Charles "Chick" Evans (1890-1979) was the first man to win the U.S Open and the U.S. Amateur in the same year. Using seven hickory-shafted clubs, Evans led the 1916 Open at Minikahda from start to finish, shooting a record score of 286 that would stand for 20 years. Ten weeks later, at Merion, he won the Amateur by beating Bob Gardner, the defending champion, in the final. The only other golfer in history to win these two tournaments in the same year was Bobby Jones, who did it in 1930, the year of his Grand Slam.

Gene Sarazen said that, "in his day, Chick Evans was a finer iron-player than any of the professionals."  It was his putter that always gave him problems.  Bobby Jones, after losing to Evans in match play, said that "Chick is one of the best competitive golfers the world ever saw."  Evans competed in every U.S. Amateur from 1907 through 1962.  He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975.