View source for Cobie Legrange

{{short description|South African professional golfer (born 1942)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name              = Cobie Legrange
| image             = 
| image_size        = <!-- e.g. 250px (default is 200px) -->
| caption           = 
| full_name         = Cobie Legrange
| nickname          = 
| birth_date        = {{birth year and age|1942}}<!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place       = [[Boksburg]], South Africa
| death_date        = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| death_place       = 
| height            = <!-- X ft Y in, X cm OR X m; the template will automatically convert (otherwise {{convert}} can be used) -->
| weight            = <!-- X st Y lb, X lb OR X kg; the template will automatically convert (otherwise {{convert}} can be used) -->
| nationality       = {{ZAF}}
| residence         = 
| spouse            = 
| partner           = 
| children          = 
| college           = 
| status            = <!-- Amateur or Professional (when year turned pro unknown)-->
| yearpro           = <!-- Year turned professional -->
| retired           = <!-- Year retired -->
| tour              = 
| extour            = [[European Tour]]<br>[[Southern African Tour]]
| prowins           = 20
| pgawins           = <!-- Number of PGA Tour wins -->
| eurowins          = <!-- Number of European Tour wins -->
| japwins           = <!-- Number of Japan Golf Tour wins -->
| asiawins          = <!-- Number of Asian Tour wins -->
| sunwins           = 1
| auswins           = <!-- Number of PGA Tour of Australasia wins -->
| nwidewins         = <!-- Number of Korn Ferry Tour (Web.com/Nationwide Tour) wins -->
| chalwins          = <!-- Number of Challenge Tour wins -->
| champwins         = <!-- Number of PGA Tour Champions wins -->
| seneurowins       = <!-- Number of European Senior Tour wins -->
| otherwins         = 19
| majorwins         = <!-- Number of Major Championship wins -->
| masters           = CUT: 1965, 1966
| pga               = DNP
| usopen            = CUT: 1967
| open              = T11: 1969
| wghofid           = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame member ID -->
| wghofyear         = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame year inducted -->
| award1            = <!-- Achievement or award details -->
| year1             = <!-- Year(s) of achievement or award -->
| award2            = 
| year2             = 
| awardssection     = <!-- location of awards page or section -->
}}
'''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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.golfhalloffame.co.za/inductees/inductee_2011_CobieLeGrange.asp |title=Cobie le Grange |publisher=Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame |access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PUBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1ZQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3493%2C3935611 |title=Legrange Scores in W.A. Golf Purse |date=September 21, 1964 |newspaper=The Age |page=23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The results immediately paid off. In the summer of 1964 he finished second in the [[French Open (golf)|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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TBgrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ip0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6753%2C6285143 |title=Legrange Cops British Masters |date=June 28, 1964 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |agency=Associated Press |page=48 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> One week later, on 4 July, he won the qualifier for the [[1964 Open Championship]] earning him entry to his first major championship.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131756992 |title=Legrange wins Masters |date=26 October 1964 |newspaper=The Age}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":0" /> On 26 October 1964, he won the [[Wills Masters]] in dramatic fashion over American star [[Jack Nicklaus]] and Australian [[Bruce Devlin]]. Legrange built an eight shot lead on the front nine but after a three-putt on the 16th he had nearly lost it all to playing partner Nicklaus. He dramatically birdied the last two holes, however, to shoot an even par 73 win by three. He earned 4,000 pounds in the victory.<ref name=":0"/> Finally, on 8 December 1964, at the [[Wattie's Tournament]] in New Zealand, he tied [[Bill Dunk]] for a third and final victory down under. He was two behind on the 71st hole but eagled it and then went up and down for par at the last.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107514041 |title=Dunk and Legrange dead-heat |date=9 December 1964 |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |accessdate=26 September 2019 |issue=11023 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |volume=39 |page=35 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZG5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iqMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3957%2C4525999 |title=Legrange Shows Mature Judgment at Barnton |date=June 28, 1965 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |df=dmy-all |page=4}}</ref> He also finished runner-up at the [[French Open (golf)|French Open]] again, losing to Spanish professional [[Ramón Sota]] by a stroke. Once again he earned a special foreign invitation to the [[1966 Masters Tournament|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.<ref name=":1" /> He would become a mainstay on the South African circuit, ultimately winning several times over the next decade.

