Neil Coles
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Neil Coles (born 26 September 1934) is an English professional golfer. As of 2005, Coles is only the second man (after Sam Snead) to win a professional golf tournament in six different decades, starting in the 1950s and extending into the 21st century.
Coles was born in England. He won thirty-one events in his regular career, including seven after the European Tour was officially established in 1972. The European Tour's official site states that Coles won twenty-five times on the tour, meaning that 25 of the tournaments he won are regarded as having equivalent status to official European Tour events[1]. His last European Tour win came in 1982.
While he never became one of the leading stars of global golf, and did not win a major championship, Coles was remarkable for his durability. He finished in the top ten on the European Seniors Tour's order of merit eight times between 1992 and 2000. In 2002, during which season he turned sixty eight, he finished eleventh. In that year he won the Lawrence Batley Seniors Tournament at the age of 67 years and 276 days, more than four years older than any previous winner of a Seniors professional golf tournament. He also had a third place finish in 2003. His final win tally on the Senior Tour was nine. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
Coles is currently (January 2007) the chairman of the PGA European Tour's board of directors. He is also a golf course architect.
[edit] Regular career wins
- 1956 Gor-Ray Tournament
- 1960 Coombe Hill Assistants
- 1961 Ballantine Tournament
- 1962 Senior Service Tournament
- 1963 Engadine Tournament, Daks Tournament (tie with Peter Alliss), Martini International (tie with Christy O'Connor Snr)
- 1964 Bowmaker Tournament, Daks Tournament, News of the World Match Play
- 1965 News of the World Match Play, Carrolls Sweet Afton
- 1966 Pringle of Scotland Tournament, British Masters
- 1970 Walworth Aloyco, Sumrie Clothes Better-Ball (with Bernard Hunt), Italian BP Open, Bowmaker Tournament, Daks Tournament
- 1971 Penfold Bournemouth Tournament, Daks Tournament (tie with Brian Huggett), Carrolls International, German Open
- 1972 Sunbeam Electric Scottish Open (play-off)
- 1973 Sumrie Clothes Better-Ball (with Bernard Hunt), Spanish Open, Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship
- 1974 W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament
- 1976 Penfold PGA Championship (play-off)
- 1977 Tournament Players Championship
- 1982 Sanyo Open
[edit] European Seniors Tour wins
- 1992 Collingtree Homes Seniors Classic
- 1993 Gary Player Seniors Classic
- 1995 Collingtree Seniors
- 1997 Ryder Collingtree Seniors Classic
- 1998 Philip PFA Golf Classic
- 1999 Energis Senior Masters, Dalmahoy Scottish Seniors Open
- 2000 Microlease Jersey Seniors Open
- 2002 Lawrence Batley Seniors
[edit] Other senior wins
- 1985 PGA Seniors Championship
- 1986 PGA Seniors Championship
- 1987 PGA Seniors Championship
- 1989 PGA Seniors Championship
[edit] Team appearances
- Ryder Cup (8): 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1977.
- World Cup of Golf: 1963, 1968
- Hennessy Cognac Cup: 1974 (winners), 1976, 1978 (winners), 1980 (winners)
- Double Diamond: 1971 (winners), 1973, 1975, 1976 (winners), 1977
- Praia D'el Rey European Cup: 1998, 1999
