Malcolm Gregson

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Malcolm Gregson

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname = Malcolm Edward Gregson

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1943|8|15}}

| birth_place = Leicester, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2024|1|24|1943|8|15}}

| death_place = Southport, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| weight =

| nationality = {{ENG}}

| residence =

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| yearpro = 1961

| retired =

| extour = European Tour
Safari Circuit
European Seniors Tour

| prowins = 12

| seneurowins = 5

| otherwins = 7

| majorwins =

| masters = T35: 1968

| usopen = DNP

| open = T19: 1964

| pga = DNP

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Harry Vardon Trophy

| year1 = 1967

| award2 =

| year2 =

| awardssection =

}}

Malcolm Edward Gregson (15 August 1943 – 24 January 2024) was an English professional golfer. After a promising start to his career as an amateur and assistant professional, he had one exceptional year, 1967, when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy and played in the Ryder Cup, but had only limited success afterwards. After reaching 50 he played on the European Senior Tour, winning five times.

Early life and amateur career

Gregson was born in Leicester and educated at Millfield School in Somerset from 1957 to 1960.{{cite web |url=https://www.omsociety.com/frmPrimesDisplay.aspx?S=sk5e9mx |title=Distinguished Old Millfieldians |publisher=Old Millfieldian Society |access-date=13 November 2016}} In 1957 he reached the last-16 of the Boys Amateur Championship, a week after his 14th birthday.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HX1AAAAAIBAJ&pg=1827%2C5927143 |work=Glasgow Herald |title=Quarter-finalists in the Boys' Championship |date=22 August 1957 |page=7}} In 1959 he represented England boys in their annual match against Scotland, played just before the Boys Championship.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y3FAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5387%2C5458783 |work=Glasgow Herald |title=Comfortable win for England |date=15 August 1959 |page=7}} In 1960 he again played for England boys against Scotland and was also selected for a combined England and Scotland team to play a Continental Europe team.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d4RAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5205%2C7227062 |title=Scottish boys well beaten |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=22 August 1960 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=doRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4066%2C7128329 |title=Scot's win decisive match |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=20 August 1960 |page=9}}

Professional career

Gregson turned professional in 1961 becoming an assistant professional to Pat Keene at Moor Park Golf Club. In 1963 he reached quarter-finals of the News of the World Match Play and was runner-up, with Tony Jacklin, in the Coombe Hill Assistants' Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=smJAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1823%2C994853 |title=Wright winner at twenty-seventh |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=8 |date=7 September 1963}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w2JAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3086%2C4081066 |title=G A Caygill's victory at Selsdon Park |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=6 |date=27 September 1963}} In 1964 he won the Gor-Ray Cup, the assistants' championship. The event was reduced to 54 holes after the second round was abandoned because of bad weather, Gregson winning by three strokes from Richard Davies and Hedley Muscroft. Later in the year he had a top-20 finish in the Open Championship and was runner-up in the Gleneagles Hotel Foursomes Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NW1AAAAAIBAJ&pg=6201%2C4056434 |title=Coombe Hill pair's foursomes title – Victory by 6&5 in final |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=6 |date=24 October 1964}}

