William Cosgrove (golfer)

William Cosgrove
— Golfer —
Personal information
Born	c. 1852 Scotland
Nationality	Scotland
Career
Status	Professional
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP
The Open Championship	T3: 1877
PGA Championship	DNP

William Cosgrove (born c. 1852) was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. Cosgrove had one top-10 finish in The Open Championship. His best performance was a third place tie in the 1877 Open Championship.

Early life

Cosgrove was born in Scotland circa 1852. His brother, Ned Cosgrove, was also a professional golfer.

Golf career

1877 Open Championship

The 1877 Open Championship was the 17th Open Championship, held 6 April at Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Pringle. Cosgrove scored rounds of 41-39-44-40=164, finishing tied for third, and won a useful £2 in prize money.^[1]

1878 Open Championship

Cosgrove teed it up again in the 1878 Open Championship held 4 October at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship for the second successive year, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Kirk. Cosgrove had rounds of 55-56-55=166 and finished in a tie for sixth place with Willie Park, Sr.^[1]

Details of play

Davie Strath and Bob Ferguson played together but Strath had a disappointing 45 in the first round which left him well behind the leaders. Ferguson began in disappointing fashion but managed to salvage a 40. William Brown led on 39 with Ferguson and Jamie Anderson on 40. After two rounds, three players were level on 80: Brown, Ferguson and Cosgrove with Anderson and Bob Pringle only two behind. Strath was five behind on 85.

Anderson carded a 37 in the third round while Ferguson could muster only a 40 and Davie Strath scored 38. Anderson now led on 119 with Ferguson on 120, Ferguson on 122 and Strath on 123. In the final round Strath took a horrendous 9 at the second to drop out of contention. Ferguson also had a disappointing last round and Anderson's 41 was enough to give him the Championship.^[1]

Results in The Open Championship

Tournament	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1879	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886	1887	1888	1889
The Open Championship	T20	DNP	DNP	T3	T6	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	16	T16	T29	T20	DNP	DNP	T15

Note: Cosgrove played only in The Open Championship.

DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Death

Cosgrove's date of death is unknown.

References

1. Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.