Samuel Mure Fergusson

Samuel Mure Fergusson
— Golfer —
Fergusson (c. 1895)
Personal information
Born	Scotland
Nationality	Scotland
Career
Status	Amateur
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP
The Open Championship	4th: 1891
PGA Championship	DNP
British Amateur	2nd: 1894, 1898

Samuel Mure Fergusson was a Scottish amateur golfer who played in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fergusson placed fourth in the 1891 Open Championship.^[1] Fergusson twice came close to winning The Amateur Championship. His best effort came in the 1894 Amateur Championship where he battled the legendary John Ball, eventually losing by the score of 1 up.

1894 Amateur Championship

In the 1894 Amateur Championship, held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Fergusson lost 1 up to John Ball.^[2]

1898 Amateur Championship

In the 1898 Amateur Championship, once again held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Fergusson lost to Freddie Tait 7 and 5.^[3] On 7 February 1900, Tait would lose his life in South Africa fighting in the Second Boer War.

Details of the 1891 Open Championship

The 1891 Open Championship was the 31st Open Championship, held 6 October at the Old Course at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Hugh Kirkaldy won by two strokes from his brother Andrew Kirkaldy and Willie Fernie. This was the last Open Championship contested in a single day over 36 holes. The 1892 Open was contested over 72 holes played on two successive days.

Entries closed on the Saturday before the event but a number of players entered on the Monday and "the committee declined to accept them".^[4] These late entries were later allowed to compete "under protest" but received no prize-money.^[5]

Hugh Kirkaldy had the best round of the morning. He three-putted the first two holes but still reached the turn in 39. Playing into a strong wind, he came back in 44 for a round of 83. He was closely followed by four players on 84. Willie More reached the turn in 40, coming back in 44. Andrew Kirkaldy had one of the better back nines of 43 to also score 84. The others on 84 were Fernie and Davie Grant, "one of the late entrants".^[5]

Rain fell heaving for most of the afternoon but the wind was slightly lighter. Hugh Kirkaldy had seven fours in an outward 38 but took five on every hole on the back nine to come home in 45, a round of 83 and a total of 166. More disappointed with an 87 was Andrew Kirkaldy who had reached the turn in 39 and stood on the 17th tee in a strong position. However, he took six at the 17th and then missed a "longish putt"^[5] at the last which would have tied his brother. He eventually three-putted for another six. Fernie reached the turn in 42 but had an excellent 42 coming home to tie with Andrew Kirkaldy. None of the other players challenged Hugh Kirkaldy although the amateur Fergusson had a three at the last to take fourth place.

The 1891 Open was the last time there was a play-off for prize money. Andrew Kirkaldy and Fernie played an 18 hole play-off on the following day. Kirkaldy won and took the second prize, Fernie taking third prize. "The day was beautifully fine, and the players had a large following".^[6]

Results in major championships

Note: Fergusson played only in The Open Championship and The Amateur Championship.

DNP = Did not play
CUT = Missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
? = unknown
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

References