University of San Francisco Athletics

On Monday, May 2, 2022, the University of San Francisco athletics department will be celebrating the 36^th Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament. The annual event supports USF Athletic Scholarships and is held at the prestigious Olympic Club on both the Lake and Ocean courses.
 
The Tournament would not exist without two legendary alums of USF.  John Swanson '38 and Samuel Johnstone '42, who both played football for the Dons and are members of the USF Hall of Fame.
 
Swanson was a fullback for USF in the late 1930's and his devotion to the school never faltered throughout his life. Said his friend Tom Weiskopf in an interview in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1998, "I'd be walking around Pebble Beach and people could come to John and thank him for doing things for them 20 years earlier ... he sent numerous students through college - just because he wanted to see them in school."
 
Swanson knew about hard times and the struggles of being a student athlete. His own college days coincided with America's Great Depression, and he worked on the side to pay his way through USF. When the USF golf tournament committee first met to design the format for a golf tournament event, it was a natural fit to combine John's greatest passions - fun, fellowship, and aid to others.
 
An avid golfer, Swanson was bit of a hustler on the golf course. He once played a young amateur by the name of Jack Nicklaus in a round at the Olympic Club when Nicklaus was on his way to Pebble.
 
Nicklaus asked Swanson how many strokes he wanted. Nicklaus recalls: "(Swanson) looked at me with that smirk he always had. 'Strokes? Listen, fat boy, I don't need anything from you. It's you and me, belly to belly, for all your trophies.' "
 
Swanson passed away in 1987, but his impact at USF continues on today. "The Swanson" has generated thousands of dollars towards scholarships for USF student-athletes.
 
Samuel Johnstone was another former football player for the Dons who played from 1937 to '41. In high school he had several offers for athletic scholarships, including one from Notre Dame, but Johnston chose to attend college locally and went to school on the Hilltop. He had a brilliant career and was named to the USF Hall of Fame.    
 
After Pearl Harbor was attacked, Johnstone joined many of his classmates and enlisted in the military. He flew B-17 on 25 missions over Europe in WWII in the US Army Air Corp and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and outstanding performance in the service. 
 
Following the war, he owned and operated Nor-Cal Supply Co. in San Leandro. His love for USF never waned; he believed the university had given him the training to become successful. An avid golfer himself, he and his wife Pat became the title sponsor of the Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament through the Sam and Pauline Johnstone Foundation, which has kept the tournament running throughout the years. It is believed to be the longest running tournament hosted at the Olympic Club.
 
"In my 25 years of being directly involved in this tournament, I have had the privilege of working with a great committee of alumni in the early days such as Mr. Bill Henneberry, Mr. Mark Avelar, Mr. Pat Murphy and Mr. Charlie Cross, to name a few.  It has been a real pleasure watching this tournament take shape into a celebrated and anticipated gathering of Dons fans, while also becoming a pivotal fundraising event," said Julie Congi, tournament Coordinator and head of special events for the USF athletics department. "This tournament has evolved from what once was a feel good community tournament to a marquee and successful golfing event that maintains its community roots while welcoming Bay Area companies big and small. We have lasted 35 years and there's no reason why we can't last another 100!  Happy 35th Swanson Memorial."  - John, Ora and Sam would be proud!
 
After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament will once again be hosted by The Olympic Club. Spots are still available to play on the beautiful Ocean Course. 
 
To register to play in the 36^th Annual Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament, please visit usfdons.com/swanson.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Frank Allocco at (415) 422-4561 or at fallocco@usfca.edu.