1969 was one of his final great years on the international circuit. Early in the calendar year he won the [[Western Province Open]] for the second and final time. In July, at the [[1969 Open Championship]], he recovered from a disastrous 79 in the opening round to finish T-11, actually outscoring the rest of the field over the last three rounds. This would be his best showing in a major championship. Later in the summer he would finish runner-up at the [[German Open (golf)|German Open]] to Frenchman [[Jean Garaïalde]]<ref>{{cite news|title=German Open Championships|date=28 July 1969|newspaper=The Times|page=7}}</ref> and to Englishman [[Peter Butler (golfer)|Peter Butler]] at the [[R.T.V. International Trophy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Irish Golf -- Butler wins by threes strokes|date=11 August 1969|newspaper=The Times|page=11}}</ref> 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.<ref name="front">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j5RAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CqUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1505%2C2627750|title=Legrange Wins From the Front|date=September 15, 1969|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|page=4|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19710301&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Britz Wins by One Stroke |date=1 March 1971 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=quA9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=S0gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032%2C2643865 |title=Legrange's Title After Play-off |date=15 March 1971 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4}}</ref> The next year he nearly defended his title in Swaziland, coming up a shot short of American pro [[John Buczek]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JZZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6625%2C3957312 |title=Britons Slip as Buczek Wins |date=February 21, 1972 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> He would also finish runner-up at the [[Western Province Open]], at event he won twice, in 1972 and 1974.<ref name=":1" /> Legrange's final win was at the 1974 [[Schoeman Park Open]].<ref name=":6">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s49AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3389%2C3344267 |title=Hunt's 76 let in Legrange |date=18 February 1974 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7}}</ref>

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."<ref name=front/> By the mid-1970s, however, this method had become far too deliberate and Legrange suffered a severe loss of confidence in his backswing. He would often refuse to complete a shot, stepping away from the ball even after taking the clubhead away from the ball. Naturally, his form tailed off and he would not win again.

After he retired as a touring professional he worked as a club professional at [[Randpark Golf Club]] near [[Johannesburg]]. In addition he worked as a television commentator, golf course designer, and golf coach.<ref name=":1" />

==Professional wins (20)==
===Southern Africa Tour wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runners-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|15 Feb [[1973–74 Southern Africa Tour|1974]]
|[[Schoeman Park Open]]
|−7 (66-67-76-72=281)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Dale Hayes]], {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Bobby Verwey]]
|}

===New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|8 Dec [[1964 New Zealand Golf Circuit|1964]]
|[[Wattie's Tournament]]
|−6 (69-68-70-67=274)
|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bill Dunk]]
|}

===Other South African wins (7)===
*1966 [[Western Province Open]]
*1967 [[Natal Open]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 February 1967 |title=Barnes shares third place |page=6 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19670206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}}</ref> [[General Motors Open]]
*1968 [[Transvaal Open]], [[General Motors Open]]
*1969 [[Western Province Open]]
*1971 [[Holiday Inns Royal Swazi Sun Open]]<ref name=":5" />

===British PGA circuit wins (4)===
*1964 [[Dunlop Masters]]<ref name=":2" />
*1965 [[Pringle of Scotland Tournament]]<ref name=":4" />
*1966 [[Senior Service Tournament]]<ref>{{cite news |date=26 September 1966 |title=Legrange Newcastle success |page=10 |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zd89AAAAIBAJ&sjid=GEgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1566%2C4328844}}</ref>
*1969 [[Dunlop Masters]]<ref name="front" />

===Rhodesian circuit wins (2)===
*1968 [[Rhodesian Dunlop Masters]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cH1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5833%2C4604545 |title=Legrange wins Dunlop open |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=26 February 1968 |page=10 |via=Google News Archive |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> Bata Bush Babes Tournament<ref>{{cite news |title=Golf |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/784560971/ |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=The Birmingham Post |date=4 March 1968 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Other wins (5) ===
''note: this list may be incomplete''
* 1964 [[Engadine Open]], [[Wills Masters]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Lake Karrinyup Bowl]]<ref name=":0" />
* 1969 [[Engadine Open]]
* 1970 [[Engadine Open]]

==Results in major championships==
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#eeeeee;"
!align="left"|Tournament
!1964
!1965
!1966
!1967
!1968
!1969
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|CUT
|T17
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T11
|}
''Note: Legrange never played in the [[PGA Championship]].''<br>
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the half-way cut<br>
"T" = tied

==Team appearances==
*[[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup]] (representing South Africa): [[1968 World Cup (men's golf)|1968]]
*Datsun International (representing South Africa): 1976 (winners)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=apJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6513,386832 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=news.google.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legrange, Cobie}}
[[Category:South African male golfers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Boksburg]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century South African people]]