John Cockin

John Cockin
Personal information
Full nameJohn Cockin
Born(1939-01-28)28 January 1939
Yorkshire, England
Died1 January 2024(2024-01-01) (aged 84)
Sporting nationality England
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open Championship55th: 1967

John Cockin (28 January 1939 – 1 January 2024) was an English professional golfer. He won two important events, the Penfold Tournament in 1967 and the Dutch Open in 1968. He played little tournament golf and was primarily a club professional in Sweden, where he lived for more than 60 years.

Golf career

Cockin started playing golf at Springhead Park Golf Club in Hull, where his father and brother were members.[1] In the mid-1950s, he became an assistant professional at the nearby Hull Golf Club where Stan Stenhouse was the professional.[1] From 1958, he spent two years in National Service, serving in the RAF.[1] He was then briefly an assistant at Newmarket Golf Club before taking up a position in Sweden in 1962.[1][2]

In 1967 and 1968, Cockin was sponsored by a Swedish businessman to play on the British and European circuit.[1] He won two tournaments: the 1967 Penfold Tournament at Blackpool North Shore Golf Club and the 1968 Dutch Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club. In the 1967 Penfold event, Cockin was tied with Australian Stan Peach after the 72 holes. He had been four strokes behind the leader after three rounds but had a final round 64. In the sudden-death playoff, Cockin had a birdie four at the first playoff hole to win the tournament and the £750 first prize.[3] Cockin's win in the 1968 Dutch Open was also after a playoff. He had led after two rounds but finished in a tie with Ángel Gallardo from Spain and Australian Bob Shaw. In the playoff, Shaw went out at the second hole and Cockin won with a three at the third extra hole.[4] Cockin played in the Open Championship in 1967 at Royal Liverpool and in 1968 at Carnoustie.[5] He finished 55th in 1967, having just made the cut after a hole in one in the second round at the 11th hole.[6] In 1968, he again made the second-round but missed the third-round cut that was introduced that year.[5]

Personal life and death

Cockin attended Beverley Grammar School.[1] He was twice married: to Doris, with whom he had two children, and to Gudrun, with whom he had a further child.[6]

John Cockin died on 1 January 2024, at the age of 84.[6][7][8][9]

Professional wins (5)

Important British and European wins (2)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Ref.
1 6 May 1967 Penfold Tournament 68-72-71-64=275 Playoff Australia Stan Peach [3]
2 22 Jul 1968 Dutch Open 72-69-75-76=292 Playoff Spain Ángel Gallardo, Australia Bob Shaw [4]

Other wins (3)

Results in major championships

Tournament 1967 1968
The Open Championship 55 CUT

Note: Cockin only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the 3rd round cut

Source:[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Hull golfer's form will please Swedish backer". Hull Daily Mail. 13 May 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "John Cockin going back to Sweden". Hull Daily Mail. 29 December 1962. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Cockin wins Penfold play-off". The Glasgow Herald. 8 May 1967. p. 5.
  4. ^ a b "Play-off gives Cockin title". The Daily Telegraph. 23 July 1968. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c 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.
  6. ^ a b c "John Cockin (1939–2024)". The PGA. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. ^ "John Cockin har lämnat oss" [John Cockin has left us] (in Swedish). Svenska Golfmuseet. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. ^ "John Cockin har gått bort – hedras av Golfsverige" [John Cockin has passed away – honoured by Golf Sweden] (in Swedish). Svensk Golf. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  9. ^ John Cockin (in Swedish)
  10. ^ "Var det John Cockins sista seger, Svenska PGA-mästerskapen" [Was it John Cockin's last victory, Swedish PGA Championship]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 7. September 1976. pp. 32–33, 61.