Fred Leach (1885–?) was an English

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 ...

. His best performance in the Open Championship, the only major tournament he played in, was a tie for 6th place in

1921 Events January * January 2 ** The Association football club Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, from Belo Horizonte, is founded as the multi-sports club Palestra Italia by Italian expatriates in First Brazilian Republic, Brazil. ** The Spanish lin ...

. His final score was only six shots shy of the pace set by Jock Hutchison and

Roger Wethered Roger Henry Wethered (3 January 1899 – 12 March 1983) was an English amateur golfer, and the brother of female golfer Joyce Wethered. Early life Born in Surrey, Wethered was the only son of Herbert Newton Wethered and his wife Marion Emmelin ...

who tied for first place and went to a playoff in which Hutchison prevailed.

Early life

Leach was born in 1885 in Baildon,

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

, England.

Golf career

He was an assistant at Bradford Golf Club and while there was the second placed assistant in the 1903

Leeds Cup The Leeds Cup is a golf tournament that has been played annually in northern England since 1902. The event is organised by the north region of the Professional Golfers' Association. It is the oldest trophy in professional golf that is still play ...

behind Bertie Snowball. Soon afterwards he moved south and became an assistant to William Fulford at Northwood Golf Club. Leach was joint runner-up in the 1905

, played at his old club at Bradford, five strokes behind Sandy Herd and tied with Bertie Snowball. He was at Northwood for 21 years before moving to Highwoods Golf Club at

Bexhill-on-Sea Bexhill-on-Sea (often shortened to Bexhill) is a seaside town and civil parish situated in the county of East Sussex in South East England. An ancient town and part of the local government district of Rother, Bexhill is home to a number of arc ...

when that course opened in 1925 and then became professional at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club from 1926 to 1950, where he replaced William's nephew Jack Fulford. Leach tied for 6th place in the

1921 Open Championship The 1921 Open Championship was the 56th Open Championship, held 23–25 June at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. Former local Jock Hutchison won his only Open Championship, in a 36-hole playoff over amateur Roger Wethered. It was Hutch ...

and reached the final of the 1922 News of the World Match Play at

Sunningdale Golf Club Sunningdale Golf Club is a golf club in Sunningdale, Berkshire, England, located approximately west-southwest of London. Sunningdale Golf Club was founded in 1900 and has two eighteen hole golf courses: the Old Course, designed by Willie Park ...

, losing 5&4 to

George Gadd Francis George Gadd (1890 – 25 September 1957) was an English professional golfer. He was on the 1927 Ryder Cup team but did not play in any matches. Gadd was Welsh Professional Champion in 1913, won the 1922 News of the World Match Play, won ...

Death

Leach's date of death is unknown.

Results in major championships

''Note: Leach only played in The Open Championship.''
NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
? = finish unknown
"T" indicates a tie for a place

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leach, Fred English male golfers People from Baildon 1885 births Year of death missing