Norman Drew

Norman Vico Drew was born on 25 May 1932{{cite web |title=Norman Drew Overview |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/2992/ |publisher=European Tour |access-date=14 August 2023}} in Belfast, Northern Ireland and started his golfing career at Balmoral Golf Club in Belfast, before the family moved to Bangor, County Down in 1948.{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/golfnorman-drew-himself-into-irish-history-books-28339852.html |title=Golf: Norman 'drew' himself into Irish history books |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=24 November 2001}} In 1947 and 1948, he won an open boys event at Donaghadee, and in 1948 he reached the last-16 of the Boys Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UWpAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5821%2C6174422 |title=Four Scottish boys in last eight |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=27 August 1948 |page=2}} In 1949, he won the inaugural Ulster Boys' Amateur Open Championship at Royal Belfast, beating John Glover at the 38th hole of the final.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000038/19490812/156/0007 |title=Brilliant golf by boys |newspaper=Belfast News-Letter |date=12 August 1949 |page=7 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In the same year, he reached the final of the Boys Amateur Championship at St Andrews, losing to Harry MacAnespie 3&2 in the 36-hole final.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uW5RAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961%2C8808638 |title=M'Anespie consistency wins boys' title |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=29 August 1949 |page=2}}

Drew reached the semi-finals of the 1950 Irish Amateur Close Championship, losing to Brendan Herlihy, and soon afterwards won the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Portrush, beating Jackson Taggart at the 19th of the final.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UUhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4807%2C4898901 |title=Irish Close title finalists |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7 |date=29 June 1950}} Taggart was 4 up with 8 holes to play and then dormie two, but Drew won the next three holes.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000038/19500717/075/0002 |title=Ulster golf title |newspaper=Belfast News-Letter |date=17 July 1950 |page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} Drew qualified for the 1951 Open Championship at Portrush. A first round 75 put him well up the field but a second round 88 meant he missed the cut by 9 strokes.

Drew had a remarkable run of success in 1952. In April, he reached the final of the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point, losing to Joe Brown in the 36-hole final. Drew was 5 down after 6 holes and although he made a good recovery, he lost 2&1.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19520416/177/0006 |title=Drew beaten in 'ding-dong' final |newspaper=Belfast News-Letter |date=16 April 1952 |page=6 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In early June, he won the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Louth, was a score of 306, three ahead of the field.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19520603/155/0008 |title=Title for Drew |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=3 June 1952 |page=8 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} Later in June, he won the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Portrush, beating Cecil Beamish 5&4 in the final.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B01AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5063%2C4349073 |title=Irish title winner |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=14 June 1952}} In July, he won the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Portrush, beating Billy Meharg 8&7 in the 36-hole final.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19520716/123/0006 |title=Drew is new Ulster amateur golf champion |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=16 July 1952 |page=6 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} The following month, he reached the final of the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Lahinch, but lost to Michael Power by one hole in the 36-hole final.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19520815/198/0008 |title=Drew narrowly beaten |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=15 August 1952 |page=8 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} His one failure came in September at the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Royal Belfast, where he lost at the last-16 stage.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eWdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6019%2C653895 |title=Internationalists lose |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=6 September 1953}} In late September he made his debut in the Men's Home Internationals at Troon.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jGdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5652%2C2710692 |title=Scotland win first "Triple Crown" since 1936 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7 |date=29 September 1952}}

In 1953 the Men's Home Internationals were moved to an earlier date than usual, in June, at Killarney, the week before the Irish Amateur Open Championship which was also played there. In the Home Internationals, Drew won all his three singles matches and was undefeated in the foursomes.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ckZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2524%2C1877005 |title=Scotland fail to retain Triple Crown |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=13 June 1953}} He then won the Irish Amateur Open beating Billy O'Sullivan 4&3 in the final.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eEZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2864%2C1109226 |title=Drew retains Irish Championship |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=20 June 1953}} His second success in the championship came immediately before the selection of the final five players for the 1953 Walker Cup team. Drew was selected and at 21, he was the youngest member of the side.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ekZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1720%2C927613 |title=Two Scots in Walker Cup team |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 June 1953 |page=4}} Before the match, Drew played in the Canadian Amateur Championship at Kanawaki, Montreal, losing in the quarter-finals to Don Cherry.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=60dAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5886%2C238603 |title=MacGregor and Wilson in semi-finals |first=S. L. |last=McKinlay |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7 |date=15 September 1953}} The Walker Cup match was played at the Kittansett Club in Massachusetts, the United States winning 9–3. Drew was not selected for the foursomes and lost his singles match 9&7 against Don Cherry, having been 7 down after the first 18 holes.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=40pAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1723%2C623886 |title=R. J. White's performance in Walker Cup |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=7 September 1953 |page=9}} He also played in the U.S. Amateur but lost in the first round.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19530915/242/0012 |title=Easy win for Carr, but Drew is eliminated |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=15 September 1953 |page=12 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} Drew turned professional in November 1953, becoming an assistant to Sam Bacon at County Armagh.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mUdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3021%2C2456534 |title=N. V. Drew professional |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 November 1953 |page=4}}

