Randall Vines

Vines is from Brisbane, Australia. He had some success as an amateur, winning the 1963 Queensland Junior Golf Tournament.{{Cite web |url=https://www.brisbanegolfclub.com.au/queenslands-first-junior-golf-team/ |title=Queensland's First Junior Golf Team |date=2016-06-03 |publisher=The Brisbane Golf Club |access-date=2020-01-15}}

Vines turned professional in 1966. He began his career playing pro-ams in northern Queensland. His first victory was at the City of Cairns Open.{{Cite news |title=Memories, plus four or more champions |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/memories-plus-four-or-more-champions/news-story/fb8ce14cd8074eaee1271baeb2b5803d |date=2012-02-06 |newspaper=The Courier Mail |first=Jim |last=Tucker |access-date=2020-05-06}}{{Cite web |title=26 Mar 1968, Page 27 - The Age at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/122165558/?terms=city%20of%20cairns%20open&match=1 |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} In late 1966 he posted his first top performance at a major event, finishing solo third at the North Coast Open.{{cite news|date=21 November 1966|title=Dunk pressed but wins by stroke|page=14|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X4FWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3421%2C7000583}}

In 1967 Vines traveled to play in Europe. Although he spent most of his career in Australia his first great successes were in Europe. Early in the 1967 season he finished runner-up at the Spanish Open. In the summer, he held the lead after the first round of the Open Championship qualifier.{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106965855 |title=Clear lead to Vines |date=1967-07-08 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=30}} He went on to qualify for the event.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theopen.com/previous-opens/96th-open-royal-liverpool-1967/ |title=Previous Opens - 96th Open Royal Liverpool 1967 |publisher=The Open |access-date=2020-01-24}} Later in the year he played excellently at the Engadine Open in Switzerland. He held lead entering the final round and, though overtaken by Graham Henning, would still finish solo second.{{Cite web |title=G. Henning's 265 in Engadine |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GVxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5962,3779990 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |access-date=March 10, 2020}} This success culminated in two victories in the late summer. Aided by a hole-in-one in the final round, Vines shot 272 (−20) to win the Swiss Open by two over Guy Wolstenholme.{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106975172 |title=Vines wins |date=1967-09-04 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=13}} The following week Vines was victorious again, winning the Basque Coast Open at Biarritz Golf Club in southwest France.{{cite news|date=9 September 1967|title=Un trio de grande classe à l'Omnium de la Côte basque|language=French|newspaper=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1967/09/09/un-trio-de-grande-classe-a-l-omnium-de-la-cote-basque_2618570_1819218.html|access-date=31 May 2020}}

Vines soon returned down under to play on the Australian circuit. In late January he played excellently at the Wagga City Open, nearly overcoming Walter Godfrey's four shot overnight lead. He finished second at −10, two back.{{cite news|date=30 January 1968|title=Putting mistakes did not worry Godfrey|page=16|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qp0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797%2C7726538}} The following week he recorded an astonishing performance at the Tasmanian Open, winning the tournament by 17 strokes.{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131664012 |title=Vines 17 ahead |date=1968-02-05 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=12}} It was later noted by an Australian journalist that his performance stood "as the biggest victory margin in a tournament in the world."{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110805575 |title=Vines seven-under par on back nine |date=1976-02-28 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=38}} The experience in Tasmania was personally important to Vines as well, as he had his honeymoon with his newlywed wife Robin while on the island. She served as his caddie during the tournament.