Gregson played in Asia in early 1967. In April he had a run of success. At the start of the month he finished tied for fourth place in the Taiwan Open.{{cite news |date=3 April 1967 |title=Hsieh takes the Formosan title |page=19 |newspaper=The Straits Times |agency=Reuter |location=Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670403-1.2.115.4 |access-date=12 March 2020 |via=National Library Board}} Two week later he lost to Kenji Hosoishi in a playoff for the Indian Open and he then finished third in the Kenya Open the following week.{{cite news |title=Hosoishi triumphs |newspaper=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |date=18 April 1967 |page=18 |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670418-1.2.136.5 |via=National Library Board |access-date=7 July 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43857198/the_age/ |title=Wolstenholme wins golf |newspaper=The Age |date=25 April 1967 |page=24}} Returning to England he won the Schweppes PGA Championship at the end of the month, with rounds of 67 and 65 on the final day to beat Hugh Boyle by three strokes. In June he won the Daks Tournament at Wentworth, beating Neil Coles by two strokes, after final day rounds of 67 and 66, and was a joint winner of the Martini International with Brian Huggett. Qualification for the British team for the 1967 Ryder Cup was based on a points system using performances in 1966 and 1967, finishing after the 1967 Open Championship. Despite having few points in 1966, Gregson's three wins lifted to eighth in the list to gain a place in the team.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FGtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1434%2C1724237 |title=Will wins Ryder Cup place |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=17 July 1967 |page=6}} He did not get an automatic entry into the Open championship, having finished outside the top-30 in the Order of Merit in 1966. After rounds of 76 and 73 he was qualified after getting through an 8-man playoff for two places.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79044450/the-observer/ |title=Gregson gets reprieve |newspaper=The Observer |page=16 |date=9 July 1967}} In the Ryder Cup, Gregson lost all four matches he played in, the Americans winning the cup by 15 points. He collected the Harry Vardon Trophy as leader of the Order of Merit, which was based on a points system, and also made his only appearance for England in the World Cup which was played in Mexico City a few weeks after the Ryder Cup.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ElxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4427%2C2341415 |title=First two Alcan place's allotted |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=16 August 1967 |page=4}} Playing with Peter Alliss they finished tied for 13th place in the team event but Gregson finished tied for 6th in the individual standings.

In 1968 Gregson won the Daks Tournament for the second successive year. He had a final round 69 to finish a stroke ahead of Neil Coles. In October he qualified for the PGA Tour through their Qualifying school.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78976156/evening-standard/ |title=Gregson gret his U.S. ticket |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=8 October 1968 |page=41}} Gregson played on the 1969 PGA Tour from February to May but had limited success.{{cite web |url=https://www.pgatour.com/players/player.15285.malcolm-gregson.html |title=Malcolm Gregson |work=PGA Tour |access-date=5 June 2021}} He was a runner-up in the 1969 Gallaher Ulster Open behind Christy O'Connor Snr.{{cite news |title=Ryder men in form |newspaper=The Guardian |page=14 |date=4 August 1969}}

Gregson made the top one hundred on the Order of Merit in each of the European Tour's first nine official seasons from 1972 to 1980. He was twice a runner-up in the Dutch Open, in 1972 to Jack Newton and in 1979 to another Australian Graham Marsh.{{cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/694/ |title=Meet Malcolm |work=European Tour |access-date=4 June 2021}} In late 1978 he finished fourth in both Tournament Players Championship and the European Open Championship.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ibZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3057%2C3921894 |title=Waites beats the tour men |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=18 September 1978 |page=16}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7vk9AAAAIBAJ&pg=5236%2C4709651 |title=Costly miss by Gallacher |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 October 1978 |page=24}} In 1972, playing with Brian Huggett, he won the Sumrie Better-Ball at Blairgowrie, a non-tour event. The pair were runners-up in the same event the following year.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JpNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2912%2C4040570 |title=Hunt and Coles play down their five-shot victory |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=21 May 1973 |page=5}}

Gregson was a regular competitor on the Safari Circuit, winning the 1974 Cock o' the North in Zambia, beating Jack Newton in a playoff. He was runner-up a number of times, including the Kenya Open in 1970 and 1974, the 1972 Zambia Open, the Nigerian Open in 1973 and 1977 and the 1985 Cock o' the North.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IOJAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2657%2C852836 |title=Scotland's Ronnie Shade |newspaper=The Evening Times |date=6 April 1970 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dY9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=4474%2C810170 |title=Jagger wins from Gregson |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=5 March 1974 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P-s9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4964%2C254331 |title=Defoy wins first Zambian Open |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=3 April 1972 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M-E9AAAAIBAJ&pg=6381%2C5322172 |title=Horton wins Nigerian Open |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=26 February 1973 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ceo9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4079%2C357631 |title=David Jagger |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=1 March 1977 |page=31}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=de09AAAAIBAJ&pg=5579%2C3883386 |title="Old man" Waites runs away with the title |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=18 March 1985 |page=18}}

Gregson played once on the European Senior Tour in 1993, soon after his 50th birthday and then competed regularly on the tour from 1994, making over 200 appearances before making his final appearance in 2008. He finished in the top 10 of the Order of Merit from 1994 to 1997 and won five events on the tour between 1994 and 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186625.html |title=John Jacobs Trophy Winners |work=European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909205127/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186625.html |archive-date=9 September 2015}}

