1950 U.S. Amateur: Sam Urzetta wins at Minneapolis Golf Club
Sam Urzetta won the 1950 U.S. Amateur at Minneapolis Golf Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, beating Frank Stranahan won on 39th hole in the final.
Updated October 22, 2026
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- Edition
- 50th
- Dates
- August 21, 1950 to August 26, 1950
- Course
- Minneapolis Golf Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Format
- match play (sectional qualifying only)
- Champion
- Sam Urzetta · age 24 · United States · St. Bonaventure
- Champion's title
- 1st U.S. Amateur
- Runner-up
- Frank Stranahan · age 28
- Final
- won on 39th hole
- Losing semifinalists
- Robert W. Knowles Jr. and John P. Ward
- Defending champion
- Charles Coe · lost in round of 32
- Entries
- 1,025
What happened at the 1950 U.S. Amateur
Stranahan pushed his tee shot out of bounds on the 537-yard 39th hole; Urzetta's par 5 won the longest final in championship history.
Stranahan, the reigning British Amateur champion and overwhelming favorite, survived John Ward 1 up at the 36th hole of the semifinal.
Final, Sam Urzetta v. Frank Stranahan, won on 39th hole. Urzetta was 1 up after the morning 18 (both 70); the afternoon round left the match all square after 36. On the 537-yard 39th hole Stranahan pushed his tee shot out of bounds; Urzetta made par 5 to Stranahan's 6. Urzetta was even with par 71 for the day, Stranahan one over.
Semifinal, Frank Stranahan v. John P. Ward, 1 up. Stranahan trailed the Syracuse lawyer early and did not draw even until the 25th hole; Ward squared a 2-up deficit with successive birdies before overchipping at the 36th for a 5 to Stranahan's par 4.
Round of 16, Bud Holscher v. Larry Moller, won on 22nd hole. 19-year-old Holscher won four of the last five holes to draw even with former Notre Dame captain Larry Moller and won with a deuce at the 22nd.
Round of 32, Harold Paddock Jr. v. Charles Coe, 4 & 3. Defending champion Charles Coe was beaten in the fourth round by Ohio champion Harold Paddock Jr.
The draw
Every match is recorded through the round of 16.
The final, 1950 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Urzetta | def. | Frank Stranahan | won on 39th hole |
Semifinals, 1950 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Urzetta | def. | Robert W. Knowles Jr. | 6 & 5 |
| Frank Stranahan | def. | John P. Ward | 1 up |
Quarterfinals, 1950 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Knowles Jr. | def. | Tom Veech | 3 & 2 |
| Sam Urzetta | def. | Bud Holscher | 2 up |
| John P. Ward | def. | Bill Shields | 2 & 1 |
| Frank Stranahan | def. | Dick Kinchla | 5 & 4 |
Round of 16, 1950 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Veech | def. | Harold Paddock Jr. | 2 & 1 |
| Robert W. Knowles Jr. | def. | Billy Maxwell | 3 & 1 |
| Sam Urzetta | def. | Raleigh Selby | 4 & 3 |
| Bud Holscher | def. | Larry Moller | won on 22nd hole |
| John P. Ward | def. | Gene Vinson | 7 & 5 |
| Bill Shields | def. | Dick Hackett | 2 & 1 |
| Dick Kinchla | def. | Loren Krugel | 1 up |
| Frank Stranahan | def. | Willie Barber | 5 & 4 |
How this was built
Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's U.S. Amateur data set (research collected through October 20, 2026). "unknown" means no source confirmed it; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the USGA's own record is used.
Data: us-amateur.json.