Thomas Elliott Odams (7 April 1907 – 4 March 1989) was an English professional golfer. Odams is remembered for being runner-up in the 1939 Open de France and a semi-finalist in the 1945 News of the World Matchplay.
Odams was born in Wimbledon, Surrey in 1907, the son of Stanley George Odams.[1] [2]
Odams played for England boys against Scotland in 1923.[3]
The 1939 Open de France was played at Le Touquet on 24 and 25 May. Odams had rounds of 71 and 70 and led by 2 strokes after the first day. A third round 69 on the second morning gave Odams a six shot lead but he scored 76 in the afternoon and was beaten by a stroke by the Argentine golfer Martin Pose who had a last round of 68.
His best finish in The Open Championship was finishing 31st in the 1947 Open Championship. He missed the cut in 1938 and 1949, his only other appearances.
In 1945 he reached the semi-final of the News of the World Matchplay losing at the final hole. He won the Southern Professional Championship in 1953.
Before World War II, Odams was assistant to Henry Cotton in Belgium and, later, professional at Royal Ghent. While there, he won the Belgian Professional Championship on two occasions, in 1932 and 1934.[4] After the war he was professional at Grim's Dyke Golf Club.
Odams died in Seaton, Devon on 4 March 1989 aged 81.[5]