Ronald David Bell Mitchell Shade, MBE (18 October 1938 – 10 September 1986) was a Scottish professional golfer.
Early life In 1938, Shade was born in Edinburgh. He grew up playing golf at Duddingston Golf Club in that city.Scotland: Where Golf is Great, by James W. Finegan, 2010, p. 216
Amateur career Shade enjoyed unrivalled success as an amateur player in the 1960s, winning five consecutive Scottish Amateur Championships from 1963 to 1967.Shade: Mechanical man who won five Scottish amateur titles in a row (He also lost in the final in 1962.) In 1966, he also finished as leading individual player at the Eisenhower Trophy, low amateur in the Open Championship, and reached the final of the British Amateur Championship, losing to Bobby Cole. He represented Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup on four occasions (1961 to 1967 inclusive) and was three times winner of the English Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship (the Brabazon Trophy). Shade's amateur golf success was all the more noteworthy, since he came from a working-class background, and during that era British amateur golf was the preserve of the well-to-do.Peter Dobereiner collection of golf writing
Shade was awarded the MBE as an amateur. He was often referred to by fellow players as "Right Down the Bloody Middle," a nickname based on his initials and his exceptional accuracy.
Professional career In 1968, at the relatively late age of 30, he turned pro. Shade did not enjoy as many victories as a professional that his amateur record might have foretold, although he won the Ben Sayers–Sunderland Tournament and the Carroll's International in 1969, in his rookie season. He also represented Scotland at the World Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1972. His strength at match play golf remained proven, however; he was runner-up at the 1970 British PGA Matchplay Championship and was a semi-finalist on two further occasions.
Death Shade died in Edinburgh after a long illness.
Amateur wins 1954 British Youths Open Championship (under-18 section) 1956 Scottish Boys Amateur 1961 Brabazon Trophy 1963 Scottish Amateur, Brabazon Trophy 1964 Scottish Amateur 1965 Scottish Amateur 1966 Scottish Amateur 1967 Scottish Amateur, Brabazon Trophy 1968 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship
Professional wins (7) 1969 Ben Sayers–Sunderland Tournament, Carroll's International 1970 Scottish Professional Championship 1972 Skol Tournament 1973 Skol Tournament 1975 Mufulira Open, Skol Tournament
Results in major championships Tournament196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977The Open ChampionshipT43CUTCUTCUTT16LACUTCUTT25CUTCUTT51T22CUTCUT Note: Shade only played in The Open Championship.
LA = Low amateur CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1977 Open Championships) "T" = tied
Team appearances this list may be incomplete
Amateur Walker Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1961, 1963, 1965 (tied), 1967 Eisenhower Trophy (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1962, 1964 (winners), 1966 (individual leader), 1968 St Andrews Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1962 (winners), 1964 (winners), 1966 (winners), 1968 (winners) Commonwealth Tournament (representing Great Britain): 1963 (joint winners), 1967 (joint winners) European Amateur Team Championship (representing Scotland): 1965, 1967 Men's Home Internationals (representing Scotland): 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
Professional World Cup (representing Scotland): 1970, 1971, 1972 Double Diamond International (representing Scotland): 1971, 1972, 1973 (winners), 1974, 1975
References
Alliss, Peter: "The Who's Who of Golf" (1983), Orbis Publishing Ltd. .