Richard Chapman

1986

Amateur Golfer

A Connecticut native who played out of Pinehurst for many years, Chapman won national titles on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

In the 1940 U.S. Amateur Championship at Winged Foot, his home club, Chapman won the qualifying medal with a four-under-par 140 total, then played 157 holes in eight-under-par on his way to the title.  In the final match, he romped to an 11-and 9 victory over “Duff” McCullough, who had been second-low qualifier.

Eleven years later, after helping the U.S. team to victory in the Walker Cup Match at Royal Birkdale, Chapman stayed around long enough to win the British Amateur Championship, in which be defeated fellow American Charlie Coe in the final.

Chapman also played two other victorious Walker Cup teams—in 1947 at St. Andrews, Scotland and in 1953 at Marion, Mass.
He participated in the Masters Tournament 19 times, surviving the 36-hole cut on 12 occasions.  He finished among the top 24, thus earning a return invitation for the following year, four times with his best finish coming in 1954 when wound up in 11th place.

Chapman won the Carolinas Amateur Championship in 1953 and ‘57 and took the Carolinas Four-Ball Championship in 1956 and ‘59.  He also won national titles in France (twice), Canada and Italy. Richard Chapman was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1986