Barry Coxon (born 1940) is an Australian professional golfer.
Amateur career Coxon grew up in Lambton, New South Wales. In the middle of 1954 Coxon started playing golf under the tutelage of his father Jim. He soon became a junior member at Muree Golf Club. Coxon first received media attention at the age of 14. He shot a 91 gross score at Muree's long-markers championship. He was noted for his "easy, graceful style." The Newcastle Sun reported that "more can be expected from him in the future." Later in the month he shot a net 90 to win the Muree Early Birds' Cup.
Professional career In the late 1950s Coxon turned professional. During this early stage of his career he was an apprentice of Norman Von Nida. In 1958, Coxon won an apprenticeship championship at St. Michael's Golf Club in Sydney, Australia. In June 1959 he became a junior member of the Australian PGA. Around this time he also started working at a driving range in Newcastle, New South Wales.
In December 1959 he media received attention for one of the first times as a professional. Coxon played the 1,000 pound Coca-Cola tournament at Royal Hobart Country Club in Tasmania. Coxon played excellently for the first three rounds and took a seven-stroke lead entering the final round. However, he played poorly in the final round and finished at 284, tied for second with Frank Phillips and Len Woodward, two back of champion Jack Sullivan. In February 1960, he played the pro purse at Monash Golf Club. It was among the first tournaments he played with top-notch professionals. He opened well with a 50-foot birdie chip at the 3rd hole. He then made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 5th hole. He three-putted the 6th hole for bogey but that was his "only mistake." He made two more birdies for a 69 (−3). He defeated Len Woodward, Frank Phillips, Colin McGregor, and John Sullivan by a stroke. He also defeated Kel Nagle by two strokes. He won 44 pounds. It was a surprise win as Coxon was "comparatively unknown." It was "his first success in a major tournament," according to The Sydney Morning Herald. In March 1961 he again received media coverage for his play at a notable tournament, this time at the New South Wales Open. He shot an opening round 70 (−2) to tie four other players for the lead, including Peter Thomson and Norman Von Nida. In the second round, however, he had "putter trouble," missing a number of short putts on the back nine. He shot a 77 (+5) to fall into a tie for fifteenth place, seven behind leader Thomson. He ultimately finished in solo 12th place.
Shortly thereafter he moved to New Zealand. In 1961 he became the club professional at Manuwatu Golf Club in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He still played in some notable tournaments, however. In late 1963, he played the Roslyn Tournament at Balmacewen Golf Course in Dunedin, New Zealand. He opened with rounds of 69 and 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Bruce Devlin. One round was cancelled due to rain. The third round would be the final round. Coxon was "locked in a terrific struggle" with Devlin and Bob Tuohy for the championship. Coxon, however, "was able to hold on" and win. With his 71 he finished at 208 (−8) to defeat Tuohy by one and Devlin by two. The following season he recorded two high results in notable New Zealand tournaments. In December 1964 he finished joint second at the Wills Classic with Tuohy, five behind champion Ted Ball. The following month he played the New Zealand PGA Championship. He won the tournament at 209, two better than runner-up Tuohy. By virtue of his good play he was selected to represent New Zealand at the 1965 Canada Cup to be held in Spain later in the year. He also earned entry into the Carling World Open, an elite international tournament held in the United States.
