Gordon Sherry
Encyclopedia
Gordon Sherry is a Scottish
professional golfer
most recognised for winning The Amateur Championship
in 1995.
Sherry enjoyed his greatest moments as an amateur, winning The Amateur Championship, being a member of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup
team, and appearing in The Open Championship
and U.S. Masters.
, where the Great Britain team finished as runners up. The following year, he won The Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, and finished fourth overall in the Scottish Open
, behind only Wayne Riley
, Nick Faldo
and Colin Montgomerie
.
His win in The Amateur Championship gave Sherry the opportunity to play in both The Open Championship and the U.S. Masters, two of golf major championships
. He gained significant attention during his participation in the 1995 Open which was played at St Andrews
, starting when he made a hole in one
during a practice round playing alongside Jack Nicklaus
and Tom Watson
. Although he finished behind Steve Webster
in the race for the Silver Medal
as the lowest scoring amateur, he collected £1 from fellow amateur Tiger Woods
, with whom he had a friendly wager over who would achieve the highest-placed finish.
Sherry faced Woods again later that year as a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup
team. He again came out on top as Great Britain and Ireland recorded only their fourth win in the competition.
he never won his European Tour card. As a result he had to rely mostly on sponsors invites in order to compete. He never managed to win a tour event although he did win the Mauritius Open
in 1997.
Sherry last attempted to qualify for the European Tour in 2002. After a four-year break from competition, he started playing on the Scottish Tartan Tour in 2009 and now splits his time between tournaments on the Tartan Tour and coaching. He has also been involved with Prodream USA, a consultancy assisting British golfers to obtain scholarships to American universities, run by fellow ex-Walker Cup golfer Lorne Kelly.
. He graduated with a degree in biochemistry
from the University of Stirling
. He now lives in Helensburgh
with his wife Alison and their three children.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
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;...
most recognised for winning The Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
in 1995.
Sherry enjoyed his greatest moments as an amateur, winning The Amateur Championship, being a member of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
team, and appearing in The Open Championship
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 U.S. Masters.
Amateur
In 1994 Sherry finished as runner up in The Amateur Championship and played in the Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
, where the Great Britain team finished as runners up. The following year, he won The Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, and finished fourth overall in the Scottish Open
Scottish Open (golf)
The Scottish Open, which has been sponsored by Barclays Capital since 2002, is one of the richer golf tournaments on the European Tour. It is currently played at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness in the North of Scotland...
, behind only Wayne Riley
Wayne Riley
Wayne Riley is an Australian professional golfer.Riley was born in Sydney. He turned professional in 1977, and started out on the PGA Tour of Australasia...
, Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
and Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
.
His win in The Amateur Championship gave Sherry the opportunity to play in both The Open Championship and the U.S. Masters, two of golf major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
. He gained significant attention during his participation in the 1995 Open which was played at St Andrews
Old Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
, starting when he made a hole in one
Hole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is most possible on a par 3 hole. Longer hitters have accomplished this feat on shorter par 4 holes...
during a practice round playing alongside Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
and 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....
. Although he finished behind Steve Webster
Steve Webster
Steve Webster is an English professional golfer.Webster was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He finished tied for 24th place in the 1995 Open Championship at St Andrews, winning the silver medal as low amateur ahead of Tiger Woods. He turned professional later that year.Webster won the 1995...
in the race for the Silver Medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
as the lowest scoring amateur, he collected £1 from fellow amateur Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, with whom he had a friendly wager over who would achieve the highest-placed finish.
Sherry faced Woods again later that year as a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
team. He again came out on top as Great Britain and Ireland recorded only their fourth win in the competition.
Professional
After appearing in the U.S. Masters in April 1996, Sherry turned professional. Despite several visits to qualifying schoolQualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
he never won his European Tour card. As a result he had to rely mostly on sponsors invites in order to compete. He never managed to win a tour event although he did win the Mauritius Open
Mauritius Open
The Mauritius Open was a golf tournament played on the island of Mauritius from 1994 through 2008. In 2009 the tournament was superseded by a new European Seniors Tour event, named the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open.-Winners:-External links:**...
in 1997.
Sherry last attempted to qualify for the European Tour in 2002. After a four-year break from competition, he started playing on the Scottish Tartan Tour in 2009 and now splits his time between tournaments on the Tartan Tour and coaching. He has also been involved with Prodream USA, a consultancy assisting British golfers to obtain scholarships to American universities, run by fellow ex-Walker Cup golfer Lorne Kelly.
Personal life
Sherry was born in KilmarnockKilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
. He graduated with a degree in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
from the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
. He now lives in Helensburgh
Helensburgh
Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....
with his wife Alison and their three children.
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1995 | 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | CUT |
| 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... |
DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship 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... |
T40 | DNP |
| 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... |
DNP | DNP |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Amateur
- Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
: 1994 - St Andrews TrophySt Andrews TrophyThe St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland, which is colloquially known as the "Home of Golf". The competition was founded in...
: 1994 - Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
: 1995 (winners)