Following the victory, Vines moved onto the Asia Golf Circuit. He quickly won a tournament in March, the Thailand Open. Vines thought he blew his chances with a final round 75 (+3) but leader Haruo Yasuda made double-bogey on the last giving Vines a one-stroke win.{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107042229 |title=Thai golf title to Vines |date=1968-03-18 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=12}} Vines won again the very next week at the Hong Kong Open.{{Cite news|date=1968-03-26|title=Vines up in the money|page=20|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107043583|access-date=2020-01-15}} Two weeks later Vines also had a chance to win the last event of the circuit's 1968 schedule, the Yomiuri International. Tied for the lead Chen Ching-Po and Tomoo Ishii at the beginning of the final round, Vines had "trouble mastering the difficult windy conditions" and shot a disappointing 76 (+4). He still finished solo third in the event and second on the circuit's Order of Merit.{{cite news |date=8 April 1968 |title=Rivals crack up and Chen is champion |page=21 |newspaper=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19680408-1.1.21 |accessdate=13 March 2020 |via=National Library Board}} Like the previous year Vines again played in Switzerland and record excellent results. This time he won the Engadine Open{{Cite news |title=Swiss tourney to Australia|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ev1UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2586,4666715 |date=August 26, 1968 |newspaper=The Age|access-date=2020-03-10}} and nearly defended his 1967 Swiss Open title, losing to Italy's Roberto Bernardini in a playoff.

After all of this success, Vines had a lengthy dry spell. He recorded runner-up finishes at the 1968 Caltex Tournament,{{Cite news|date=9 December 1968|title=Final 62 wins for Charles|page=22|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RQYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z5MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4268%2C1588807}} 1969 Tasmanian Open,{{Cite news |date=1969-02-03 |title=Murray wins Open golf |page=13 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107076440 |access-date=2020-05-29}} 1970 North Coast Open,{{cite news |date=23 November 1970 |title=Dunks 51st record |page=25 |newspaper=The Age |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y9szAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3657%2C4510122}} 1971 West End Tournament,{{cite news |date=1 October 1971 |title=West End to Godfrey |volume=59 |page=8 |newspaper=Victor Harbour Times |issue=2582 |location=South Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187371120 |accessdate=10 May 2017 |via=National Library of Australia}} and 1971 North Coast Open.{{cite news |date=11 October 1971 |title=Dunk 'hot' in 19 under Open win |page=16 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-phXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1315%2C4099196}} However, other than at the Tasmanian Open, where he lost to Alan Murray by a shot, he never came particularly close to winning. He thought about quitting golf. He cited poor play, constant travel, and low pay.{{Cite news |title=New "life" for Vines |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AN1UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2pADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4260,142241 |date=October 2, 1972 |newspaper=The Age |access-date=2020-05-03}} This period ended at the 1972 Australian PGA Championship. Vines outplayed playing partner Bill Dunk over the course of the final round to beat his own expectations and win by two shots. "It's the best golf I've played my entire life," he said.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102006826 |title=Vines Takes P.G.A. Title From Dunk |date=1972-10-02 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=12}}{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1972 |title=Vines' PGA win breaks "drought" |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pbIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=reUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4299,869315 |access-date=2020-05-03}}

Vines' played excellently through 1973. Once again he played well at the Tasmanian Open, finishing two back of Stewart Ginn, tying David Good and Ian Paul for second.{{Cite news |date=1973-02-20 |title=Tas Open to Ginn |page=20 |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251526873 |access-date=2020-06-26}} In September, he finished runner-up at the West End Tournament, nearly overcoming overnight leader David Galloway.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187527630 |title=West End $7,000 to young pro |date=27 September 1973 |newspaper=Victor Harbour Times |accessdate=10 May 2017 |issue=2683 |location=South Australia |volume=61 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} Shortly afterwards, he won an event in his home state, the Queensland PGA Championship. In November he played the Australian PGA Championship. Like the previous year, he again played excellently at the event, now contested as a match play event. Vines won his first five matches and played Stewart Ginn in the final. The match was neck and neck until Ginn made mistakes on the 16th and 17th ensuring Vines' victory. Vines shot −25 for the event. "I feel like I've won six tournaments," he stated at the end of the event. "Every match was a hard one."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131691652 |title=Vines beats Ginn for PGA crown |date=1973-11-12 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=12}} He also won the Cairns Open at the very end of the calendar year.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110806057 |title=Vines takes golf despite errors |date=1976-03-01 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=14}} This excellent play helped him qualify for the 1973 World Cup.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131693411 |title=Favourable golf draw for Australians |date=1973-11-21 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-15 |page=34}} Vines played well, finishing in a tie for fifth among 96 players, right behind Jack Nicklaus who tied for third.{{Cite news |title=US clinch Cup by 6 strokes |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19731126-1.2.35.13?ST=1&AT=filter&K=world%20cup%20golf%201973&KA=world%20cup%20golf%201973&DF=&DT=&Display=0&AO=false&NPT=&L=&CTA=&NID=&CT=&WC=&YR=1973&QT=world,cup,golf,1973&oref=article |via=National Library Board |newspaper=New Nation |date=26 November 1973 |page=11 |access-date=2020-05-27}}

