Norton's Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund holds Centennial Gala

The Norton-based Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund was in the spotlight this week, as the fund held its Centennial Gala in Boston, celebrating the 100^th anniversary of Francis Ouimet’s victory in golf’s U.S. Open.

Ouimet started the fund in 1949 after a successful amateur golf career. His 1913 U.S. Open victory, in which he beat established professionals Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18-hole playoff at The Country Club in Brookline, is considered to be one of the most important moments in golf history. Ouimet was from a poor family that lived across the street from the golf course’s 17^th hole, and was virtually unknown before winning the Open with a 10-year old caddie barely bigger than his golf bag.

Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open victory was chronicled in the 2002 book “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” which was made into a popular movie in 2005.

The fund that he started has grown to have awarded more than $26 million in need-based college scholarships to more than 5,100 students who work as caddies or in other capacities at Massachusetts golf courses.

At this week’s gala, whch with 2,100 guests is believed to be the most well-attended golf dinner in the country, scholarship recipients for the 2013-14 school year were announced. Special guests included golf legend Arnold Palmer, Golf Channel analyst Rich Lerner, author Mark Frost (“The Greatest Game Ever Played”), actor/director Bill Paxton (“The Greatest Game Ever Played”) and many of Ouimet’s family members. Ouimet’s great-grand daughter, Caitlin Wallerce, met Palmer at a media event overlooking Boston Harbor and hit biodegradable golf balls to a floating green in the harbor.

More information on the Francis Ouimet Scholarship  Fund is available at www.Ouimet.org.