Fred Popplewell

Frederick Popplewell (12 June 1887 – 5 July 1966) was an Australian professional golfer. He won the Australian Open twice, in 1925 and 1928.

Fred Popplewell
Personal information
Full nameFrederick Popplewell
Born(1887-06-12)12 June 1887
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died5 July 1966(1966-07-05) (aged 79)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality Australia
Career
StatusProfessional
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 1926

Early life

Popplewell became as assistant at Royal Sydney Golf Club in about 1903.[1] He was briefly employed in Tasmania in 1905, before returning to become the professional at Newcastle Golf Club.[2][3] He then took a position in a sports shop before joining Victor East at The Australian Golf Club in 1909.[4]

Professional career

Popplewell won the inaugural New South Wales Professional Championship in 1923 with a score of 311. Dan Soutar had led by two strokes after the first 36 holes at The Australian Golf Club but Popplewell took a three shot lead after a third round of 74 and held on in the final round to win by a stroke. The final 36 holes were played at Royal Sydney.[5] Later in 1923 he won the professional tournament at the championship meeting at Royal Adelaide, beating Rufus Stewart 2&1 in the final.[6]

In 1925 Popplewell won the Australian Open for the first time, beating Tom Howard by 2 strokes. He had led by 5 strokes after three rounds and held on to win, despite a final round 79.[7] He won again, at Royal Sydney in 1928, winning by a stroke from Rufus Stewart.[8]

Popplewell was one of group of four Australian professionals that travelled to play in the 1926 Open Championship at Royal Lytham. He went with Carnegie Clark, Tom Howard and Harry Sinclair.[9] Only Howard and Popplewell qualified, Popplewell missing the cut by 3 strokes, after rounds of 81 and 80.[10]

Popplewell won the New South Wales Professional Championship for the second time in 1929 at Manly, beating Frank Eyre at the 37th hole. Eyre had been 5 holes ahead after the morning round.[11]

Later life

Popplewell became the professional at Royal Sydney Golf Club in October 1930, retiring from there at the end of 1951, having been the professional for over 21 years.[3][12] He was replaced by Jimmy Adams.[13] Popplewell died on 5 July 1966, aged 79.[9]

Professional wins

References
  1. "Australia's Golf Champion". The Sporting Globe (315). Victoria, Australia. 8 August 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Sporting". The Examiner (Tasmania). LXV (194). Tasmania, Australia. 16 August 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Important change". The Sydney Morning Herald (28881). New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1930. p. 13. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Golf Gossip". The Arrow (691). New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Professional Championship". The Sydney Morning Herald (26687). New South Wales, Australia. 18 July 1923. p. 17. Retrieved 21 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Golf – Championship Meeting". The Sydney Morning Herald (26717). 22 August 1923. p. 14. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald (27317). New South Wales, Australia. 24 July 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 17 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "F. Popplewell". The Sydney Morning Herald (28294). New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 17 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. Fitter, Bill (10 July 1966). "Down the fairway". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia. p. 62. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "An increased lead". The Glasgow Herald. 25 June 1926. p. 8.
  11. "Popplewell Wins". The Sydney Morning Herald (28, 647). New South Wales, Australia. 28 October 1929. p. 16. Retrieved 21 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Golfer to retire". The Sydney Morning Herald (35333). New South Wales, Australia. 20 March 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "U.K. golfers in Sydney". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). XVI (309). New South Wales, Australia. 19 March 1952. p. 20. Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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