Frank Molloy

Frank Molloy and the Samoan Open in 1972 and 1974. He is notable for being one of the first Polynesian professional golfers. He is believed to have been the first Pacific Islander to compete in The Open Championship. He also played Rugby league for Auckland in 1962.

Early life Molloy was born in the village of Moataʻa just to the east of Apia, Samoa. He is a member of the Sā Talavou branch of the Sā Malietoa, one of Samoa's four paramount chiefly dynasties. As a child, Frank caddied for his father, an amateur golfer who had a three handicap at the makeshift golf course at the Apia racecourse. Growing up, Molloy spent time around the New Zealand administration. This was due to his family's high societal standing and his father's job in the Samoan Police. The New Zealand administrator recognised Molloy's aptitude for the sport. He challenged him to a game, offering his set of clubs as a prize if Molloy were to win the game. Molloy won and the administrator kept his word and gave him his first set of clubs. Around 1955, Molloy's father died of elephantiasis. Following his father's death, he and his family emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand in 1956. a club with which he has a long standing association. In 1971, Molloy won the second Fiji Open.

1972 Open Championship While they were on tour in New Zealand, Molloy tutored and played with Roy Phillips, lead vocalist of the British pop group The Peddlers. Philips and the group liked Molloy so much that they decided to sponsor him to attend 1972 Open Championship. At the Open, Molloy initially performed well, easily passing the pre-qualifying rounds. During the second round he seriously injured his hand striking a rock while attempting to hit his ball out from the rough. The injury hampered his performance but despite this he missed the 36-hole cut by only three strokes.