William Cosgrove (golfer)

William Cosgrove (1855 – 1927) was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. Cosgrove had one top-10 finish in The Open Championship. His best performance was a third place tie in the 1877 Open Championship.

William Cosgrove
Personal information
Born1855
Inveresk, Scotland
Died1927, aged 73
Newington, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sporting nationality Scotland
Career
StatusProfessional
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipT3: 1877

Early life

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Cosgrove was born at Inveresk, Scotland, in 1855. He was the son of Alexander Cosgrove, a maker of golf clubs, and his wife Janet Nelson. The family resided in James Place, Millhill, Inveresk. He married Mary Jane Quin in 1878 and was employed as a maker of golf balls. His cousin, Ned Cosgrove, also became a professional golfer.[1]

Golf career

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1877 Open Championship

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The 1877 Open Championship was the 17th Open Championship, held 6 April at Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Pringle. Cosgrove scored rounds of 41-39-44-40=164, finishing tied for third, and won a useful £2 in prize money.[2]

1878 Open Championship

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Cosgrove teed it up again in the 1878 Open Championship held 4 October at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship for the second successive year, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Kirk. Cosgrove had rounds of 55-56-55=166 and finished in a tie for sixth place with Willie Park, Sr.[2]

Details of play

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Davie Strath and Bob Ferguson played together but Strath had a disappointing 45 in the first round which left him well behind the leaders. Ferguson began in disappointing fashion but managed to salvage a 40. William Brown led on 39 with Ferguson and Jamie Anderson on 40. After two rounds, three players were level on 80: Brown, Ferguson and Cosgrove with Anderson and Bob Pringle only two behind. Strath was five behind on 85.

Anderson carded a 37 in the third round while Ferguson could muster only a 40 and Davie Strath scored 38. Anderson now led on 119 with Ferguson on 120, Ferguson on 122 and Strath on 123. In the final round Strath took a horrendous 9 at the second to drop out of contention. Ferguson also had a disappointing last round and Anderson's 41 was enough to give him the Championship.[2]

Results in The Open Championship

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Tournament 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
The Open Championship T20 T3 T6 16 T16 T29 T20 T15

Note: Cosgrove played only in The Open Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Death

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Cosgrove died in 1927 at Newington, Edinburgh, Scotland.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "William Cosgrove". NorthBerwick.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.