Paul Foley

Paul Foley (born c. 1959) is an Australian professional golfer. Foley turned pro as a teenager and quickly won an official event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the 1980 Traralgon Classic, "stunning an experienced field." Early in his career he worked as an assistant professional at Royal Queensland Golf Club. In late 1978 or early 1979 he turned professional.

Foley played in the 1981 Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club, earning his place through final qualifying. He had rounds of 78 and 81 and missed the cut. He stated later in his career that Royal St George's is one of the best golf courses he has ever played on. Late in the season, on 12 December, he tied Peter Fowler at the end of regulation of the Queensland PGA Championship. They defeated Greg Norman, Ossie Moore, and Wayne Grady by one shot. Foley defeated Fowler on the first playoff hole. Foley later described it as his biggest win. and remaining one back entering Sunday. However he played poorly in the final round and finished outside of the top three. In 1984, he played excellently on the Queensland circuit, winning 10 pro-ams. Also that year, he represented Australia in the World Cup, playing with Mike Harwood. Much later in the year he played excellently at his home state's open, the Queensland Open. Well behind David Graham entering the final round, Foley made an early run with two birdies and an eagle to get within four shots of Graham at the turn. That would be as close as he would get, however, as Graham pulled away on the back nine and won by five. Foley's −14 total was eight better than those that finished in joint third place, which included defending Masters champion Bernhard Langer.

Foley went on a dry spell for several years but in 1988 he began to turn it around. Early in the year, in March, he finished a distant third in the Indonesia Open behind Hsieh Yu-shu. Later in the year, he had a chance to win at the Tasmanian Open, holding third place entering the final round, but fell to Brett Ogle. In 1989, he played excellently at the West End South Australian Open, taking the second round lead and then finishing eagle-birdie on Saturday to assure him a final group pairing with Nick Price on Sunday. During the final round Price started birdie-par-eagle and built a 7-shot lead after 8 holes to "virtually seal his win." Foley, however, played admirably over the final round at Royal Adelaide and shot a 72 (−1) to finish joint runner-up. Following year, he recorded his final top-10 in a PGA Tour of Australasia event, a T-9 in the Nedlands Masters. Foley largely stopped playing as a touring professional after the 1991–92 season. They have a daughter, Samantha Foley. She has had some success as an amateur golfer.

Professional wins (4) PGA Tour of Australasia wins (2)

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)

Sources:

Other wins (2) 1978 Australia Trainee Championship 1980 Australian Four-Ball Championship (with Geoff Parslow)

Team appearances Amateur Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 1976

Professional World Cup (representing Australia): 1984

Results in major championships CUT = missed the halfway cut Note: Foley only played in The Open Championship.