. In the third round, Strath outplayed Park by three shots to win the tournament by two, 162 to 164.

Aside from Strath winning of the tournament, the most significant thing that happened this year was the debut of Young Tom Morris. Tommy Morris Jr. was only 14 years old, but shot 60 in the first round and 57 in the second. He was well back of the leaders at that point — but one shot ahead of his father.

However, Young Tom withdrew and didn't play the final 12 holes (only eight golfers completed the tournament). He first completed a British Open the following year, and later won four championships.

After winning here, Strath took over from Old Tom Morris as Prestwick's greenskeeper. But he died only three years later, at age 32, of tuberculosis, in 1868.

More than a decade later, Andrew's brother Davie Strath was scheduled to take part in a playoff for the 1876 British Open title, but refused. That handed the championship to Bob Martin.

This was the first Open in which official scorecards were printed and used. Previously, markers wrote down scores on whatever paper they had handy, even if it was just a scrap of paper. Strath's winning scorecard is today on display in the Prestwick clubhouse.

1865 British Open Final Scores

Andrew Strath	55-54-53—162
Willie Park Sr.	56-52-56—164
William Dow	56-61-54—171
Bob Kirk	64-54-54—172
Tom Morris Sr.	57-61-58—176
a-William Doleman	62-57-60—179
a-James Miller	63-58-66—187
Tom Hood	66-66-66—198

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