Maurice Bembridge

English professional golfer (1945–2024)

Maurice Bembridge (21 February 1945 – 2 March 2024) was an English professional golfer. Early in his career he had some success on the British PGA, winning the 1969 News of the World Match Play and the 1971 Dunlop Masters. He would go on to win six times on the British PGA's successor circuit, the European Tour. He also had some success overseas, winning the New Zealand Golf Circuit's Caltex Tournament in 1970 and the Kenya Open three times. In addition, Bembridge broke Augusta National Golf Club's course record at the 1974 Masters Tournament with a 64. Late in his career, Bembridge had some success on the European Senior Tour, winning twice.

Bembridge turned professional at an early age in 1960 and was an assistant at Worksop Golf Club. In 1966 he won the Llandudno Assistant Professionals' Tournament and was a runner up in the Gor Ray Cup, the PGA Assistants’ Championship, behind Vince Hood. In 1967 Bembridge moved to Little Aston Golf Club and had more success, winning the Gor Ray Cup and the Hesketh Assistant Professionals' Tournament. Bembridge qualified for the Open Championship in both 1966 and 1967, although he missed the cut on both occasions. In 1967 he led the qualifiers at Delamere Forest Golf Club. In April 1968, Bembridge had his first overseas success, winning the Kenya Open, two strokes ahead of Terry Westbrook. Later in the year he finished 5th in the Open Championship, four shots behind winner Gary Player and was the leading British golfer. In April 1969 Bembridge retained his Kenya Open title. In June he won the Sumrie Better Ball, which he and Ángel Gallardo won by a shot from Hedley Muscroft and Lionel Platts. In July he was selected for the Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale, to be played in late September. In early September, Bembridge had his first big solo tournament win, the News of the World Match Play, where he beat 56 year old Dai Rees 6&5 in the 18 hole final. Bembridge performed well in the tied Ryder Cup match with two wins and a half in his five matches. His victory in the News of the World Match Play earned Bembridge an invitation to play in the 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, where he lost 6&5 to Bob Charles. In 1971 Bembridge had his first important British stroke play victory, taking the Dunlop Masters, two strokes ahead of Peter Oosterhuis. Bembridge played on the European Tour from its foundation in 1972. In March 1972 he won the Lusaka Open in Zambia, by a stroke from Doug McClelland, having started with a 63, but he only finished 19th in the European Tour Order of Merit that season. He finished second in the European Tour Order of Merit was second in 1973. He won the Martini International, was third three times and had a number of other top 10 finishes. Bembridge won three times on the 1974 European Tour, the Piccadilly Medal, the Double Diamond Strokeplay and the Viyella PGA Championship but was less consistent, finishing 12th in the Order of Merit. He won again in 1975, the German Open where he won by 7 strokes. He was also runner up in the Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf and finished 11th in the Order of Merit. After 1975 his best year was 1979 when he won his third Kenya Open and had his final European Tour win in the Benson & Hedges International Open, a result that lifted him to 18th in the Order of Merit. He also came close to winning the 1982 Irish Open where he was runner up, a stroke behind John O'Leary. Bembridge continued playing on the European Tour but with less success, his final season being 1987. After turning fifty Bembridge played on the European Senior Tour, winning twice at that level, the 1996 Hippo Jersey Seniors and the 1998 Swedish Seniors. He was also runner up in the 2001 De Vere PGA Seniors Championship and was twice in the top 10 of the Order of Merit, 7th in 1996 and 9th in 1997. He was a member of the European Senior Tour committee for nine years and was its chairman from 2007 to 2011.

Bembridge died from cancer on 2 March 2024, at the age of 79.

No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s) up19 Jun 1973Martini International−9 (70 68 67 74=279)1 stroke Dai Rees, Peter Wilcock225 May 1974Piccadilly Medal−8 (65)5 strokes Peter Oosterhuis321 Aug 1974Double Diamond Strokeplay−4 (70 66=136)1 stroke Bob Charles431 Aug 1974Viyella PGA Championship−10 (76 69 69 64=278)1 stroke Peter Oosterhuis53 Aug 1975German Open +5 (75 72 69 69=285)7 strokes Lon Hinkle, Bob Shearer612 Aug 1979Benson & Hedges International Open−8 (67 67 69 69=272)2 strokes Ken Brown

No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner up121 Nov 1970Caltex Tournament +2 (69 76 70 71=286)Shared title with Terry Kendall

No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner up117 Mar 1979Benson & Hedges Kenya Open−13 (67 65 69 70=271)Playoff Bernard Gallacher