Sam Bacon moved to Knock Golf Club in early 1954 and Drew also left County Armagh, moving to Rossmore, before becoming an assistant at the North West Golf Club, Lisfannon, later in the year.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19540410/021/0003 |title=Norman Drew takes Eire golf post |newspaper=Ireland's Saturday Night |date=10 April 1954 |page=3 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001123/19541011/118/0006 |title=New professional and assistant |newspaper=Derry Journal |date=11 October 1954 |page=6 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In early 1956, Drew became the professional at Strabane golf club, which was in the process of moving to a new course.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19560327/186/0012 |title=Drew now Strabane pro. |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=27 March 1956 |page=12 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} The move was to cause problems for Drew, since he had failed to serve a full three years as an assistant professional, although he satisfied Irish PGA rules which only required two years. He therefore became ineligible to play in British PGA events.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19570624/286/0012 |title=Drew goes to the 'Open' |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=24 June 1957 |page=12 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In 1957, Drew became an assistant again, to Sam Bacon at Knock, but it was only in early 1958 that he was reinstated as a member of the British PGA.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19570420/151/0002 |title=Norman Drew |newspaper=Ireland's Saturday Night |date=20 April 1957 |page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001480/19580424/046/0004 |title=Norman Drew re-instated |newspaper=Londonderry Sentinel |date=24 April 1958 |page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In 1958, Drew was a joint winner, with Harry Bradshaw, of the Irish Dunlop Tournament.{{cite news |title=Drew—Bradshaw in play-off |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |location=Belfast, Northern Ireland |date=26 September 1958 |page=19 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002318/19580926/284/0019 |via=British Newspaper Archive |access-date=21 October 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

1959 was Drew's first full season on the British circuit and was to be his most successful, culminating with the Ryder Cup at Eldorado Golf Club, California, in November.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19590106/166/0010 |title=Knock golfer is candidate for U.S. trip |first=Jack |last=Magowan |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=6 January 1959 |page=10 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} Seven members of the 10-man British team were chosen using a Ryder Cup points system based on performances during the 1959 season. The first event was the PGA Close Championship starting on 8 April with the final event being the Irish Hospitals Tournament finishing on 12 July. The remaining three members of the team were selected by the P.G.A. tournament committee in late September, after the Dunlop Masters.{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=8 April 1959 |page=16 |title=Professional golf gets underway – Playing for Ryder Cup places}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=23 September 1959 |page=4 |title=Ryder Cup side completed – Thomas and Brown dispel doubts}} Drew started with top-10 finishes in the PGA Close Championship, the Spalding Tournament and the Dunlop Tournament and then finished fourth in the Swallow-Penfold Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4616%2C4915438 |title=P.G.A. Title for Rees |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=11 April 1959 |page=8}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6661%2C6656467 |title=Lester and Henning tie for Spalding |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 April 1959 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q3ZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1767%2C1205870 |title=Dunlop tournament's exciting finish |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=9 May 1959}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uHZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2998%2C3136111 |title=Narrow win by Butler |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 May 1959 |page=4}} After winning the Irish Dunlop Tournament, he missed the cut at the Daks Tournament but then has his first major British success, winning the Yorkshire Evening News Tournament, four strokes ahead of Peter Alliss, Harold Henning and Peter Thomson.{{cite news |title=Drew first in Dunlop tourney |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=8 June 1959 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19590608/203/0011 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z3ZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2878%2C6739917 |title=Drew's First Victory In Major Event |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=20 June 1959 |page=9}} Drew was then 35th in the Open Championship and 14th in the Irish Hospitals Tournament to finish in sixth place in the rankings and gain his place in the team.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RnFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2075%2C1741609 |title=Irish hospitals event won by Faulkner – Success by 4 strokes |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=8 |date=13 July 1959}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=13 July 1959 |page=3 |title=Faulkner four up at finish – Alliss and Thomas in second place}} The season continued with Drew playing in the Amateurs–Professionals Match, winning the Irish Professional Championship and finishing joint runner-up in the Dunlop Masters behind Christy O'Connor Snr and level with Joe Carr.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XnFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6512%2C4820161 |title=Professionals win at Southport – Only one Scottish success |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=6 |date=10 August 1959}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZHFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6998%2C5558509 |title=Drew wins Irish title |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=6 |date=17 August 1959}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iXdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1720%2C2858868 |title=Second Masters' title for O'Connor |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |page=9 |first=Cyril |last=Horne |date=19 September 1960}} The 1959 Ryder Cup was the last in which 36-hole matches were played. Drew became the first British ex-Walker Cup golfer to play in the Ryder Cup. He did not play in the foursomes on the first day but halved his singles match against Doug Ford. Drew was four down after nine holes but recovered and was only one down at lunch. In the afternoon, he was one down playing the last. At the 470-yard par-4, he hit a wood to 15 feet and holed the putt.{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=9 November 1959 |page=15 |title=British Isles golfers crushed in singles – U.S. Ryder Cup putting much superior}}

