Finlay Morris

Finlay Smith Morris (September 1945 – 18 November 1967)[1][2][3] was a Scottish professional golfer. He was Boys Amateur Champion in 1961 and won the Coca-Cola Tournament at Haggs Castle in 1967. He was killed in a road traffic accident at the age of 22.

Finlay Morris
Personal information
Full nameFinlay Smith Morris
BornSeptember 1945
Glasgow, Scotland
Died18 November 1967 (aged 22)
Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Nationality Scotland
Career
Turned professional1963
Professional wins1
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 1966, 1967

Golf career

Morris won the Boys Amateur Championship in 1961 beating Clive Clark 3&2 in the final. He was only 15 years old and was the youngest boys champion since the first Championship in 1921 when the age limit was 16 rather than 18.[4] The previous year Morris had reached the semi-final before losing 2&1 to the eventual winner.[5]

Morris turned professional in late 1963. Initially an assistant at Crews Hill Golf Club in north London, he returned to Scotland after a few months to be assistant at Littlehill Golf Club, north of Glasgow. His father was the manager at the nearby Cawder Golf Club. Morris had little success in his first few years as a professional but had some good performances in 1967. In May he was runner-up in the Scottish Professional Championship, three shots behind Harry Bannerman but five strokes ahead of the rest of the field.[6] In August he won the Coca-Cola Tournament at Haggs Castle with a 72-hole aggregate of 262 (66-63-67-66), 15 strokes ahead of David Huish, who took second place, taking the first prize of £200.[7]

Death

Morris died in a road traffic accident on 18 November 1967 aged 22. Morris had been competing in the first semi-final of the Shell Winter Tournament at Mere Golf Club, Mere, Cheshire, but had failed to qualify for the final.[8] Morris had reached the semi-final through a qualifying contest at Hilton Park, north of Glasgow, on 4 November. He had been a late replacement, scored 73, and only reached the semi-final by having a better back nine than two others who also scored 73.[9] His father was also seriously injured in the accident.[3]

Amateur wins

Professional wins
  • 1967 Coca-Cola Tournament

Results in major championships
Tournament 1966 1967
The Open Championship CUT CUT

Note: Morris only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut

References
  1. "Magnificent record of Finlay Morris". The Glasgow Herald. 20 Nov 1967. p. 4.
  2. "Deaths". The Glasgow Herald. 20 Nov 1967. p. 16.
  3. "Obituary – Mr. Finlay Morris". The Times. 20 November 1967. p. 10.
  4. "Morris youngest boy champion since 1921". The Glasgow Herald. 26 August 1961. p. 5.
  5. "Morris fails gallantly". The Glasgow Herald. 26 August 1960. p. 9.
  6. "Bannerman wins Scottish title by three strokes". The Glasgow Herald. 19 May 1967. p. 6.
  7. "Morris sets record aggregate". The Glasgow Herald. 24 August 1967. p. 6.
  8. "Brown and Cunningham tie for first place in Shell". The Glasgow Herald. 20 Nov 1967. p. 4.
  9. "Murray's new style yields success in Shell qualifying". The Glasgow Herald. 6 Nov 1967. p. 6.
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