Frank Stranahan's Personal 1949 U.S.G.A. Walker Cup Program Signed By Francis Ouimet and Both Teams

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/27/2013

This lot offers the personal 1949 Saturday matches Walker Cup program of United States team member Frank Stranahan. The Saturday program (there also is a more common Friday program with alternate cover shot of the Walker Cup)pictures team captains Percy "Laddie" Lucas of Great Britain & Ireland along with the United States' Francis Ouimet. Each captain has autographed the cover in black fountain pen with a personalized signature to Stranahan. The lefthanded playing captain of GB&I, Lucas scripting "To My Very Good Friend" while the legendary Hall of Famer and U.S. captain Ouimet pens To Frank Stranahan "One of my Boys" followed by his highly valued autograph which presents at 9/10 strength. The 1949 Walker Cup matches were the 12th time the two sides had met since the inception in 1922 with Ouimet appearing as a player or coach in each of them. Ouimet, well respected on both sides of the Atlantic, would become the first American to be named prestigious captain of the Royal and Ancient golf course of St. Andrews. The 1949 Walker Cup matches were held by the United States Golf Association at Winged Foot just outside New York City with the U.S. squad winning the two day event (August 19-20) by a 10-2 margin. Stranahan starred for the U.S. squad teaming with Kocsis for a 2&1 Friday foursome win and then trouncing the reigning British Amateur Champion Max McCready 6&5. The largest margin of victory in the Saturday singles matches. The program, a publication of the U.S.G.A., features a two page article by Captain Ouimet entitled "Walker Cup Memories". Also included in the program are the pairings for the Saturday singles matches, but the real highlight of this offering is the centerfold which contains bios and pictures of both the Great Britain & Ireland teams which have been autographed by each of the twenty players in the matches. Among these signatures are Joe Carr, Charlie Coe, John Dawson, Skee Riegel, Frank Stranahan and William Turnesa. Also autographing this section of the program are Commander J.A.S. Carson Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Joe Dey Executive Director U.S.G.A. (World Golf Hall of Fame member) and Fielding Wallace President U.S.G.A. (Founding member Augusta National and club secretary, deceased 1954). This publication remains in excellent condition with a strong spine however there is the traditional, for this time period, center fold crease evident and some limited staining in right hand corner. The autographs all present in 8 to 9 strength of signatures and have been reviewed by James Spence Authentication and that companies letter of authenticity will be provided with this lot.