Finlay Smith Morris (September 1945 – 18 November 1967) was a Scottish

professional golfer A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf pr ...

. He was Boys Amateur Champion in 1961 and won the Coca-Cola Tournament at Haggs Castle in 1967. He was killed in a road traffic accident at the age of 22.

Golf career

Morris won the Boys Amateur Championship in 1961 beating Clive Clark 3&2 in the final. He was only 15 years old and was the youngest boys champion since the first Championship in 1921 when the age limit was 16 rather than 18. The previous year Morris had reached the semi-final before losing 2&1 to the eventual winner. Morris turned professional in late 1963. Initially an assistant at Crews Hill Golf Club in north London, he returned to Scotland after a few months to be assistant at Littlehill Golf Club, north of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. His father was the manager at the nearby Cawder Golf Club. Morris had little success in his first few years as a professional but had some good performances in 1967. In May he was runner-up in the

Scottish Professional Championship The Scottish Professional Championship was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament which was open only for Scottish players. The final champion was John Higgins. History The Scottish Professional Championship was held in Edinburgh in Dece ...

, three shots behind

Harry Bannerman Harry Bannerman (born 5 March 1942) is a Scottish retired professional golfer. He is best known for playing in the 1971 Ryder Cup. Professional career Bannerman turned professional in late 1965, at the age of 23, and became an assistant at Royal ...

but five strokes ahead of the rest of the field. In August he won the Scottish Coca-Cola Tournament at Haggs Castle with a 72-hole aggregate of 262 (66-63-67-66), 15 strokes ahead of

David Huish David Huish (born 23 April 1944) is a Scottish professional golfer, perhaps best known for being the halfway leader of The Open Championship in 1975. Personal life Huish (pronounced "hush") was born in North Berwick, Scotland. He married his se ...

, who took second place, taking the first prize of £200.

Death

Morris died in a road traffic accident on 18 November 1967 aged 22. Morris had been competing in the first semi-final of the Shell Winter Tournament at Mere Golf Club,

Mere, Cheshire Mere is a civil parish and linear village along the old course of the A556 road in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, North West England, about south-west of Altrincham. Bucklow Hill is at its northea ...

, but had failed to qualify for the final. Morris had reached the semi-final through a qualifying contest at Hilton Park, north of

, on 4 November. He had been a late replacement, scored 73, and only reached the semi-final by having a better back nine than two others who also scored 73. His father was also seriously injured in the accident.

Amateur wins

*1961 Boys Amateur Championship *1962

Carris Trophy The Carris Trophy is the English Boys Under 18 Open Amateur Stroke-Play Championship. It was founded in 1935. History The event was founded as a boys' golf tournament in 1935 at the Moor Park Golf Club by Austin Carris. The competition was adopt ...

*1963 Scottish Boys Championship, West of Scotland Amateur Championship

Professional wins

*1967 Scottish Coca-Cola Tournament

Results in major championships

''Note: Morris only played in The Open Championship.''
CUT = missed the half-way cut

Team appearances

Amateur * Boys' match v Continent of Europe (representing combined England & Scotland): 1961 (winners), 1962 (winners), 1963 (winners)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Finlay Scottish male golfers Golfers from Glasgow Road incident deaths in Scotland 1945 births 1967 deaths