Death

Gregson died on 24 January 2024, at the age of 80.{{cite web |title=Malcolm Gregson (1943–2024) |url=https://www.pga.info/news/malcolm-gregson-1943-2024/ |publisher=The PGA |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Coroner's Conclusions |url=https://www.sefton.gov.uk/births-marriages-and-deaths/coroners-conclusions |publisher=Sefton Council |access-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205162407/https://www.sefton.gov.uk/births-marriages-and-deaths/coroners-conclusions |archive-date=5 February 2024}}

Professional wins (12)

=Great Britain and Ireland wins (5)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
Date ! Tournament ! Venue ! Winning score ! Margin of victory ! Runner(s)-up ! Ref.
19 Jun 1964 \| Gor-Ray Cup \| Hartsbourne \| 72-71-73=216 \| 3 strokes \| {{flagicon\|WAL}} Richard Davies, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Hedley Muscroft \|{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5WxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2220%2C3057121 \|title=Gregson top assistant \|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald \|page=5 \|date=20 June 1964}}
29 Apr 1967 \| Schweppes PGA Championship \| Hunstanton \| 74-69-67-65=275 \| 3 strokes \| {{flagicon\|IRL}} Hugh Boyle \|{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3mNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1878%2C51876 \|title=Remarkable last round gives Gregson victory \|first=Raymond \|last=Jacobs \|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald \|date=1 May 1967 \|page=5}}
3 Jun 1967 \| Daks Tournament \| Wentworth \| 73-73-67-66=279 \| 2 strokes \| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Neil Coles \|{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9GpAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2518%2C764144 \|title=Gregson wins Daks with sparkling finish \|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald \|date=5 June 1967 \|page=8}}
17 Jun 1967 \| Martini International \| Fulford \| 71-71-70-67=279 \| Tied \| {{flagicon\|WAL}} Brian Huggett \|{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AGtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1706%2C3289349 \|title=Gregson and Huggett tie for top place in Martini \|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald \|date=19 June 1967 \|page=4}}
8 Jun 1968 \| Daks Tournament \| Wentworth \| 72-72-71-69=284 \| 1 stroke \| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Neil Coles \|{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D989AAAAIBAJ&pg=1662%2C1445943 \|title=Gregson again comes from behind to win \|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald \|date=10 June 1968 \|page=4}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

Date

! Tournament

! Venue

! Winning score

! Margin of
victory

! Runner(s)-up

! Ref.

19 Jun 1964

| Gor-Ray Cup

| Hartsbourne

| 72-71-73=216

| 3 strokes

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Richard Davies, {{flagicon|ENG}} Hedley Muscroft

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5WxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2220%2C3057121 |title=Gregson top assistant |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5 |date=20 June 1964}}

29 Apr 1967

| Schweppes PGA Championship

| Hunstanton

| 74-69-67-65=275

| 3 strokes

| {{flagicon|IRL}} Hugh Boyle

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3mNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1878%2C51876 |title=Remarkable last round gives Gregson victory |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=1 May 1967 |page=5}}

3 Jun 1967

| Daks Tournament

| Wentworth

| 73-73-67-66=279

| 2 strokes

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Coles

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9GpAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2518%2C764144 |title=Gregson wins Daks with sparkling finish |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=5 June 1967 |page=8}}

17 Jun 1967

| Martini International

| Fulford

| 71-71-70-67=279

| Tied

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Brian Huggett

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AGtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1706%2C3289349 |title=Gregson and Huggett tie for top place in Martini |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=19 June 1967 |page=4}}

8 Jun 1968

| Daks Tournament

| Wentworth

| 72-72-71-69=284

| 1 stroke

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Coles

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D989AAAAIBAJ&pg=1662%2C1445943 |title=Gregson again comes from behind to win |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=10 June 1968 |page=4}}

=Safari circuit wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner-up!!Ref.

