Simon Hobday

Simon Forbes Newbold Hobday (23 June 1940 – 2 March 2017) was a South African professional golfer who won tournaments on three continents.

Early life Hobday was born in the British Embassy in Mafikeng, South Africa. Both of his parents were from England. In early 1969, he was still an amateur golfer and still represented Zambia. At the time, he worked as a car salesman in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

In April 1969, while still an amateur, Hobday played the Kenya Open. In the final round he broke the course record at the Muthaiga Golf Course with a 66 (−6) to leap into second place. At 284 (−4) he finished joint runner-up with Scotland's Bernard Gallacher, five behind champion Maurice Bembridge. He defeated several notable professionals including Christy O'Connor Snr and Australia's Bob Tuohy. In 1981, he "quit the European tour." He began work at Wingate Park Club in Pretoria, South Africa.

As a senior, he played mainly in the United States on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour), where he claimed five titles between 1993 and 1995 including one senior major, the 1994 U.S. Senior Open.

Professional wins (17) European Tour wins (2)

Southern Africa Tour wins (5)

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (1–0)

Other wins (1) 1971 South African Open

Senior PGA Tour wins (5) Legend Senior major championships (1) Tour Championships (1) Other Senior PGA Tour (3)

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

Other senior wins (4) 1997/98 Vodacom Senior Classic (South Africa) 2001 Nelson Mandela Invitational (with Martin Maritz), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Jim Albus) 2003 Nelson Mandela Invitational (with Lee Westwood)

Results in major championships Note: Hobday never played in the Masters Tournament or the PGA Championship.

WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1977 and 1984 Open Championships) "T" indicates a tie for a place

Champions Tour major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1994 U.S. Senior Open −10 (66-67-66-75=274) 1 stroke Jim Albus, Graham Marsh

Team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing Zambia): 1966

Professional Double Diamond International (representing the Rest of the World): 1976, 1977