Dai Rees
Name:
David James "Dai" ReesCountry:
WalesLived:
[1913-1983]. Born on March 31, 1913 in Fontegary, Glamorganshire, Wales. Died on Sept 10, 1983 in Barnet, London, aged 70.Original/Home Club:
Aberdare GC, South Wales.Occupation:
Professional golfer.Turned Pro:
1929Europe
Teacher's
Played as the Teacher's Senior Professional Tournament (May 25-28; aka British Senior Championship, a 54-hole event). Dai Rees (Wales) beat Flory Van Donck (Belg) in an 18-hole Friday playoff (Rees 71, Van Donck 75). [Coventry GC, Finham, Coventry, Warwicks].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Dai Rees (Wales) won after a playoff. [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Dai Rees (Wales) and Bob Charles (NZ) finished in a tie for first place. Ken Bousfield (Eng) and defending champion Bernard Hunt (Eng) were 2 shots further back in joint third place. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (June 28-30). Second-placed Ralph Moffitt (Eng) and defending champion Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Rees (Wales). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
UK / Ire PGA
Played as the PGA Close Championship (April 8-10; for UK & Ireland professionals only). Second-placed David Snell (Eng) and Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 6 shots behind Dai Rees (Wales), the first Welshman to win the PGA Championship. [Ashburnham GC, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, Wales].
Rees (Wales) won his second Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1959 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events.
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Second-placed Syd Scott (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Rees (Wales). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Played as the Dunlop South African Match Play Masters. Rees (Wales) beat Ken Bousfield (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [Durban CC, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Dai Rees (Wales). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 20-22). Dai Rees (Wales) and Ken Bousfield (Eng) finished in a tie for first place. Eric Lester (Eng) finished 4 shots further back in third place. [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Rees (Wales) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1955 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events. Rees's 71.85 was based on 35 rounds played.
Europe
Spalding
Played as the Spalding £1,350 Tournament (April 21-23; British PGA circuit season-opener). Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Dai Rees (Wales). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Played as the Belgian Open (July 16-18). Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) and Aldo Casera (Italy) finished 1 shot behind Rees (Wales). [Royal Antwerp GC, Kappellen, nr Antwerp].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Flory van Donck (Belg) and Tom Haliburton (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Rees (Wales). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News Tournament (June 18-20). Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) and Syd Scott (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Dai Rees (Wales), who claimed his third straight win in this event. [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1450 Tournament (June 6-8). Norman Von Nida (Aus) and defending champion Dai Rees (Wales) finished in a tie for first place. Ken Bousfield (Eng) finished 1 shot back in third place. [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Oct 10-12). Second-placed and defending champion Charlie Ward (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Rees (Wales). [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1350 Tournament (June 7-9). Second-placed Arthur Lees (Eng) finished 8 shots behind Dai Rees (Wales). [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 20-23). Defending champion Rees (Wales) beat Frank Jowle (Eng) 7 and 6 in the 36-hole final, to record his fourth win in the British Match Play Championship. [Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 21-24). Rees (Wales) beat Henry Cotton (Eng) by 1 hole in the 36-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Played as the Irish Open. Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Rees (Wales). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
Daily Mail
Played as the Daily Mail £2500 Tournament. Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Rees (Wales). [Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC, Troon, Ayrshire].
Europe
Penfold
Played as the Penfold Tournament. The competiton ended in a three-way tie between Dai Rees (Wales), Reg Whitcombe (Eng) and Norman Von Nida (Aus), who were all declared winners. [Stoke Park CC, Stoke Poges, Bucks].
Europe
Spalding
Played as the inaugural Spalding £1,500 Tournament (June 5-7). Second-placed Reg Whitcombe (Eng) and Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Dai Rees (Wales). [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].
Europe
Silvertown Co.
Played as the Silver King Tournament (for the first time since 1939, due to WW2). Second-placed Allan Dailey (Scot), Reg Horne (Eng) and Charlie Ward (Eng) finished 7 shots behind Rees (Wales). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
Yorkshire Eve. News
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £750 Tournament (June 8-10; played for the last time until 1945, due to WW2). Dai Rees (Wales) beat Jack Hargreaves (Eng) at the 37th hole in the final. [Temple Newsam GC, Leeds, West Yorkshire].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 13-16). Rees (Wales) beat Eddie Whitcombe (Eng) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final, to win this title for the second time in three years. Ernest Whitcombe (Eddie's father) was runner-up in this event in 1936, and the winner in 1924. Charles Whitcombe (Eddie's uncle) was the winner in 1928 and 1930. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 15-18). Rees (Wales) beat Ernest Whitcombe (Eng) by 1 hole in the 36-hole final. [Oxhey Park GC, Watford, Herts. 18-hole course at the time; now 9-holes].
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