Bobby Cole (golfer)

Early life

Cole was born in Springs, South Africa. After suffering a bicycle accident related knee injury, Cole took up golf at the age of eleven. He grew up playing golf on the course maintained for employees of the gold mine where his father, James Cole, worked. As a child, he was influenced by the careers of Bobby Locke and Gary Player.

He won both the South Africa junior golf championship and the Vaal Amateur.

Amateur career

In 1966, Cole won the British Amateur at Carnoustie, Scotland, at age 18, the youngest winner to that stage. Cole held the record as youngest-ever winner of the tournament until Matteo Manassero won the event 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 age, until Manassero, in 2010, again beat his record.

Professional career

In the fall of 1967, Cole tried out for the PGA Tour at 1967 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He earned medalist honors. 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 in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he won the South African PGA Championship.

On the PGA Tour, Cole won the 1977 Buick Open. He has had nine top-25 finishes in the major championships including a tie for third in the 1975 Open Championship, one stroke out of a playoff. During the event, Cole shot back-to-back rounds of 66, setting and then matching the course record at Carnoustie.

Cole played on the Champions Tour from 1998 to 2001.

Personal life

Cole is married to author Linda Parker. He resides in Windermere, Florida where he teaches private lessons, corporate retreats, and plays ProAms and other golf events.

On 12 December 1980, Cole married American professional golfer Laura Baugh in Cape Town, South Africa. The couple divorced, remarried, and then divorced again. They had seven children together, including professional golfer Eric Cole, who was awarded 2022–23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

Awards and honors

• During the 1973-74 season, Cole earned the Order of Merit for the Southern Africa Tour
• In 2012, Cole was inducted into the Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame

Amateur wins

• 1964 South African Boys Championship
• 1966 British Amateur, Golf Illustrated Gold Vase (tie with Peter Townsend)

Professional wins (14)

PGA Tour wins (1)

Southern Africa Tour wins (7)

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (1–2)

Tournament Player Series wins (1)

Other South African wins (3)

• 1969 Natal Open, Dunlop South African Masters
• 1970 Natal Open

Other wins (2)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1974 Open Championship – 1978 PGA)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1974 Open Championship – 1974 PGA)

Team appearances

Amateur

• Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Africa): 1966

Professional

• World Cup (representing South Africa): 1969, 1974 (winners, individual winner), 1976

References

References

1. "Bobby Cole: Lifetime Member PGA Tour".
2. Levine, Al. (19 December 1965). "Cole Falls Off Bicycle, Ends Up ON Golf Course". The Miami News.
3. Booe, Billy. (1968-08-23). "School Screens Pro Hopefuls; Must Pass Tough 144-Hole Test". The Hartford Courant.
4. (14 December 1980). "Newsmakers". The Lima News.
5. (6 January 2017). "Storylines: Exuma welcomes Tour to kick off 2017 season". PGA Tour.
6. Steptoe, Sonja. (20 May 1991). "All Smiles Again".
7. Heil, Jarrod. (8 February 2017). "Storylines: Cole follows in parents' footsteps as pro golfer". PGA Tour.
8. (28 January 1969). "Cole wins Masters Tourney". The Canberra Times.
9. (2 February 1970). "Hitchcock sixth in Natal Open". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
10. "Bobby Cole".
11. Loomis, Tom. (10 April 1978). "Champ Player Fired 64, Then 'Choked'". The Blade.