Drew represented Ireland in the Canada Cup at Portmarnock in 1960 and at Puerto Rico in 1961. Playing with Christy O'Connor, they finished in fourth place in both events.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1961%2C7860668 |title=Canada Cup event ends at Portmarnock |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |first=Cyril |last=Horne |date=27 June 1960 |pages=1,4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bhk1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3077%2C694527 |title=Americans' easy win in Canada Cup |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=5 June 1961 |page=4}} He became the first golfer to play in the Walker Cup, Ryder Cup and Canada Cup. He had some success in Irish events. He lost in a three-way playoff for the 1965 Irish Professional Championship, O'Connor winning the title.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rGJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4362%2C5035757 |title=Golf |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=31 May 1965}} He won the Ulster Professional Championship for the first time in 1966.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19660723/024/0002 |title=It's third time lucky as Drew turns the tide |first=Jack |last=Magowan |newspaper=Ireland's Saturday Night |date=23 July 1966 |page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In 1969, he was a joint runner-up in the Gallaher Ulster Open, again behind O'Connor.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111648993/the-daily-telegraph |title=O'Connor keeps nerve to collect £700 prize |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |page=7 |date=4 August 1969 |access-date=20 October 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} His second win in the Ulster championship came in 1972 and he won the Benson & Hedges (Ulster) match-play championship in 1983.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19720815/539/0017 |title=Norman, a pro's pro |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=15 August 1972 |page=17 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19830924/430/0016 |title=Norman Drew (Bangor) |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=24 September 1983 |page=16 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

Drew held a number of professional positions. In 1960 he left Knock to become the professional at Ralston Golf Club near Glasgow.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4534%2C6627454 |title=N.V. Drew for Ralston |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=13 |date=17 June 1960}} During his time there, he was runner-up in the 1964 Cutty Sark Tournament, seven strokes behind John Panton.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qG5AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5181%2C1617849 |title=Panton's Cutty Sark victory |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 August 1964 |page=6}} He left Ralston in 1964 and was briefly at Rossmore before moving to Bradshaws Brae Range near Newtownards in 1966.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19660924/061/0004 |title=Drew new pro. at Ards range |newspaper=Ireland's Saturday Night |date=24 September 1966 |page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} In 1973, he moved to Malone Golf Club and then to Bangor Golf Club in 1983.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19730303/274/0013 |title=Ernie Patterson |newspaper=Ireland's Saturday Night |date=3 March 1973 |page=13 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19830107/435/0019 |title=Bangor golfers get their man |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=7 January 1983 |page=19 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

Later Drew competed on the European Seniors Tour for a number of years from the start of the tour in 1992 even though, at sixty, he was ten years past the minimum age.{{cite web |title=Norman Drew Career Record Details Legends Tour |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/2992/career-record?tour=legends-tour |publisher=European Tour}} His best finish was a tie for fourth place in the 1992 Collingtree Homes Seniors Classic. He tied for ninth place in the 1993 Senior British Open despite a last round 80.{{cite web |title=Norman Drew Tournament Results Legends Tour |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/2992/results?tour=legends-tour |publisher=European Tour}}

Drew was married to Valerie and had two children, Heather and Gordon. Gordon Drew is also a professional golfer, currently at Donaghadee Golf Club, County Down, Northern Ireland.{{cite web |url=https://www.donaghadeegolfclub.com/course-details-rules/practice-acdemay-rental |title=Gordon Drew, PGA Head Professional |publisher=Donaghadee Golf Club |access-date=18 October 2022}}

Drew died in August 2023 at age 91.{{cite news |title=Norman Drew: Northern Ireland golfing great Drew passes away at 91 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/66493814.amp |access-date=13 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=Norman Drew (1932 – 2023) |url=https://www.pga.info/news/norman-drew-1932-2023/ |publisher=The PGA |date=16 August 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023}}

• 1949 Ulster Boys' Open Championship
• 1950 North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship
• 1952 East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Irish Amateur Open Championship, North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship
• 1953 Irish Amateur Open Championship

• 1958 Irish Dunlop Tournament (tie with Harry Bradshaw)
• 1959 Irish Dunlop Tournament, Yorkshire Evening News Tournament, Irish PGA Championship
• 1966 Ulster Professional Championship
• 1972 Ulster Professional Championship
• 1983 Ulster Matchplay Professional Championship

Note: Drew only played in The Open Championship.

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1970 Open Championship)

"T" indicates a tie for a place

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}}

Amateur

• Walker Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1953
• Men's Home Internationals (representing Ireland): 1952, 1953

Professional

• Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain): 1959
• Canada Cup (representing Ireland): 1960, 1961
• Amateurs–Professionals Match (representing the Professionals): 1959 (winners)

{{reflist}}

• {{EuroTour player|2992}}

{{1959 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drew, Norman}}

Category:Male golfers from Northern Ireland

Category:European Senior Tour golfers

Category:Ryder Cup competitors for Europe

Category:Sportspeople from Belfast

Category:Sportspeople from Bangor, County Down

Category:Golfers from County Down

Category:1932 births

Category:2023 deaths