Fergus McMahon

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Fergus McMahon
Personal information
Full nameFergus William McMahon
Born1898
Adelaide, South Australia
Died(1941-08-28)28 August 1941 (aged 42)
Adelaide, South Australia
Sporting nationality Australia
Career
Turned professional1926

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]

Team appearances[edit]

  • Vicars Shield (representing South Australia): 1930 (winners), 1931 (winners), 1932, 1933, 1935 (winners), 1936, 1938

References[edit]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Golf". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "State professional championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 17 November 1927. p. 21. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "McMahon wins Championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 1 September 1930. p. 14. Retrieved 8 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Golf Championship". The Age. No. 23207. Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1929. p. 23. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Championship Golf". The Age. No. 24142. Victoria, Australia. 26 August 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Great fight in close championship". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 24 June 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 13 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "McMahon defeats Robertson". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 5 June 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Death of Champion Golfer". The News (Adelaide). South Australia. 28 August 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Former Golf Champion". The Age. No. 26947. Victoria, Australia. 29 August 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "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.
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