Fergus McMahon
Fergus McMahon | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Full name | Fergus William McMahon |
Born | 1898 Adelaide, South Australia |
Died | Adelaide, South Australia | 28 August 1941 (aged 42)
Sporting nationality | ![]() |
Career | |
Turned professional | 1926 |
Fergus William McMahon (1898 – 28 August 1941) was an Australian professional golfer. He won the 1935 Australian Open at Royal Adelaide, having been the runner-up there in 1932. He also won the 1932 Australian Professional Championship at Royal Adelaide. He died in 1941, aged 42.
Professional career
[edit]McMahon was an amateur at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide until early 1926, giving up a position as a government surveyor to become a professional golfer.[1] He became the professional at the newly formed Marino Golf Club in Marino, a suburb of Adelaide, later becoming an instructor at the Myer Emporium in the city.[2] The Australian Open in 1926 was played at Royal Adelaide and McMahon finished in fifth place.[3] A professional event was organised immediately after the Open but McMahon failed to finish in the top 4 in the qualifying stage.[4] Soon afterwards he played in the South Australian qualifying for the Sun-Herald Tournament. He led after the first round but dropped to fourth, failing to qualify.[5]
The South Australian Professional Championship was first played in 1927 and McMahon finished second behind Rufus Stewart.[6] However he won the championship in 1928, 1929 and 1930, gaining permanent possession of the trophy by winning three times in succession.[7] He would eventually win the event five times, with further victories in 1934 and 1937.[8] He was also runner-up five times, the last time in 1940.[9]
The Australian Open was played at Royal Adelaide again in 1929 and McMahon improved on his previous best, finishing fourth.[10] When it returned to Royal Adelaide in 1932 he improved again, finishing runner-up and leading professional, a stroke behind Mick Ryan.[11] He then won the Australian Professional Championship which followed the Open, beating George Naismith 7&6 in the final.[12] In 1935 he won the Australian Open, again when it was Royal Adelaide, beating Jim Ferrier by a stroke.[13]
McMahon won the South Australian Close Championship four times, in 1933, 1936, 1937 and 1938 and the South Australian Dunlop Cup in 1935, 1936 and 1937.[14][15][16][17][18]
Later life
[edit]McMahon died in Royal Adelaide Hospital on 28 August 1941, aged 42, following an operation.[19][20] A testimonial was organised for his family.[21]
Professional wins
[edit]- 1928 South Australian Professional Championship
- 1929 South Australian Professional Championship
- 1930 South Australian Professional Championship
- 1932 Australian Professional Championship
- 1933 South Australian Close Championship
- 1934 South Australian Professional Championship
- 1935 Dunlop Cup (South Australia), Australian Open
- 1936 Dunlop Cup (South Australia), South Australian Close Championship
- 1937 Dunlop Cup (South Australia), South Australian Close Championship, South Australian Professional Championship
- 1938 South Australian Close Championship
Team appearances
[edit]- Vicars Shield (representing South Australia): 1930 (winners), 1931 (winners), 1932, 1933, 1935 (winners), 1936, 1938
References
[edit]- ^ "National golf title goes to F. McMahon". The Sporting Globe. No. 1366. Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1935. p. 5 (Edition2). Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Golfers prepare for amateur championship". The News (Adelaide). Vol. VII, no. 938. South Australia. 16 July 1926. p. 10 (Home edition). Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Ivo Whitton Open Champion". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCI, no. 26530. South Australia. 28 August 1926. p. 11. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Golf cham[ionships". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCI, no. 26532. South Australia. 31 August 1926. p. 12. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Golf". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "State professional championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 17 November 1927. p. 21. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "McMahon wins Championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 1 September 1930. p. 14. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Legh Winser Wins His Eighth State Amateur Golf Championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 23 August 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "W. Harvey Fights Back To Win Golf Championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 31 August 1940. p. 21. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Golf Championship". The Age. No. 23207. Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1929. p. 23. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Ryan's Dramatic Win in Open Golf". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 21, no. 1056. South Australia. 20 August 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Championship Golf". The Age. No. 24142. Victoria, Australia. 26 August 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "National golf title to F. McMahon". The Courier-Mail. No. 621. Queensland, Australia. 26 August 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "McMahon wins golf title on play off". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 3 July 1933. p. 17. Retrieved 13 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Great fight in close championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 24 June 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 13 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "F. W. McMahon Wins Close Championship With Two Brilliant Golf Rounds". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 14 June 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 13 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Remarkable home run of 32 by F. W. McMahon". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 13 June 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 13 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "McMahon defeats Robertson". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 5 June 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Death of Champion Golfer". The News (Adelaide). South Australia. 28 August 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Former Golf Champion". The Age. No. 26947. Victoria, Australia. 29 August 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Golf Season To End With McMahon Testimonial". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 24 October 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.