Graham Henning was a South African professional golfer. In the late 1960s and early 70s Henning was briefly one of the top golfers in South Africa. He recorded several 1st and 2nd place finishes in top international events across Europe and Africa. This excellent play helped him qualify for South Africa's 1969 World Cup team.
Early life edit
Henning was born into a golfing family. His brothers Allan, Brian, and Harold all became professional golfers.[1]
Professional career edit
Henning's first top performance on the international stage was at the 1967 Engadine Open. After opening with an even par 70 Henning fired consecutive rounds of 67 and 66 to get into contention. As the final round started he was at −7, one back of Australia's Randall Vines. Henning fired an astonishing final round 62 to outplay Vines by 11 and win by 10 strokes.[2]
Two years later, in 1969, he would play excellently on the international circuit. In February, he won the 1969 General Motors Open at the Wedgewood Golf Course in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He defeated compatriot Hugh Inggs by two shots.[3] A month later he nearly won again on the South African circuit. He held the 36-hole lead at the Rhodesian Masters before shooting a "disastrous" third round 75 (+4) and ultimately finishing one behind, this time losing to Inggs.[4] In June, he tied England's Alex Caygill at the Martini International on the European circuit. Henning had a chance to win outright but hit his drive in the woods on the last hole and would make bogey.[5] In August, he finished runner-up to Italy's Roberto Bernardini at Munich's Agfa-Gevaert Tournament, one stroke behind.[6]
His final high finishes were in the early 1970s. In 1971 he would finish a distant runner-up to England's Peter Oosterhuis at the Transvaal Open.[7] The following year he would win two team events with brother Harold.[8][9]
After his touring career was over Henning was the club professional at Wanderers for many years.[10]
Personal life edit
His son Nic Henning is a professional golfer.[10]
Professional wins edit
Southern African circuit wins (5) edit
- 1967 Bata Bush Babes Tournament, Rhodesian Dunlop Masters[11]
- 1969 General Motors Open[3]
- 1972 International Better-Ball (with Harold Henning),[8] Ellerines Team Tournament (with Harold Henning)[9]
European circuit win (2) edit
- 1967 Engadine Open[2]
- 1969 Martini International (tied with Alex Caygill)[5]
Team appearances edit
Professional
References edit
- ^ "Brothers aim to qualify". News24. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ a b "G. Henning's 265 in Engadine". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Will in third place". The Glasgow Herald. 10 February 1969. p. 5.
- ^ "Gallacher Top Briton". The Glasgow Herald. 17 March 1969. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Caygill and Henning tie in Martini". The Glasgow Herald. 16 June 1969. p. 5.
- ^ "Italian victory". The Canberra Times. 12 August 1969. p. 18. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Johannesburg, Feb 21". The Times. 22 February 1971. p. 7.
- ^ a b "Hennings Win". The Glasgow Herald. 28 February 1972.
- ^ a b "Hennings win team event". The Glasgow Herald. 25 December 1972.
- ^ a b Winter, Grant (27 February 2015). "Henning turns back the clock". Retrieved 2 October 2019 – via PressReader.
- ^ "The history of non-european golf region by region | Rhodesia". South African Golf Association. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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