Stuart Murray (golfer) explained

Stuart Murray
Fullname:Stuart William Thomas Murray
Birth Date:1933 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Death Place:Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Yearpro:1963
Extour:European Senior Tour
Prowins:11
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:T40: 1964
Pga:DNP

Stuart William Thomas Murray (10 November 1933 – 23 January 2023) was a Scottish professional golfer. He had success as an amateur, winning the Scottish Amateur in 1962 and playing in the 1963 Walker Cup. A change in the rules relating to amateur status pushed him into turning professional in late 1963. He won the Midland Professional Championship three times between 1964 and 1968 and also the Strong Country Tournament in 1965.

Amateur career

Murray qualified for the 1955 Open Championship at St Andrews, although he failed to make the cut.[1] In 1958 he won the West of Scotland championship at Barassie, beating Lindsay Renfrew in the final.[2] In the 1961 Scottish Amateur at Western Gailes, Murray lost in the final to James Walker. Walker was seven up after 13 holes of the morning round and eventually won 4 and 3.[3] Murray won the 1962 Scottish Amateur at Muirfield, beating Ronnie Shade 2 and 1 in the final. Shade won the event for the following five years.[4]

Murray played for Great Britain & Ireland against the rest of Europe in France in 1958 and in Sweden in 1962.[5] [6] In 1959 he made his debut for Scotland in the Men's Home Internationals, and played each year until he turned professional.[7] Murray played in the 1963 Walker Cup at Turnberry. Playing with Michael Bonallack they won their foursomes match on the first morning and Murray beat Deane Beman 3 and 1 in the afternoon, as the home team took a 6–3 lead. However he lost both his matches on the second day and the US won the match 12–8.

Professional career

Murray turned professional towards the end of 1963 following a change in the rules on amateur status. Murray was a sales representative for John Letters, a firm of golf club makers.[8] [9] Murray was initially a professional at Northamptonshire golf club, before moving to Hendon golf club from 1972.

While at Northamptonshire Murray had some success in regional events. He won the Midland Professional Championship three times, in 1964, 1967 and 1968.[10] [11] [12] He also won the Northamptonshire Professional Championship four times, in 1964, 1966, 1969 and 1971.[13] In Scotland he was a runner-up in the 1965 Northern Open behind Jock Brown, and in the Pringle of Scotland Tournament later in the year, behind Cobie Legrange.[14] [15]

Murray was a regular competitor in the Strong Country Tournament, a 36-hole event generally played in the Southampton area. Peter Alliss had won the tournament from 1961 to 1964 but Murray won in 1965. He had a final round 62 to win by 10 strokes.[16] In 1968 he lost in a sudden-death playoff to Doug Sewell.[17] Murray also won a qualifying round in the Shell Winter Tournament in late 1967, taking the first prize of £250.[18] Murray qualified for the Open Championship in 1964, 1965 and 1966. He made the cut in 1964 and finished in a tie for 40th place.

Despite being nearly 60 when the tour started in 1992, Murray played on the European Senior Tour from 1992 to 1994.[19]

Personal life

Murray died on 23 January 2023, at the age of 89. He was widowed and had two sons.[20] [21] [22]

Amateur wins

Source:

Professional wins

Source: [23]

Results in major championships

Note: Murray only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Source:[24]

Team appearances

Amateur

Notes and References

  1. News: Ninety-four qualifiers for "Open" . Glasgow Herald . 6 July 1955 . 4.
  2. News: Murray wins West title . . 26 May 1958 . 4.
  3. News: Walker now champion of Scotland . . 24 July 1961 . 4.
  4. News: Well merited victory for Murray . . 23 July 1962 . 4.
  5. News: Fine Play by Britons . . 7 . 4 October 1958.
  6. News: British Isles's victory over Europe . . 4 . 13 August 1962.
  7. News: Home Internationals start to-day . Cyril . Horne . . 9 September 1959 . 10.
  8. News: Murray turns professional . . 2 October 1963 . 6.
  9. News: Fleet golfer becomes a pro . Aldershot News . 4 October 1963 . 19 . Newspaper.com.
  10. News: Murray finishes stroke ahead . Maurice . Woodbine . Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette . 30 April 1964 . 26 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Murray beats weather to win play-off . David . Davies . Birmingham Post . 22 May 1967 . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: 'Sheriff' Murray outshoots rivals . David . Davies . Birmingham Post . 18 July 1968 . 42 . Newspapers.com.
  13. Web site: NPGA 36 hole Strokeplay Championship Past Champions . The PGA in Northamptonshire . 27 January 2023.
  14. News: Northern Open win by J. T. Brown . . 10 April 1965 . 6.
  15. News: Legrange shows mature judgment at Barnton . . 28 June 1965 . 4.
  16. News: Course record earns Murray £250 prize . Geoffrey . Cousins . The Daily Telegraph . 11 August 1965 . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Doug Swell (Ferndown) . The Daily Telegraph . 31 July 1968 . 12 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Murray's new style yields success in Shell qualifying . . 6 . 6 Nov 1967.
  19. Web site: Stuart Murray Career Record Details . 27 January 2023 . European Tour.
  20. Web site: Stuart Murray (1933 – 2023) . The PGA . 25 January 2023 . 27 January 2023.
  21. Web site: Stuart William Thomas Murray . The Herald (Glasgow) . 3 February 2023 . 3 February 2023.
  22. Web site: The Sheriff born too early to cash in on talent . Nick . Rodger . The Herald (Glasgow) . 4 February 2023 . 6 February 2023.
  23. Book: Huggins . Percy . The Golfer's Handbook . 1971 . 396 .
  24. Book: Brenner, Morgan G. . The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008 . 1 . 2009 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-3360-5.