In September 1965 he gave up his club professional job to focus on tournament golf exclusively. He also moved back to Australia during this period. Because he moved back to Australia he was not able to represent New Zealand in the Canada Cup. He was "bitterly disappointed" by this setback. Nonetheless, he had much success during the 1965-66 golf season in Australia and New Zealand. In October he had much success at the two-round Rosenthal Riverland golf tournament in Adelaide, Australia. He opened with a 68 (−5) to tie a number of players for the lead. Entering the second round's back nine he remained tied for the lead with Brian Crafter. He then birdied four of the first six holes of the back nine "to ensure first prize," defeating Crafter and his brother Murray Crafter by four shots. He earned 150 pounds for the win. Later in the month he finished in solo 5th place at the Australian PGA Championship. In November he played the Metalcraft Tournament in Hamilton, New Zealand. He opened with a "mediocre" 74 (+2) to put him several shots back. However, he was in "fine form" during the two-round final day shooting a 69 (−3) followed by a "magnificent" 68 (−4). With his five-under-par 211 total he finished joint runner-up with Alan Murray, three behind champion Peter Thomson. The following week he played the two-day, four-round Wattie's Tournament in Hastings, New Zealand. Coxon played excellently in the first round, taking the lead. However he played poorly in the second round to fall to 139 (−1), in a tie for fifth place, four back of amateur Stuart Jones. In the third round Coxon shot an even-par 70 to fall further behind. However, in the final round he shot a "brilliant" 64 (−6) to move into solo third place, three behind champion Jones. It was the lowest round of the tournament and only one off the course record. In December he played the New Zealand Wills Masters at Russely Golf Club in Christchurch, New Zealand. He started well, making an eagle at the par-5 2nd hole. He played well thereafter and finished with a 69 (−4) to tie Geoff Donald for the lead. In the second round, however, he shot a 76 (+3) to fall significantly behind. He ultimately finished in a tie for twelfth. In January he continued his good play in New Zealand at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Mount Maunganui Golf Course. In the first round he scored seven birdies in a bogey-free round. His 66 (−7) set the course record and he took a two stroke lead over Frank Buckler. In the second round, however, he could only manage an even-par 73. He fell into a tie with Martin Roesink. He shot four-under-par for the remainder of tournament but was overtaken by Ross Newdick's final round 64 (−9), itself breaking Coxon's course record. Coxon finished at 281 (−11), one back of Newdick. By virtue of his good performances he earned entry into the Carling World Open, an elite international golf tournament held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England later in the year.
Shortly thereafter he moved on to the Asia Golf Circuit. Coxon opened well at the Philippine Open. Other than that, however, he did not receive much media attention. However, Coxon would play extensively in Asia for the remainder of the 1960s.
In May he moved onto the British PGA. It was his first experience playing the European circuit. The first tournament he played was the Penfold and Swallow Tournament. Despite "rain and chilly winds" Coxon played "magnificent golf" in the first round to shoot a 68 (−4). He was tied with Welshman Dave Thomas for the lead. He shot another 68 (−4) to move into the solo lead. In the third round, however, he shot a 73 (+1) to fall one stroke behind Englishman Bernard Hunt. In the final round, playing with Hunt, he "could not make his putter work." He shot a 78 (+6) and fell into a tie for seventh place. Despite the loss he garnered some interest from the press. After the tournament Bob Ferrier of The Observer stated, "...in the long-term much of the interest in a fine tournament lies perhaps in Coxon." The following week he played the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament in Stoke Park, England. In the first round he made the turn in 32 and had a "great chance" to match Daniel Talbot's lead. However, he scored a six at the 12th hole, "dashing his hopes" for the lead, and finished with a 68, four behind Talbot. He shot a 75 in the second round, however, to fall back. He ultimately finished in a tie for 17th. Later in the month he played the Martini International. He opened poorly with "5s" on the 3rd and 4th holes. However, he "played great golf" thereafter and finished with a 70 to put him in the top ten, two back. In the second round Coxon shot a 32 on the outward nine. Coming in "was a mixture of good and bad." He bogeyed the par-4 11th and 12th holes. He came back with birdie 2s at the par-3 13th and 17th. On the par-5 18th hole Coxon had a chance to break the course record of 68. However, he "hooked his approach into the deep rough" and made a bogey. Still his three-under-par 69 gave him a 139 (−5) total and tied him for the lead with Tony Jacklin. He closed with rounds of 71 and 72 to finish in a tie for seventh place. Later in the May he played the Blaxnit (Ulster) Tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He opened with a 71 to tie for fourth place, three behind the lead. He had a "disastrous" second round, however, shooting a 78 and putting him nine behind the lead. On Saturday he closed with rounds of 74 and 72 to finish in a tie for 12th. For the next few weeks he struggled. The week after the event in Northern Ireland he played the Daks Tournament. There he missed the cut by a wide margin. Later in the month he produced "mediocre golf" at the Pringle of Scotland Tournament and missed the cut. During the first week of July he attempted to qualify for the 1966 Open Championship. In the first round of the two-round qualifying event at Gullane Golf Club he shot a "reasonable" 74. However, he was ultimately "eliminated in the qualifying round." Shortly thereafter he began to play better however. In mid-July he played the French Open. He shot a 67 in the second round, tying the round of the day. He ultimately recorded a high finish. The following week he played the Esso Round Robin tournament. In the third round he "had an unexpected win" over Englishman Peter Alliss. In early September he played the Carling World Open, "the richest tournament in Britain," the tournament he earned entry into back in May. Playing against an international field with a number of big names, Coxon finished at 293 (+1), in a tie for eighth place. Overall, it was considered a "promising tour" of Europe.