This article, by the late Bill Jones, first appeared in 1995.

It didn’t take long after the first 18 holes of golf were opened in Pinehurst in 1899 for tournament golf to come to the Sandhills.

In fact, the proverbial North and South Amateur Championship and North and South Open for the professionals would be played on the No. 1 golf course until 1907, when Donald Ross’s masterpiece known as the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course officially opened after some tender-loving tinkering over a six-year period.

George Dutton would be the official champion of the first North and South Amateur in 1901; while Ross’s brother, Alex, would win the first North and South Open and the first prize of $50 in 1902.

The cavalcade of top-ranked male golfers who have played on the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course in North and South events reads like a veritable Who’s Who of American golf in the 20th century. Dazzling names such as Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Jim Barnes and modern-day heroes such as Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Davis Love III and Billy Andrade have all claimed Putter Boy trophies as rewards for their stellar play on the No. 2 golf course.

The history of Pinehurst is so riddled with the aura of great golfers who have played and praised the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, it is little wonder why the golf course is so respected on an international level.

There have been greats of the game who have breezed into Pinehurst and claimed one tournament victory and who have gone on to great success whether as an amateur or professional, but we have chosen a list that would absolutely fill a trophy room to the ceiling with awards and mementos.

For instance, Jay Sigel played in more than a dozen North and South Amateur Championships and never finished the match play competition with the champion’s trophy, even through Sigel is considered by most to have been the best amateur of the past three decades before turning professional in 1993 and finding success on the Senior PGA Tour.

As a youth at Wake Forest University, Arnold Palmer played in a handful of North and South Amateur tournaments and never made it to the winner’s circle despite being one of the most revered golfers of the century.

The list of successes and near misses is enough to fill a Hall of Fame with memories, but as this essay will detail, we are honoring the most rewarded golfers to ever play on the sand and grass greens at the confines of the Pinehurst Country Club.

Publishing entrepreneur George T. Dunlap, who so loved the Pinehurst area, spent much of his time outside the corporate world playing golf in the Sandhills and was even a co-owner of the Pine Needles Resort in the 1930s and ’40s until the Resort was taken over by the Army for added barracks space.

Dunlap is the all-time winner in the history of recognized golf tournaments run by the Pinehurst Country Club. His seven victories, coupled with one astonishing runner-up finish, puts him at the top of the list of those with bragging rights for their fortitude and longevity in the sport of golf.

During the 1930s and ’40s Dunlap claimed seven North and South Amateur titles, including four in succession beginning in 1933. Dunlap’s other victories would come in 1931, 1940 and 1942.

In 1934, Dunlap would shock the golfing world by tying for second as an amateur in the North and South Open, which was won by Henry Picard. Tying with Dunlap for second would be "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper and Horton Smith, who would leave Pinehurst and several weeks later be the first winner of The Masters. Picard would go on to win the 1938 Masters, while Cooper would finish second in the 1936 and 1938 Masters to Smith and Picard, respectively.

More About Golf In Pinehurst

Alex Ross, the younger brother of golf course architect Donald Ross, would distinguish himself in the early annals of the history of golf in Pinehurst. He thoroughly annoyed his brother by claiming six North and South Open titles, while Donald would win only a mere three of the championships.

Alex won the first event in 1902, while Donald finished second; and Alex would win five more times — in 1904, 1907, 1908, 1910 and 1915 — while posting two runner-up finishes in 1905 and 1906 behind brother Donald’s victories, which must have given a proud Donald some retribution.

Hall of Famer William C. Campbell would distinguish himself as one of the top amateur golfers of the century with four victories in North and South Amateur play covering the period from 1950-1967. Campbell would first win the event in 1950 and would add victories in 1953, 1957 and 1967 along with finishing second in 1955 in the long-running match play event.

Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 after a long and still distinguished amateur career, including years of service under the umbrella of the United States Golf Association, where he also served a term as president of the governing body of golf.

Distinguishing himself in the No. 4 position of all-time trophy grabbers is the incomparable Hall of Famer, Samuel Jackson Snead.

Snead would win a total of three North and South Opens and would finish second on four occasions, three times a runner-up to Ben Hogan and once a runner-up to Tony Pena. Snead’s victories came in 1941, 1949 and 1950. In addition, Snead would stun the golfing world in 1971 by showing his legendary longevity when he returned to Pinehurst to win the PGA National Club Professional Championship on a golf course he dearly loved — Pinehurst No. 2.

Billy Joe Patton of Morganton first gained notice for his golfing abilities in the 1951 North and South Amateur finals when he held a two-up lead after 31 holes over Hobart Manley. On the last five holes, Patton would play the stretch 1-under-par and be beaten by Manley, who would post five consecutive threes on the closing holes to win the match one-up.