Daniel Fairchild

He was hailed as "the Boy Wonder" when he won his first State Amateur in 1907 at age 16, making him the youngest person ever to do so, a record that stands to this day. A tall, slender player, he went on to win the Amateur six times, which also still stands as the record. His other titles came in 1909, 1916, 1918, 1919, and 1921. He was noted for his three-quarter swing and unfailing accuracy. In one of his runs to the Amateur title, he was reported to have missed the fairway with one drive in the entire tournament. Later in his career, he established a record at the then young Wannamoisett Country Club course when he shot a 66 in qualifying for the State Amateur. He also won the Equinox Invitational Tournament in Vermont and the Great Barrington, Mass. Championship, both among the major tournaments of the era in New England. He was encouraged by many to enter national events, but never did so. A prominent businessman who operated the Fairchild & Company kitchen furnishing business in the Arcade in Providence, he died of pneumonia at age 47 in 1938. He also was a well known bridge player and one of the founders of the Bridge Club of Rhode Island.