Harry Williams (golfer) explained

Harry Williams
Fullname:Harry Llewellyn Carlington Williams
Birth Date:12 July 1915
Birth Place:Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Death Place:East Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Status:Amateur

Harry Llewellyn Carlington Williams (12 July 1915 – 22 December 1961)[1] was an Australian amateur golfer. He won the Australian Amateur in 1931 and 1937.

Early life

Williams was born on 12 July 1915 in Elsternwick, Melbourne, the son of Eric Llewellyn Williams and his wife Emma Madge Dagmar, née Halfey.[1] He started playing golf at Elsternwick Golf Club, later moving to Commonwealth Golf Club and to Victoria Golf Club in 1931.[1] His father died of pneumonia in 1933 at the age of 39, and money inherited from his father together with his mother's independent income, meant that Williams could play golf full time.[2] [3] [1]

Golf career

In August 1931, at the age of 16, Williams won the Victorian Amateur Championship, beating Mick Ryan in the final.[4] The following month he won the Australian Amateur at The Australian Golf Club, beating George Thompson 3&2 in the final.[5] He won again in 1937, on the same course, beating Tom Tanner by one hole in the final.[6] Williams was also runner-up twice, losing to Reg Bettington in 1932 and to Jim Ferrier in 1939.[7] [8]

Williams was runner-up at Metropolitan Golf Club in the 1936 Australian Open behind Gene Sarazen. He was two strokes behind Sarazen after three rounds and had a bad first-nine of 39 in the final round. However he came home in 34 to finish second, four behind Sarazen.[9] [10]

Williams eventually won the Victorian Amateur Championship five times, in 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1939.[11] He also won the Riversdale Cup three times, in 1930, 1932 and 1934, with Mick Ryan runner-up each time.[12] [13] [14]

Later life

Williams played little top-level golf after World War II.[1] He died, with his mother, in their flat in East Kew, Melbourne on 13 December 1961. Their bodies were found after the landlady smelled gas coming from the flat. The gas on the kitchen stove was on and his mother had left a suicide note.[15] [16] In 2002, he was named as one of the twelve members of the Victorian golfing team of the 20th century.[17]

Team appearances

Notes and References

  1. A. G. L. . Shaw . A. G. L. Shaw . Williams, Harry Llewellyn (1915–1961) . 12 . 1990 . williams-harry-llewellyn-9113 . 19 January 2021.
  2. News: Death at 39 . . 17567 . Victoria, Australia . 2 September 1933 . 19 January 2021 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Personal . . CXXXV . 4418 . Victoria, Australia . 9 September 1933 . 19 January 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: State golf title . . 23815 . Victoria, Australia . 8 August 1931 . 19 January 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Golf . . 29225 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 September 1931 . 19 January 2021 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Narrow win . . 31110 . New South Wales, Australia . 17 September 1937 . 19 January 2021 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Amazing golf . . 29,530 . New South Wales, Australia . 26 August 1932 . 19 January 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Golf double . . 31722 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 September 1939 . 19 January 2021 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Sarazen's brilliant win in golf Open "record" score of 282 . . 28114 . Victoria, Australia . 28 September 1936 . 19 January 2021 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Australian Open Golf Championship . . CXLI . 4578 . Victoria, Australia . 3 October 1936 . 19 January 2021 . 31 . National Library of Australia.
  11. Web site: Honour Roll – Victorian Men's Amateur Championship . Golf Australia . 19 January 2021.
  12. News: Riversdale Open Meeting . . 23453 . Victoria, Australia . 10 June 1930 . 19 January 2021 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Riversdale Trophy . . 24073 . Victoria, Australia . 7 June 1932 . 19 January 2021 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Riversdale Trophy . . 24693 . Victoria, Australia . 5 June 1934 . 19 January 2021 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Ex-amateur golf champion found dead . The Age . 15 December 1961 . 3 . 19 January 2021 . Google News Archive.
  16. News: Harry Williams was best left-hander . The Age . 15 December 1961 . 22 . 19 January 2021 . Google News Archive.
  17. News: Appleby, Allenby in state team of the century . The Age . 19 November 2002 . 18 January 2021.