Vines continued to have some success through the mid-1970s. In September 1974 he seriously competed at the South Australian Open. In "icy winds and rain" Vines shot a 70 (-2), the round of the day at Glenelg Golf Club, to tie for the third round lead with Ray Hore and David Galloway. All three remained tied after the final round's front nine after shooting one-over each. On the 10th Vines made bogey to fall one behind. He then merely parred the par-5 13th − which his competitors either birdied or eagled − seemingly ending his chances. However, on the par-5 18th hole the leader and his playing partner, Hore, got into trouble, taking four shots to reach the green. Vines birdied the hole but Hore managed to make bogey. At even-par 288, he won by a stroke over Vines and Galloway. The following year Vines won a 54-hole tournament at Mount Isa. Due to his recent good play he was among the "favoured players" at the Australian PGA Championship. He opened with a 73 (+2), however, to put him six behind the lead.{{Cite news |date=1975-09-20 |title=Smith leads PGA |page=36 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110659190 |access-date=2020-11-14}} Though he was at 218 (+5) after the third round he was in contention, only three back of Vic Bennetts' lead.{{Cite news |date=1975-09-22 |title=Bennetts narrow leader in PGA |page=12 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110659273 |access-date=2020-11-14}} In windy conditions on the final day, he shot a 74 (+3) but managed to finish in a tie for fifth, five back of champion Bennetts.{{Cite news |date=1975-09-23 |title=PGA title won by Bennetts |page=16 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110659511 |access-date=2020-11-14}} In mid-October 1975 he was the "early tearaway pacemaker" at the North Coast Open.{{cite news |date=13 October 1975 |title=Somers' 69 settles it |page=16 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I_1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2972%2C3773163}} He opened with a 65 (−7) followed by a 66 (-6).{{Cite web |title=Sporting Details |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I_1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1073,3777381 |access-date=2020-10-31 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald}} Despite a third round 74 he still held a four stroke lead entering the final round. However, he shot a 40 (+4) on the front nine to lose the solo lead to Vaughan Somers. Vines poor play continued on the back nine "to throw all chance of victory." He settled for a 79 and a tie for fifth, five back of Somers. The following week he again placed high, finishing solo third at the New South Wales Open.{{Cite news |date=1975-10-20 |title=Gresham wins Open |page=12 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110663537 |access-date=2020-06-19}} Early in 1976 he finished runner-up at the Forbes tournament.

On 26 February 1976, he entered the Queanbeyan City Open. Vines was even par during the first 27 holes.{{Cite news |date=1976-02-27 |title=Golf |page=20 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110805213 |access-date=2020-11-14}} Though "there was no indication of what was to come" at this point, Vines would play excellently on the back nine. His back nine started with a chip-in birdie on the 10th. On the 12th, despite missing the fairway, he holed out for an eagle. This was followed by three straight birdies. He missed a 30 centimeter putt on the 16th otherwise he would have had four birdies in a row. Nonetheless, he still shot a 28 (−7). After the round Vines stated it was the best nine holes of his career. It was the first time he had broken 30 and "gave him almost as big a thrill as his 1968 Tasmanian Open victory by 17 shots." Despite this excellent play he was one behind pro Mark Tapper.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110805689 |title=Open golf scores |date=1976-02-28 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=2020-01-16 |page=34}} Vines remained one behind him entering the final round. Tapper, however, played poorly the entire round, presaged by a bogey on the opening hole. Vines took advantage of his poor play. Though he drove the ball extremely erratically, Vines hit extraordinary approaches from the rough or behind trees and the wrong fairway. This enabled him to make a number of birdies and he ultimately cruised to a four shot win.

