Cobie Legrange

Cobie Legrange (born 1942) is a South African professional golfer. He was one of the best South African golfers of the 1960s and reached a peak ranking of #15 in the world.

Early life Legrange was born in Boksburg, South Africa.

Professional career In 1962, Legrange played on the British circuit but performed poorly. In April 1963, he returned to South Africa to improve his play. He maintained a very diligent practice schedule, practicing 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for the remainder of the year.

The results immediately paid off. In the summer of 1964 he finished second in the French Open to Argentine legend Roberto De Vicenzo, taking him to a playoff. On 28 June 1964 he won the Dunlop Masters at Royal Birkdale Golf Club by one stroke. He built a 4-shot lead on the front nine but nearly lost it all. However two strong pars on the last two holes assured a one shot win. He was the only player to match par (288) on the esteemed course. One week later, on 4 July, he won the qualifier for the 1964 Open Championship earning him entry to his first major championship. He also won a number of events on the Australian circuit that fall. On 21 September 1964, he won the Lake Karrinyup Bowl by one stroke over Australian veteran Kel Nagle. This extraordinary play earned him a special foreign invitation to the 1965 Masters Tournament.

His 1965 season did not meet the same heights but was still quite good. At the Pringle of Scotland Tournament in June, after an opening round 66 (-6), he led wire-to-wire to defeat two players by three shots. He also finished runner-up at the French Open again, losing to Spanish professional Ramón Sota by a stroke. Once again he earned a special foreign invitation to the Masters.

The following year he finally won in his homeland at the 1966 Western Province Open. He was also runner-up at the South African Open that year. and to Englishman Peter Butler at the R.T.V. International Trophy. He would record his final victory in Europe in September, winning the Dunlop Masters for the second time. Like his first Dunlop Masters win he built a big lead, but this time easily held on to it despite bogeying two of the last three holes.

Legrange's final good years were in the early 1970s. At the 1971 South African PGA Championship, one of South Africa's elite Triple Crown events, he finished runner-up, one shot back to compatriot Tienie Britz. Two weeks later he won the Holiday Inns Royal Swazi Sun Open, an official event on the South African Tour held in Mbabane, Swaziland. Legrange tied compatriot Denis Hutchinson after regulation play with a 273 total and then defeated Hutchinson on the second playoff hole. The next year he nearly defended his title in Swaziland, coming up a shot short of American pro John Buczek. He would also finish runner-up at the Western Province Open, at event he won twice, in 1972 and 1974.

Legrange was known for being an extremely deliberate player with an unusual swing process. According to a Scottish golf writer his process was to "fall back on the right foot, drag the club some two feet along the ground, and stop, then restart." General Motors Open 1968 Transvaal Open, General Motors Open 1969 Western Province Open 1971 Holiday Inns Royal Swazi Sun Open 1969 Dunlop Masters Bata Bush Babes Tournament

Other wins (5) note: this list may be incomplete 1964 Engadine Open, Wills Masters,