Edward A. Ball (4 November 1939 – 17 April 1995) was an Australian professional golfer. He won several dozen significant tournaments in his career.
Early life Ball was born in Hornsby, New South Wales. He had a decorated amateur career, including a win at the Australian Amateur in 1960, along with several other victories.
Professional career Ball turned professional in the early 1960s and found immediate success. He won his first title in 1962 at the Queensland Open. He added numerous wins after that internationally. He staged one of Australian golf's greatest comebacks to win the Wills Masters in 1973. In 1974, he became the first player to successfully defend the Wills title. He shot rounds of 70, 69, 72 and 70 at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney to win by two strokes; this is said to be the greatest achievement in his career.
Amateur wins 1960 Australian Amateur, New South Wales Champion of Champions, New South Wales Amateur
Professional wins (21) Asia Golf Circuit wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up18 Mar 1964Singapore Open−1 (70-77-72-72=291)1 stroke Eric Cremin, Tadashi Kitta230 Mar 1975Indian Open−10 (75-70-67-70=282)Playoff Kuo Chie-Hsiung
Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11975Indian Open Kuo Chie-HsiungWon with birdie on first extra hole
PGA Tour of Australia wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up130 Sep 1973South Australian Open−2 (72-66-73-75)1 stroke Terry Kendall221 Oct 1973Wills Masters−6 (71-71-72-68=282)2 strokes Jerry Heard320 Oct 1974New South Wales Open−8 (70-71-70-69=280)7 strokes Kel Nagle427 Oct 1974Wills Masters (2)−6 (70-69-72-70=281)2 strokes Gary Player, Ian Stanley528 Sep 1980National Panasonic New South Wales PGA Championship−3 (67-70-76-72=285)1 stroke Wayne Grady, Lyndsay Stephen
PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11974Coca-Cola Lakes Open Paul Murray, Bob ShearerShearer won with birdie on first extra hole21974Tasmanian Open Bob Shearer31978Joe Jansen New South Wales PGA Championship Mike Cahill, John CliffordClifford won with birdie on first extra hole
New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up13 Sep 1963Metalcraft Tournament−5 (72-69-74-72=287)Shared title with Peter Thomson212 Dec 1964Wills Classic−14 (63-71-64-68=266)5 strokes Barry Coxon, Bob Tuohy
Other Australian wins (11)
1962 Queensland Open 1964 Wagga City Open, City of Sydney Open, Tasmanian Open, New South Wales Open 1965 Lakes Open, Johnston Motors Tournament 1968 Queensland PGA Championship 1970 City of Sydney Open 1972 South Australian Open 1977 New South Wales PGA Championship
Other wins (1)
1977 Papua New Guinea Open
Team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing Australia): 1960 Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing New South Wales): 1960 (winners)
Professional World Cup (representing Australia): 1974
References