During this era Vines started to work as a club professional at Helensvale Golf Course in Helensvale, Queensland.{{Cite news |date=1977-11-12 |title=Queenslanders have PGA attention |page=44 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110877563 |access-date=2020-11-10}} He still worked as a touring professional during the summer, however. Late in 1976 he won the Queensland PGA Championship for the second time. In November 1976, with a 64 (−8), he broke the course record at Victoria Golf Club during the third round of the Colgate Champion of Champions.{{Cite news |date=1976-11-14 |title=Australian Golfer Ties Mark |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/14/archives/australian-golfer-ties-mark.html |access-date=2020-05-14}} This moved him within striking distance of the lead. However he shot a mediocre 74 in the final round to end up tied for thirteenth place with Rodger Davis and Tom Watson.{{cite news|date=15 November 1976|title=Lye downs them|page=36|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wxxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4990%2C4028642}} The following year he attempted to defend his Queanbeyan City Open championship. After a very erratic opening round 71 (+1), which included a quadruple bogey on the 15th hole,{{Cite news|date=1977-03-11|title=Serhan leads in Queanbeyan golf|page=18|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110728076|access-date=2020-05-29}} he fired a second round 65 to get into contention.{{Cite news|date=1977-03-14|title=Burgess wins golf|page=18|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110728436|access-date=2020-05-29}} After a disappointing third round he shot a final round 67, the round of the day,{{Cite news|date=1978-02-14|title=Burgess will defend Queanbeyan title|page=16|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131715781|access-date=2020-05-29}} and finished in a tie for fourth. On 10 November 1977, at the Australian PGA Championship, he opened with a disappointing 77 (+5), which included five 3-putts. He played excellently the following day, however, with a 64 (−8) to move into fourth place. His second round included three sets of three consecutive birdies. He would go on to finish in a tie for 8th.{{Cite news |date=1977-11-14 |title=Cahill has runaway win in PGA title |page=16 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110877872 |access-date=2020-11-11}} The following week he seriously contended for the Australian Open. Starting in the second round Vines shot consecutive rounds of 70 (−2) at The Australian to get within two shots of Don January's lead. However he would shoot a disappointing 78 in the final round to finish in a tie for eighth.{{Cite news |title=David Graham wins open |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=21 November 1977 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110879062 |access-date=2020-06-25 |via=Trove}} Despite the weak finish it would be his best ever finish at his national open.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-15|title=Australia's Greatest Golfer Jan Stephenson v Randall Vines|url=https://pga.org.au/news/australias-greatest-golfer-jan-stephenson-v-randall-vines/|access-date=2020-05-14|publisher=PGA of Australia}} Vines defeated star golfers Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, and Greg Norman by several shots.{{Cite news |date=November 21, 1977 |title=Golf Australian Open - Scores |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12376344 |access-date=2020-06-25 |newspaper=The Canberra Times}}

In February 1978, Vines recorded his final win on the PGA Tour of Australasia. At the Griffith Golf Classic he opened with a 66 (−5) to share for the first round lead with Rob McNaughton. Vines shot an even-par 71 the following day to take the solo lead by one.{{Cite news |date=1978-02-25 |title=Nagle a stroke from Vines |page=47 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131717864 |access-date=2020-06-25}} He continued to hold the lead for most of the weekend but struggled down the stretch with a final round 72 (+1) to fall into a tie with Ian Stanley. In a "tense" sudden death playoff Stanley missed several makable putts to win and then, on the 5th playoff hole, bogeyed giving Vines the victory.{{cite news |date=27 February 1978 |title=Vines wins at fifth extra hole |page=15 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131718255 |access-date=11 February 2020 |via=Trove}}

