Christopher Stephen Bonython (born 13 October 1947) is an Australian amateur golfer. He won the 1975
Australian Amateur
The Australian Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of Australia. It has been played annually since 1894, except for the war years, and is organised by Golf Australia. Having traditionally been a match play event, from 2021 it has ...
and represented Australia in two
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy (World Men's Amateur Team Championships) is the biennial World Amateur Team Championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. Since the tournament was first played in 1958 Eisenhower Trophy, 1958, it is nam ...
events, in 1976 and 1978.
Early life
Bonython was born in
Medindie,
Adelaide
Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
, on 13 October 1947, the son of
Kym Bonython
Hugh Reskymer "Kym" Bonython, (15 September 1920 – 19 March 2011) was an Australian politician, World War Two veteran, musician, gallery owner, and racing driver.
He was a prominent and active member of society in Adelaide, Australia. He had ...
and his first wife Jean.
Golf career
Bonython won the 1975
Australian Amateur
The Australian Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of Australia. It has been played annually since 1894, except for the war years, and is organised by Golf Australia. Having traditionally been a match play event, from 2021 it has ...
beating the defending champion,
Terry Gale
Terry R. Gale (born 7 June 1946) is an Australian professional golfer.
Professional career
Gale had a successful amateur career before turning professional at a relatively advanced age in 1976. From the mid-1970s to the early 1990s he won reg ...
, by one hole in the final. They were level after 35 holes, but Bonython holed a 40-foot putt at the last to win. He reached the final again in 1977 where playing
Tony Gresham
Anthony Yale Gresham, (4 December 1940 – 13 January 2025) was an Australian amateur golfer. He won the 1977 Australian Amateur and represented Australia in seven successive Eisenhower Trophy events between 1968 and 1980. He also won two prof ...
, in another close match, he lost at the 40th hole, with Gresham holing a long putt. He was also a medalist in 1976. Bonython won the 1973 South Australian Amateur Championship.
Bonython was runner-up in the 1978
South Australian Open at
Glenelg, 6 strokes behind fellow amateur
Tony Gresham
Anthony Yale Gresham, (4 December 1940 – 13 January 2025) was an Australian amateur golfer. He won the 1977 Australian Amateur and represented Australia in seven successive Eisenhower Trophy events between 1968 and 1980. He also won two prof ...
,
Rodger Davis
Rodger Miles Davis (born 18 May 1951) is an Australian professional golfer.
Career
Davis was born in Sydney, Australia.
In 1974, Davis turned professional and spent his regular career playing mainly on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Europ ...
taking the first prize as the leading professional.
Bonython played in two
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy (World Men's Amateur Team Championships) is the biennial World Amateur Team Championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. Since the tournament was first played in 1958 Eisenhower Trophy, 1958, it is nam ...
contests, in
1976
Events January
* January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
and
1978
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
, Australia winning the bronze medal on both occasions. He also represented Australia in the
Sloan Morpeth Trophy The Sloan Morpeth Trophy was an amateur team golf tournament, played between Australia and New Zealand. It was contested irregularly from 1947 to 2016. The trophy was presented by Sloan Morpeth in 1956. From 1993 to 2005 the two countries played ea ...
against New Zealand.
Tournament wins
*1973 South Australian Amateur Championship
*1975
Australian Amateur
The Australian Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of Australia. It has been played annually since 1894, except for the war years, and is organised by Golf Australia. Having traditionally been a match play event, from 2021 it has ...
Team appearances
*
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy (World Men's Amateur Team Championships) is the biennial World Amateur Team Championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. Since the tournament was first played in 1958 Eisenhower Trophy, 1958, it is nam ...
(representing Australia):
1976
Events January
* January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
,
1978
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
*
Sloan Morpeth Trophy The Sloan Morpeth Trophy was an amateur team golf tournament, played between Australia and New Zealand. It was contested irregularly from 1947 to 2016. The trophy was presented by Sloan Morpeth in 1956. From 1993 to 2005 the two countries played ea ...
(representing Australia): 1976
*
Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches
The Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches were an amateur team golf competition for men between the states and territories of Australia.
The event started in 1904 when New South Wales played Victoria. Until World War II the event was played a ...
(representing South Australia): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 (winners), 1976, 1977, 1978
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonython, Chris
Australian male golfers
Amateur golfers
Golfers from Adelaide
1947 births
Living people
Sportsmen from South Australia
20th-century Australian sportsmen