Before the 2016 Olympic golf tournaments, there were just a few known Olympic golf gold medals remaining in the world, with a pair dating back to the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.
One of those known gold medals was awarded to Robert Hunter, an American golfer who earned the gold as part of the team event held at Glen Echo Country Club. Hunter was one of the 10 players on captain Chandler Egan's Western Golf Association team, which bested the United States Golf Association and the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association teams.
Hunter, who was two months from turning 18 when he competed in the Olympics, went on to have a remarkable golf career, including the 1910 NCAA men's individual championship at Essex County Country Club. He finished tied for 23rd in the 1904 U.S. Open. He finished tied for 39th at Onwentsia Club in the 1906 U.S. Open. Hunter died in 1971 at age 84, and much of his estate, including most of his golf awards, were sold at auction, including one of only two known Olympic golf gold medals still in existence.
Hunter's gold medal was sold at auction by Christie's on Sept. 14 as part of its Out of the Ordinary auction in London.
The medal fetched an impressive $272,580.
