Aug. 21, 1914

In only his second U.S. Open, 21-year-old Walter Hagen led after each round in winning the two-day, 72-hole tournament at the Midlothian Country Club in Blue Island, Ill., just outside Chicago.

Hagen shot a marvelous 68 in yesterday's first round and then a 74 in the afternoon to take a one-stroke lead at the halfway point. Today's rounds of 75 and 73 (35 on the back nine) give him a two-over-par 290, one stroke better than charging amateur Chick Evans, who fires rounds of 71 and 70.

Evans needs an eagle two on the final hole, a short 277-yard par-4, to tie Hagen. He hits a wonderful drive just off the edge of the green, but his 30-foot putt misses by 12 inches.

Hagen earns $300 for the first of his 11 major titles. The key to his victory is that he birdied the 18th hole each round, something no champion has done before or since.