Bob Tuohy (born c. August 1940) is a former Australian professional golfer and current tournament director.
Early life At the age of 11, Tuohy became a junior member of Glenelg Golf Club. He was the youngest member at the time. He first received media attention shortly after turning 13. He qualified for the Legacy Golf Governor's Cup held at Glenelg Golf Club. That year he also began representing South Australia at schoolboy championships in Sydney. By April he had cut his handicap to 12. In June, he made the C grade competition at Glenelg. He was the youngest player ever to reach the final. By August, his handicap dropped to 8. Later in the month, he won the B grade competition. The following two years, in 1955 and 1956, he was South Australia's state schoolboy champion.
Amateur career In 1957, he began playing in bigger events across South Australia. That year, Tuohy won the South Australian Amateur. Late in the year, he played the Victor Harbour Open Championship. It was a two-round event played over the course of one day, Monday 14 October. In the morning round, Tuohy shot a 74 to put him five behind leader Murray Crafter. In the afternoon, however, he fired a "sensational" final round 66, including seven birdies. It broke the tournament record and he defeated Crafter by one. Tuohy won the Barr-Smith Cup for his victory.
Though still an amateur, Tuohy played in several significant professional events in 1958. In April, he played the Adelaide Advertiser Tournament. Tuohy was in joint second place, five behind Kel Nagle, after the second round. In the third round, he shot a "brilliant" 67 to tie Nagle for the lead. However, Tuohy shot a 75 in the final round to finish two back, in solo third. Two months later Tuohy played the Great Southern Golf Championship at Victor Harbour Golf Club. In the morning round, "he played excellent golf," firing a 71. He putted poorly in the afternoon round, shooting a 76, but he managed a one-stroke win. In November, he played the five-round Pelaco Tournament at The Australian Golf Club. Well-known golfers like Peter Thomson, Gary Player, and Bruce Crampton played the event. Tuohy finished at 360 (+5), one behind the leading amateur Barry Warren.
Tuohy also had some success at amateur events in 1958. He successfully defended his South Australian Amateur Championship that year. In June, he also won Glengl's club championship at the age of 17.
Professional career On 9 November 1958, Tuohy turned professional. In 1960, he had much success in Western Australia. During the year he won the Western Australian Open by one stroke over Brian Henning at 291. He also won the Western Australia PGA Championship that year. In mid-August, he also had success in the state, winning a pairs event with Len Thomas at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. A few days later he began play at the Australian Open, also held at Lake Karrinyup. He opened with a 71 (−1), in a tie for fifth, leading the professionals. He shot over-par for the remainder of the tournament to finish in a tie for 21st. The following week Tuohy played the Australian PGA Championship held at Royal Fremantle Golf Club, also in Western Australia. He reached the quarterfinals, losing to Norman Von Nida. In November he played well at the Victorian Open. After three rounds he was at 213 (−3), in second place. Against "unrelenting heavy rain," however, he shot a final round 77 (+5) finished in a four-way tie for fourth, eight shots back.
In 1961, Tuohy played in tournaments across several continents. In January, he finished joint third at the East Rand Open in South Africa, three behind champion Jimmy Hitchcock at 282. Later in the year, Tuohy started playing in Europe. His first appearance on British PGA circuit was at the Northern Open in April. Tuohy played in Europe through the northern hemisphere summer.
By September he had returned to Australia. In October, he opened with a 76 (+4) at the Wills Classic. Though a high score, against "boisterous winds," he was in joint fourth place. He shot a second round 70 to move up to joint third. He closed with a 76, however, to finish solo ninth at 295 (+7), several shots behind champion Gary Player and one behind Arnold Palmer. The following month, he opened with a 72, even-par, at the 54-hole North Coast Open to put himself in contention, three back. He ultimately finished in joint third place, two back of champion Len Woodward. During the season, he was temporarily suspended by the Victorian PGA with fellow pro Colin McGregor. According to The Straits Times, they were suspended "for playing in exhibition matches and making sports stores appearances allegedly without permission." However, the ban was quickly lifted when several prominent players, including Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle, threatened to boycott the Victorian PGA Championship.
In January 1962, it was announced that Tuohy would play the inaugural season of the Far East Circuit. His top performance on the circuit was a fifth-place finish at the Hong Kong Open. In April, he moved on to Europe. Very quickly he seriously contended at a tournament, taking the first round lead at the Northern Open. In the second round, he shot an 80 but on the "wild and windy course" he still had the lead. He shot a third round 74 to maintain the solo lead. In the final round, playing well ahead of Tuohy, Scotsman John Panton scored a "magnificent" 69, the course record, to take the clubhouse lead. Tuohy, meanwhile, shot a 37 on the front nine and ultimately fell two behind Panton with two holes left. Playing severely downwind, Tuohy managed to birdie the par-5 17th to get within one. On the 72nd hole Tuohy had a chance to tie. His 12-yard birdie putt "hit the back of the hole and stayed out," however. With a final round 75, Tuohy finished at 301, one behind champion Panton. For the remainder of his tour of Europe, however, Tuohy would not have the same success. In June, at the one-day, two-round West of England event, he noticed at the end of the tournament he had an extra club in his bag. He was penalized two strokes per hole, 72 strokes in total, to ultimately finish nearly one hundred strokes behind champion Peter Alliss. In early July, he attempted to qualify for the 1962 Open Championship but did not succeed.
