Denis Hutchinson

Early life and amateur career

Hutchinson was born in Umtali, Southern Rhodesia in 1932.

In 1953, Hutchinson qualified for the South African Amateur as medallist. He won the Proudfoot Trophy for this accomplishment. He was also low amateur at the Transvaal Open that year.

In June 1954, Hutchinson played the Commonwealth Tournament in St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland. The event included Great Britain and a number of countries from the British Commonwealth against each other. In a foursomes match, Hutchinson and partner Jim Boyd lost to Australians Doug Bachii and Peter Heard, 2 and 1. South Africa ultimately finished in fourth place out of five teams. In 1954, he was again medallist at the qualifying stage of the South African Amateur. He played well at the event proper, reaching the finals. In the finals, he lost to A.D. Jackson on the 37th hole.

In 1955, while still an amateur, he began to have continuous success at professional tournaments. That year he won the Natal Open. The following year he won the Southern Rhodesian Championship. In 1957, he finished low amateur at the Transvaal Open for the fourth time.

As of 1958, he lived in Germiston, South Africa. In 1958, he was selected to represent South Africa in the Eisenhower Trophy. The event was held in October at St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland. South Africa's team finished in a tie for sixth among 29 teams.

In 1959, he played the South African Open. He finished at 282 (−14) and defeated Gary Player by a stroke. In November, he played the Commonwealth Tournament again. The event was played at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club. South Africa's team won the event.

Professional career

As of March 1960, Hutchinson had turned professional. In 1960, Hutchinson played nine events on the PGA Tour, including the Masters and the U.S. Open. He missed the cut in the majors but made the cut in all of the rest of the tournaments. He recorded two top-25s, one of which was a top-10, a T-6 at the Oklahoma City Open Invitational. Late in the year, Hutchinson returned to South Africa. In December 1960, Hutchinson played a pairs exhibition match. He and Bobby Locke played against Gary Player and Harold Henning. His team lost 4 and 3. In early 1961 he won the South African Masters for the first time.

In 1962, Hutchinson had success across several continents. In January, he played the South African Open. Hutchinson finished at 286, in the runner-up slot, one behind Harold Henning. Shortly thereafter, Hutchinson successfully defended his South African Masters title. In April, he played in the 1962 Masters Tournament. He missed the cut. He also played the PGA Tour events that bookended the Masters, the Azalea Open Invitational and Greater Greensboro Open. He missed the cut at Greensboro and finished T-34 at the Azalea Open. He would not play on the PGA Tour again. In the northern hemisphere summer, he played in Europe. In June, he entered the Jeyes Tournament at Royal Dublin Country Club in Ireland. There were 22 professionals and 22 amateurs in the tournament. In the professional's section, Hutchinson began the two-round final day three shots behind favorite Christy O'Connor Snr. However, he shot a third round 68 to outplay O'Connor by two and get near the lead. During the final round, he shot an inward 34 against O'Connor's 36 to take the lead. The lead expanded as O'Connor scored 5 on the 14th and 15th holes. Hutchinson ultimately finished at 283 to outplay O'Connor by two and lead the professionals. Playing behind him, however, was amateur Paul Sheenan. The Irish amateur birdied the 15th and 16th holes to tie Hutchinson for the overall lead. At the last, he hit a "superb pitch" from 60 yards to assure birdie and a one shot win over Hutchinson. Hutchinson still won the professional's section, however. The prize money was the largest he had hitherto earned in any European tournament. In November, he played in the 1962 Canada Cup with Gary Player. The event was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His team was considered among the favorites. In the first round, however, Hutchinson shot a 73 and his team was quickly six shots behind the American team. Ultimately, South Africa finished in a tie for 12th among 34 teams, 33 shots behind the victorious American team.

In mid-1963, Hutchinson returned Europe. In April, he played the Cox Moore tournament at Wollaton Park in England. He shot a 69 (−1) to position himself in second place. He and fellow South African Harold Henning were the only players to break par. He shot over par in the second and third rounds but remained close to the lead. He played in the final group with Englishman Harry Weetman during the final round. Hutchinson shot a 33 on the front nine to get within one of the lead. He ultimately finished at 279 (−1), in a tie for third, three behind champion Brian Huggett. He earned 250 pounds for his efforts. In August, he played the Woodlawn International Invitational, a three-day, four-round event at an American air force base in Germany. He won the tournament, finishing at 271, defeating compatriot Retief Waltman by six shots. In December, Hutchinson played the Transvaal Open. He finished at 278, one behind champion Retief Waltman and one ahead of third-place finisher Gary Player.

Senior career

In March 1992, Hutchinson turned 50. He played on the European Senior Tour part-time from 1992 to 1997. Hutchinson played in 31 events, making the cut 21 times, but did not record any top-10s. He finished 41st on the Order of Merit in 1993, the only time he finished in the top 50.

Since retiring from life as a touring professional, Hutchinson has maintained work in the golf industry. He has worked as a golf commentator for Sky Sports. He has been known as the "Voice of Golf" in South Africa. During this era, he was awarded Honorary Life President South African PGA.

In 2008, he was awarded by the PGA of South Africa as one of its first five "Master Professionals." The following year, he was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame. In 2010, he was recipient of the Master Class South African Golf Professional Award.

In 2017, Hutchinson contributed to a book, The Hole Truth and Other Mostly True Stories, with contemporary South African golfers Dale Hayes and Simon Hobday.

In January 2020, it was announced that a challenge match, the Denis Hutchinson Challenge Trophy, would be played at his home course, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club. The event was in honor of Hutchinson's accomplishments as a golfer. The event would feature ten Sunshine Tour players and ten PGA of South Africa professionals verses 20 GolfRSA amateurs.

In March 2021, he earned life membership on the Sunshine Tour.

Awards and honors

In 2009, Hutchinson was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame.

In 2010, he earned the Master Class South African Golf Professional Award.

Professional wins (15)

South African wins (11)

1955 Natal Open (as an amateur)

1956 Southern Rhodesian Championship (as an amateur)

1959 South African Open Championship (as an amateur)

1961 Dunlop South African Masters

1962 Dunlop South African Masters, Cock o' the North

1963 Cock o' the North

1965 Dunlop South African Masters

1967 Western Province Open

1970 South African PGA Championship

1971 Rhodesian Dunlop Masters

European wins (4)

1962 Jeyes Tournament (Professional section)

1963 Woodlawn International

1964 Woodlawn International

1966 French Open

Results in major championships

Note: Hutchinson never played in the PGA Championship.

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Source:

Team appearances

Amateur

Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Africa): 1958

Commonwealth Tournament (representing South Africa): 1954, 1959 (winners)

Professional

Canada Cup (representing South Africa): 1962, 1964