Final scores of the 1956 NSW Open Championship. The last played under ‘close’ format.

Moss Vale’s Frank Phillips won by a comfortable seven shots over Pymble”s Kel Nagle in the 72 hole stroke event played at Concord Golf Club.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported his win as “The best aggregate score of his career,” at the time. Phillips was an assistant professional at Concord at the time.

Several well-known names of the time were also in the mix, including Sid Cowling and Eric Cremin, who tied for third place. Cremin started the final day just a shot behind Phillips, but his morning round of 72 saw him drop to four behind. His afternoon round of 77 all but extinguished his chances.

The Herald also observed Phillip’s game had improved markedly following his recent overseas tour, noting how he hit his tee and iron shots much lower into the westerly wind. This was something Phillips acknowledged after the event saying he lad learned a great deal on how to handle the windy conditions during his tour of England and the Continent.

HOLE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	OUT	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	TOTAL
Blue	285	486	191	511	171	384	322	356	465	3171	339	160	496	153	392	350	135	279	497	2802	5973
White	267	460	167	487	152	364	313	331	443	2984	326	146	481	134	384	335	115	266	486	2675	5658
Red-M	252	431	144	465	136	348	304	237	417	2734	310	134	468	114	380	326	115	268	482	2598	5332
Red-W	252	431	144	465	136	348	304	237	417	2734	310	134	468	114	380	326	115	268	482	2598	5332
Yellow	240	403	132	449	126	315	244	226	404	2539	297	123	445	102	366	315	88	228	467	2432	4972
PAR	4	5	3	5	3	4	4	4	5/4	37	4	3	5	3	4/5	4	3	4	5	35	72