Shortly thereafter he returned to Australia. His erratic play continued. He often opened tournaments well but was unable to recording high placings. He opened the Australian Open with a 70 to put him one back of Gary Player's lead then a 71 to remain close. He struggled during the two-round final day, however, with rounds of 77 and 76 to finish in 15th place. Two weeks later, he attempted to qualify for the Australian PGA Championship. In the first qualifying round, he shot a "brilliant" 66, breaking the course record of Rossdale Golf Club, to ultimately lead the qualifiers. However, in the tournament proper, which was played as a match play event, he lost in the first round. Later in the month, he opened with a 69 (−3) at the North Coast Open to position himself one back of the lead. He did not seriously challenge during the final round, however.
Tuohy best performance of the 1962–63 season was at the Victorian PGA Championship in December. He entered the final round at 216 (−8), six back of the lead. He played the front nine well with an even-par 36, three better than leader Frank Phillips. He continued to play "great golf" on the back nine with a 35 (−3) to take the clubhouse lead at 287 (−9). On the 72nd hole, however, it looked to be over as he was two behind leader Kel Nagle and one behind his playing partner Frank Phillips. However, Phillips hit his tee shot on the par-3 hole in a flower bed. He made bogey to finish at 287 (−9) with Tuohy. Nagle, meanwhile, hit his first two shots in greenside bunkers. He ultimately had a 15-foot putt for bogey; if he missed there would be a three-way playoff between himself and Tuohy and Phillips. However, Nagle made the putt for a one-stroke win. Tuohy earlier missed a one-foot putt on the 16th which proved to be crucial.
In late 1962, it was announced that Tuohy would play the Far East Circuit again with nine other Australian golfers. In March 1963, he tied the course record at the Malaysian Open with a second round 66 (−8). He was in the joint lead with Bill Dunk at 137 (−11). In the third round, however, he "did not look at all impressive" with even-par 74; he ultimately finished in a tie for sixth, well behind champion Dunk. The following week, he played the Hong Kong Open. Among the players who made the cut, Tuohy "finished down the list" at 141 (−1), nine behind leader Hsieh Min-Nan. During the third round, however, he shot a 64 (−7), with five birdies and one eagle, to get within one of Hsieh's lead. He closed with a 73 (+2), though, to finish in a tie for seventh.
In late 1963, Tuohy had much success in New Zealand. In mid-September, he played the Roslyn Tournament in Dunedin. He entered the third and final round at 139 (−5), one back of Bruce Devlin and two back of leader Barry Coxon. The three players were "locked in a terrific struggle" and Coxon, though outplayed by Tuohy, was able to "hold on" and win. Tuohy, with a 70 (−2), finished one behind Coxon and one ahead of Devlin. In early October, he reached the finals of the New Zealand PGA Championship. There Tuohy defeated Walter Godfrey, 6 and 5, to win the event. In December, he started playing extensively in South Africa.
Tuohy had much success during the 1964–65 season in the Australasian region. In September, Tuohy opened with a 70 at the Victorian Open to hold the joint lead. He finished in the top ten. The following month, he played the Wagga City Open. He played poorly in the first three rounds and was not in contention entering the final round. However, he shot a final round 63 (−7), breaking the course record, to finish seventh. In November, he had success in the first round of the Australian PGA Championship shooting a 68 (−4) putting him two back of Eric Cremin's lead. He ultimately finished in solo fourth at 282 (−6). In November, he returned to New Zealand. While preparing for the New Zealand Open he shot a "spectacular" 65 (−8) in practice including his first hole-in-one. The good play continued in the first round as he shot a 35 (−2) on the front nine to take the early lead and ultimately finished with a 71 (−2). He was in joint second place at this point. However, he was not near the lead as the tournament concluded. In December, he played excellently at the Wills Masters. He opened with an even-par 70, however, putting him in a tie for 17th, seven behind leader Ted Ball. However, he shot a second round 63 (−7) to tie the course record and take a one shot lead over Ball. "It's the best I've putted in years," Tuohy said afterwards. His round include seven birdies and an eagle. In the third round, he "struggled" to a 70 (E) and fell five shots behind Ball. During the final round, Tuohy was unable to make a comeback – shooting a 68, matching Ball's score – but still managed joint second with Barry Coxon. The next week, he played the BP Tournament at Titirangi Golf Course in Auckland, New Zealand. Tuohy again set a course record, shooting an opening round 66 (−6), breaking the mark established by Peter Thomson nine years ago. He held a two stroke lead over John Sullivan. In the second round, he "slumped" to a 72 (E) but was only one back. He ultimately closed with an 81 (+9) and finished 20 shots behind Bill Dunk. Three weeks later, he nearly successfully defended his New Zealand PGA Championship, again finishing behind Barry Coxon in solo second.