Chris Bonython

{{short description|Australian amateur golfer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Chris Bonython | image = | imagesize =  | caption = | fullname = Christopher Stephen Bonython | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|10|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Medindie, Adelaide, South Australia | death_date =  | death_place = | height = | weight = | nationality = {{AUS}} | residence = | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = | status = Amateur | yearpro =  | retired =  | prowins = | otherwins = | majorwins =  | masters = | usopen = | open = | pga = | wghofid =  | wghofyear =  | award1 =  | year1 =  | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection =  }} '''Christopher Stephen Bonython''' (born 13 October 1947) is an Australian amateur golfer. He won the 1975 Australian Amateur and represented Australia in two Eisenhower Trophy events, in 1976 and 1978.

==Early life== Bonython was born in Medindie, Adelaide, on 13 October 1947, the son of Kym Bonython and his first wife Jean.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/496465 |title=Bonython, Christopher Stephen |publisher=Virtual War Memorial Australia |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127023035 |title=People and Events |newspaper=The News (Adelaide) |volume=49 |issue=7557 |location=South Australia |date=23 October 1947 |access-date=11 February 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Golf career== Bonython won the 1975 Australian Amateur beating the defending champion, Terry Gale, by one hole in the final. They were level after 35 holes, but Bonython holed a 40-foot putt at the last to win.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4f0QAAAAIBAJ&pg=2356%2C142298 |newspaper=The Age |title=Bonython shocks Gale |first=Peter |last=Stone |date=1 September 1975 |page=26 |access-date=11 February 2021 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> He reached the final again in 1977 where playing Tony Gresham, in another close match, he lost at the 40th hole, with Gresham holing a long putt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aO9hAAAAIBAJ&pg=5996%2C5353215 |newspaper=The Age |title=Finally it's Gresham's title – at the 40th! |first=Peter |last=Stone |date=17 October 1977 |page=32 |access-date=11 February 2021 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> He was also a medalist in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/2Th1kT4FIiKeBfuM8qGk4S/1460de89d5b7965d28d0cbc83d4f88d5/2020_Australian_Men_s_Amateur_Honour_Roll.pdf |title=History & Honour Roll – Australian Men's Stroke Play and Amateur Championship |publisher=Golf Australia |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> Bonython won the 1973 South Australian Amateur Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/1231mnN925jlVJG2JLK0w9/cd7ccef53da76175e1938789656aaab3/SA_Honour_Roll_Full.pdf |title=South Australian Men's & Women's Amateur Championship |publisher=Golf Australia |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref>

Bonython was runner-up in the 1978 South Australian Open at Glenelg, 6 strokes behind fellow amateur Tony Gresham, Rodger Davis taking the first prize as the leading professional.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9gdkAAAAIBAJ&pg=4505%2C154725 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |title=Open to Gresham |date=1 May 1978 |page=24 |access-date=11 February 2021 |via=Google news archive}}</ref>

Bonython played in two Eisenhower Trophy contests, in 1976 and 1978, Australia winning the bronze medal on both occasions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/mens-records/ |title=World Amateur Team Championships – Men's Records |publisher=International Golf Federation |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> He also represented Australia in the Sloan Morpeth Trophy against New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/4jdnPTTPhhM37ixwrkjAfi/64a9cfcb11866e4b6242250c62b93e27/00031350-source.pdf |publisher=Golf Australia |title=Sloan Morpeth Trophy |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref>

==Tournament wins== *1973 South Australian Amateur Championship *1975 Australian Amateur

==Team appearances== *Eisenhower Trophy (representing Australia): 1976, 1978 *Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing Australia): 1976 *Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing South Australia): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 (winners), 1976, 1977, 1978

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonython, Chris}} Category:Australian male golfers Category:Amateur golfers Category:Golfers from Adelaide Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Sportsmen from South Australia Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen