Bobby Cole
Encyclopedia
Bobby Cole is a South Africa
n professional golfer
. As a child, he was influenced by the careers of Bobby Locke
and Gary Player
.
Cole is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour
, having made more than 150 cuts in PGA Tour tournament play. In 1966, Cole won the British Amateur at Carnoustie
, Scotland
, at age 18, the youngest winner to that stage. In 1974 he claimed both the team and the individual wins in the World Cup. Cole is a two-time winner of the South African Open, 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he won the South African PGA Championship
.
On the U.S. PGA Tour, Cole won the 1977
Buick Open
. He has had eight top-10 finishes in the PGA Championship
, the U.S. Open
, and the British Open
, and he finished tied for third in the 1975 Open Championship
, one stroke back of Tom Watson
and Jack Newton
, who played off for the win. During the 1975 Open, Cole shot back-to-back rounds of 66, setting and then matching the course record at Carnoustie
.
Cole held the record at age 18 for youngest winner of the British Amateur, until Matteo Manassero
won the Amateur in 2009, at age 16. Cole also held the record as the youngest player to play in and make the cut at the Masters Tournament, in 1967, at just short of 19 of agee, until Manassero, in 2010, again beat his record, becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut at 16 years, 11 months and 22 days.
Cole played on the Champions Tour
from 1998 to 2001.
Cole was twice married to LPGA Tour player Laura Baugh
, and the couple had seven children together.
Cole resides in Florida
, where he teaches both golf clinics and private lessons.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
. As a child, he was influenced by the careers of Bobby Locke
Bobby Locke
Arthur D'Arcy "Bobby" Locke was the first internationally successful South African professional golfer. He won four Open Championships.-Early years:...
and Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
.
Cole is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, having made more than 150 cuts in PGA Tour tournament play. In 1966, Cole won the British Amateur at Carnoustie
Carnoustie
Carnoustie is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is situated at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the North Sea coast...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, at age 18, the youngest winner to that stage. In 1974 he claimed both the team and the individual wins in the World Cup. Cole is a two-time winner of the South African Open, 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he won the South African PGA Championship
South African PGA Championship
The Telkom PGA Championship, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour...
.
On the U.S. PGA Tour, Cole won the 1977
1977 PGA Tour
The 1977 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to November 6. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, five, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below....
Buick Open
Buick Open
The Buick Open was a PGA Tour golf tournament from 1958 to 2009. In 2007, the tournament was held at the end of June, a change from its traditional spot between The Open Championship and the PGA Championship...
. He has had eight top-10 finishes in the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
, the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
, and the British Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
, and he finished tied for third in the 1975 Open Championship
1975 Open Championship
The 1975 Open Championship was a golf competition held at Carnoustie Golf Links. The competition was won by Tom Watson in an 18-hole playoff over Jack Newton, 71 to 72.-First round:-Second round:...
, one stroke back of Tom Watson
Tom Watson (golfer)
Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
and Jack Newton
Jack Newton
Jack Newton OAM is a former Australian professional golfer.-Golf career:Newton was born in Cessnock, New South Wales. He was one of Australia's most successful golfers in the 1970s and early 1980s. He turned professional in 1971 and won his first professional tournament – the Dutch Open...
, who played off for the win. During the 1975 Open, Cole shot back-to-back rounds of 66, setting and then matching the course record at Carnoustie
Carnoustie Golf Links
The Carnoustie Golf Links are in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. Its historic championship golf course is one of the venues in the Open Championship rotation.-History:...
.
Cole held the record at age 18 for youngest winner of the British Amateur, until Matteo Manassero
Matteo Manassero
Matteo Manassero is an Italian professional golfer. He is the youngest golfer to win a European Tour event.Manassero was born in Negrar, in the Province of Verona. In 2009, at the age of 16, he became the youngest ever winner of the British Amateur Championship, defeating England's Sam Hutsby in...
won the Amateur in 2009, at age 16. Cole also held the record as the youngest player to play in and make the cut at the Masters Tournament, in 1967, at just short of 19 of agee, until Manassero, in 2010, again beat his record, becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut at 16 years, 11 months and 22 days.
Cole played on the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
from 1998 to 2001.
Cole was twice married to LPGA Tour player Laura Baugh
Laura Baugh
Laura Zonetta Baugh is an American golfer, who played the LPGA Tour for 25 years. She is a published writer and golf broadcaster.-Early life, family:...
, and the couple had seven children together.
Cole resides in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where he teaches both golf clinics and private lessons.
South African wins (8)
- 1969 Dunlop South African Masters
- 1971 Natal Open, Transvaal Open
- 1972 Rhodesian Masters
- 1973 Natal Open
- 1974 South African Open
- 1980 South African Open
- 1986 South African PGA ChampionshipSouth African PGA ChampionshipThe Telkom PGA Championship, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour...
Other wins (2)
- 1974 World Cup (team with Dale HayesDale HayesDale Hayes is a South African professional golfer.-Career outline:Hayes won the 15–17 Boys category at the Junior World Golf Championships in 1969. He turned professional the following year and quickly became a successful pro. He won more than a dozen events in South Africa, and was runner up on...
and individual) - 1985 Seattle-Everett Open (PGA Tour Tournament Players' Series event)