17 Mar 1974

| Cock o' the North

| 71-71-72-70=284

| Playoff

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jack Newton

|{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gI9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=4492%2C3723549 |title=Gregson takes play-off |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=18 March 1974 |page=4}}

=Other wins (1)=

1972 Sumrie Better-Ball (with Brian Huggett){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e-I9AAAAIBAJ&pg=2109%2C4304927 |title=Winning thrust by Huggett and Gregson |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=22 May 1972 |page=5}}

=European Seniors Tour wins (5)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|2 Jul 1994

|Tandem Stockley Park Seniors Opens

|−8 (69-67-69=205)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Morgan, {{flagicon|IRL}} Liam Higgins

align=center|2

|align=right|3 Aug 1996

|Lawrence Batley Seniors

|−4 (69-75-65=209)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Coles, {{flagicon|ITA}} Alberto Croce

align=center|3

|align=right|17 Oct 1998

|Is Molas Senior Open

|−7 (67-73-69=209)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Tommy Horton

align=center|4

|align=right|15 Jun 2003

|Irvine Whitlock Jersey Seniors Classic

|−13 (69-68-73=203)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bob Cameron

align=center|5

|align=right|27 Jun 2004

|De Vere Northumberland Seniors Classic

|−6 (69-68-73=210)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN}} Seiji Ebihara

Sources:{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |title=Senior Past Champions Current Events |work=PGA European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910022935/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |archive-date=10 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |title=Senior Past Champions Former Events |work=PGA European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907123227/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186399.html |archive-date=7 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186278.html |publisher=European Tour |title=Most Official Staysure Tour Victories |date=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214721/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186278.html |archive-date=26 August 2018}}

European Seniors Tour playoff record (0–3)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1994

|La Manga Spanish Seniors Open

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Brian Huggett, {{flagicon|ENG}} David Snell

|Huggett won with eagle on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1996

|Ryder Collingtree Seniors Classic

|{{flagicon|SCO}} David Huish, {{flagicon|AUS}} Noel Ratcliffe

|Huish won with par on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|1997

|Credit Suisse Private Banking Seniors Open

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Waites

|Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Source:{{cite web |title=Individual Play-off Records since 1992 |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186144.html |publisher=European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913105301/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186144.html |archive-date=13 September 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133419478 |title=Golf |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 May 1994 |page=37 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/133479516 |title=David Huish |newspaper=The Birmingham Post |date=1 July 1996 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/112095763 |title=Waites lifts seniors title after play-off |newspaper=The Birmingham Post |date=11 August 1997 |page=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Results in major championships

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1964

!1965

!1966

!1967

!1968

!1969

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T35

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|T19

|CUT

|T47

|T51

|T27

|CUT

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1970

!1971

!1972

!1973

!1974

!1975

!1976

!1977

!1978

!1979

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T25

|CUT

|T51

|CUT

|T42

|CUT

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

Note: Gregson never played in the U.S. Open or PGA Championship.

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1969 and 1975 Open Championships)

"T" = tied

Source:{{cite book |title=The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008 |volume=1 |first=Morgan G. |last=Brenner |year=2009 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-3360-5}}

Team appearances

Amateur

Boys' match v Continent of Europe (representing combined England & Scotland): 1960 (winners)
England–Scotland boys match (representing England): 1959, 1960 (winners)

Professional

Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain): 1967{{cite web|url=http://2014rcmediaguide.com/2014RyderCupMediaGuide/ |title=2014 Ryder Cup Media and Players' Guide |accessdate=30 September 2014 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074322/http://2014rcmediaguide.com/2014RyderCupMediaGuide/ |archivedate=6 October 2014 }}
World Cup (representing England): 1967{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-journal/133482597 |title=Gregson shines as U.S. win top trophy |newspaper=The Guardian Journal |date=13 November 1967 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}
R.T.V. International Trophy (representing England): 1967 (winners){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HFxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6175%2C4296815 |title=England's clean sweep in R.T.V. Internationals |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=28 August 1967}}
Double Diamond International (representing England): 1975{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9I5AAAAAIBAJ&pg=3106%2C6608231 |title=Scots just miss second place |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=29 September 1975 |page=17}}
Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1997 (winners){{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/112096178 |title=European Cup |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=17 November 1997 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}}