Individual, Handicap, Men

Al Lambert won the handicap event, playing off a handicap of 10 and shooting 83 for a net 73, which won by two shots over Pierre Deschamps, who recorded a net 75, off a 33 handicap. Four players tied for third and a full 18-hole playoff was held to determine places 3-6. In fact, George Thorne and Mackenzie Turpie tied again in the playoff with nets of 84, and we think they played off again to determine places 4 and 5.

Lambert also competed in the Olympic competition, finishing eighth with rounds of 94-95. He was from St. Louis and when Olympic golf returned to St. Louis in 1904, Lambert would again compete, making him the only person to play in both Olympic golf tournaments. In fact, Lambert was the man responsible for the 1904 Olympic golf event.

Lambert was a wealthy man. He founded Lambert Pharmacal Co., later Warner-Lambert, best-known as the makers of Listerine. His avocation in later years became flying and he was the primary benefactor for Charles Lindbergh’s trans-atlantic flight. For his contributions to aviation, the St. Louis airport was named Lambert International Field.

In 1900 Lambert played the Olympic golf event while on a business trip to his Paris office. On his return he mentioned the Olympic golf event to his father-in-law, Colonel George McGrew. McGrew was the founder of Glen Echo Golf Club in St. Louis and with the Olympics coming to St. Louis in 1904, Lambert and McGrew put forth plans to conduct an Olympic golf tournament at Glen Echo.