Shortly afterwards, Vines' career went downhill. He stated later in life that he "went cold" during this period and lost confidence.{{Cite web |url=https://pga.org.au/news/wisdom-of-elders-randall-vines/ |title=Wisdom of Elders – Randall Vines |date=2018-01-12 |publisher=PGA of Australia |access-date=2020-01-15}}

As a senior, however, Vines had some success. Vines turned 50 in the middle of 1995 and quickly started playing on the European Seniors Tour. He had immediate success, recording a runner-up finish at his fifth event{{Cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/randall-vines-1097/results |title=Wins & Results – Randall Vines |publisher=European Tour |access-date=2020-01-16}} and finished 25th on the Order of Merit, despite playing a truncated season. The following year, his first full year on the senior tour, he continued with this success, recording three top-10s including a runner-up finish at the Motor City Seniors Classic. He finished 16th on the Order of Merit, his career best. The following season, he recorded two more top-10s but finished much further down the Order of Merit. He maintained at least part-time status on the European Seniors Tour for three more seasons but with little success. He also played senior events in Asia and Australia.{{Cite web |title=Randall Vines – player information |url=http://www.asm-singapore.com/playerprofile.asp?offset=120&PlayerID=136 |publisher=Asian Senior Masters |access-date=2020-05-14}}{{Cite news |title=Seniors swing into city |url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/apn-seniors-swing-int/2236/ |newspaper=The Chronicle |access-date=2020-05-14}} In 2004 he had much success in Australia. He went on a stretch where he finished in the top ten in 9 of 10 events. He also won the Twin Waters Senior Pro-am that year.{{Cite web|title=Ferguson on fire again|url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/scd-ferguson-on-fire-again/325727/|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Sunshine Coast Daily|language=en}} The following year he finished runner-up at the Asian Senior Masters to Stewart Ginn. Two years later, during the 2007-08 season, he won the New Zealand Senior PGA Championship at the age of 62. He said this was the highlight of his senior career.

In 2015, Vines was bestowed Life Membership in the Australian PGA.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/david-graham-inducted-into-the-world-golf-hall-of-fame/ |title=David Graham inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame |date=2015-07-14 |magazine=Australian Golf Digest |access-date=2020-01-16}}

In 1968, Vines married Robin. As of 1972, he lived in Surfers Paradise.

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)

Sources:{{cite news|date=1978-02-27|title=Vines wins at fifth extra hole|page=15|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131718255|access-date=2020-01-15}}

• 1966 City of Cairns Open
• 1967 Swiss Open, Basque Coast Open{{cite news |date=9 September 1967 |title=Un trio de grande classe à l'Omnium de la Côte basque |language=French |newspaper=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1967/09/09/un-trio-de-grande-classe-a-l-omnium-de-la-cote-basque_2618570_1819218.html |access-date=31 May 2020}}
• 1968 Tasmanian Open, Engadine Open
• 1972 Australian PGA Championship
• 1973 Queensland PGA Championship
• 1975 Mount Isa tournament
• 1976 Queensland PGA Championship
• 2007-2008 New Zealand Senior PGA Championship

New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (0–1)

Note: Vines only played in the Open Championship

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

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1972 Open Championship)

"T" = tied

Amateur

• Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 1961, 1962

Professional

• World Cup (representing Australia): 1973

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vines, Randall}}

Category:Australian male golfers

Category:PGA Tour of Australasia golfers

Category:European Senior Tour golfers

Category:Golfers from Brisbane

Category:1945 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportsmen from Queensland

Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen