Jump to content

Percy Barrett (golfer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Percy Barrett
Barrett, c. 1905
Personal information
Full namePercy Frederick Barrett
Born(1881-01-01)1 January 1881
Matlock, Derbyshire, England
Died20 January 1927(1927-01-20) (aged 46)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sporting nationality England
 Canada
SpouseMay Owen
Children3
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins3
Best results in major championships
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenT3: 1905
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Percy Frederick Barrett (1 January 1881 – 20 January 1927) was a Canadian professional golfer of English birth who played in the early 20th century. His best finish in a major tournament, a tie for third place, came in the 1905 U.S. Open at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.[1] Barrett won the 1907 Canadian Open as well as the 1923 and 1925 Canadian PGA Championship.

Early life

[edit]

Barrett was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, England, on 1 January 1881 to William Barrett (1860–1938) and his then girlfriend (but later wife) Emma Barrett née Kiddy (1857–1927). At the time of his birth, Percy's mother was unmarried and living with her parents, therefore his birth name was Percy Frederick Kiddy.

In 1903 Barrett emigrated from England to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and that same year was appointed as the head golf professional at Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto. Barrett, who was 23 years old at the time, had tutelage in England under the legendary Harry Vardon.[2] Under Vardon's watchful eye he apprenticed as a club maker. On 18 September 1907 he married May Owen (1883–1954) in Toronto and the couple had three children.[3]

Professional career

[edit]

In 1907 Barrett won the Canadian Open which was held at Lambton Golf and Country Club where he remained in the head professional post until 1914. Barrett twice won the Canadian PGA Championship, in 1923 and again in 1925. Barrett was known for using a very short putter that was no more than 20-22 inches long.

Death

[edit]

Upon his death on 20 January 1927, Barrett's finances were in disarray and he left his family "without provision for their future" according to an article published in the Montreal Gazette on 25 January 1927. He was survived by his wife and three children. An appeal for funds was sent out to collect donations for his estate.[2]

Tournament wins (3)

[edit]
George Cumming (far left), Harry Vardon (middle), and Ted Ray (front) walking across a bridge at Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto, Ontario, in a 1913 exhibition golf match. Barrett (not pictured) partnered with Cumming.
Note: This list may be incomplete.

Results in major championships

[edit]
Tournament 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912
U.S. Open T6 T3 T33 ? T8 ? ? ? T13

Note: Barrett played only in the U.S. Open.

"T" indicates a tie for a place
? = unknown
Yellow background for top-10

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
  2. ^ a b "Appeal For Funds – For Late Noted Golfer, Percy Barrett". Montreal Gazette. 25 January 1927. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Percy Frederick Barrett ancestry". Retrieved 25 April 2015.