Fred Collins (golfer)

James Frederick Collins (4 September 1878 – 15 December 1940)[1][2] was an English professional golfer. He won the Welsh Professional Championship in 1905 and then, 28 years later, in 1933. He represented England against Scotland in 1903 and 1904 and tied for seventh place in the 1912 Open Championship.

Fred Collins
Personal information
Full nameJames Frederick Collins
Born(1878-09-04)4 September 1878
Dunham Massey, Cheshire, England
Died15 December 1940(1940-12-15) (aged 62)
Llandudno, Caernarfonshire, Wales
Sporting nationality England
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins2
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipT7: 1912

Early life

Collins was born in the village of Dunham Massey, near Altrincham, Cheshire in 1878.[3] Bowdon Golf Club was located at Dunham Massey.[4]

Golf career

Collins was runner-up in the 1904 Leeds Cup, a stroke behind Sandy Herd.[5]

The 1905 Welsh Professional Championship was held at Conwy Golf Club on 23 August. There were 15 entries. Collins scored 153 for the two rounds and finished two shots ahead of George Duncan. However, Duncan had moved to Timperley and was only trying to qualify for the News of the World Matchplay, not being eligible for the Welsh Championship. Alfred Matthews, the Rhyl professional, was runner-up in the Championship on 160.[6] The News of the World Matchplay had started in 1903 but in the first two years the Welsh professionals had had to play in the Northern or Midland sections qualifying events. Collins had qualified through the Midland section in 1904 and had lost to Sandy Herd in the first round. As winner, Collins received entry to the final stage of the 1905 News of the World Match Play, where he was due to meet Arnaud Massy. However both players scratched from the event.

Collins won the Welsh Professional Championship for a second time in 1933, 28 years after his first win. Played at Rhyl, Collins had rounds of 77-76-76-76 for a total of 305 and a one stroke win over Edward Musty.[7]

Collins completed the four rounds of The Open Championship every year from 1901 to 1914 with the exception of 1906, when he missed the cut by one stroke.

Personal life

Collins' nephew, Sidney Collins, the son of his brother Henry, was a professional golfer. He was at Sandiway Golf Club, Cheshire from 1920 to 1946. His son, Sid Collins Jr. (1912–1983), had some success as a tournament golfer, winning the Welsh Professional Championship twice, in 1938 and 1952, and the 1954 Goodwin (Sheffield) Foursomes Tournament, partnered by Bernard Hunt. Sid Jr. was an assistant to his father before becoming an assistant to his great-uncle Fred at Llandudno. Sid Jr. later became the professional at Llandudno after Fred's retirement.[8]

Death

Collins died at his home in Llandudno on 15 December 1940. He had been associated with Llandudno Golf Club for 46 years, mostly as a professional before becoming secretary because of ill health.[9]

Professional wins (2)

Results in major championships
A group photo of the 1903 England team.
Collins is standing second from the left
Tournament 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
The Open Championship T15 T32 T45 T19 T22 CUT T15 T13 T21
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
The Open Championship 36 12 T7 T11 T50 NT NT NT NT NT
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926
The Open Championship T70 T16 CUT

Note: Collins only played in The Open Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

References
  1. James Frederick Collins on Lives of the First World War
  2. "Find a will". probatesearch.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7VV-BZF
  4. "Bowdon Golf Club, Dunham Massey, Altrincham". golfsmissinglinks.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. "The professional association". The Glasgow Herald. 14 July 1904. p. 10.
  6. "Welsh Championship - Professionals' second annual meeting - success of Fred Collins, of Llandudno". Evening Express and Evening Mail (Cardiff). National Library of Wales. 24 August 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  7. "Welsh Professional Championship". The Times. 30 June 1933. p. 6.
  8. "Login Required - Sandiway Golf Club".
  9. "Mr. Fred Collins". Western Mail. 17 December 1940. Retrieved 6 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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