Stuart Reese (born 16 August 1954) is a professional golfer from New Zealand. Reese was one of New Zealand's top amateur golfers in the 1970s, featuring as low amateur at the 1974 New Zealand Open and winning the 1975 New Zealand Amateur. Reese turned professional in 1976, winning a number of minor tournaments in the Pacific islands before culminating with a win at the 1982 New Zealand PGA Championship, his only official win on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Late in his career, Reese has played in some senior events but has primarily worked as a club professional and golf coach. He has worked as a swing instructor for some notable players, including superstar golfers Tiger Woods and Lydia Ko.
Amateur career
Reese is from Hamilton, New Zealand. As a youth, he played at Hamilton Golf Club. In 1972 he won the New Zealand Under 19 Championship held at Christchurch Golf Club. In 1974 he played well at the New Zealand Open to win the Bledisloe Cup, awarded to the best amateur score, with fellow amateur D.L. Beggs. In August he played excellently through the first three rounds of the Air New Zealand Fiji Open, a professional tournament. He was at 211, one back of leader Stewart Ginn. However, he shot several over-par on the last day and was not in contention. In October 1975, as a 21-year-old, he won the New Zealand Amateur. He defeated Stephen Barron, six years his junior, 10 & 9 over the course of 36-hole match.
The following month he represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Tournament. The event was held at Royal Durban Country Club in Durban, South Africa. During Saturday's play New Zealand played Canada. Reese teamed up with Ed McDougall during the day's foursome, playing against Jim Nelford and Cec Ferguson. The Canadians won 3 & 2. In singles play Reese also lost, losing "convincingly" to Edmonton's Ken Tamke 6 & 5. Overall, New Zealand finished in last place among the four teams.
Professional career
Reese turned professional in 1976. In August he received media attention for one of the first times as a professional golfer. He opened with a 69 (−3) at the Fiji Open to put himself near the lead.
In February 1977 he played the South Australian Open at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. He was at 215 (−4) after three rounds, one back of leaders Noel Ratcliffe and Brian Jones. Later in 1977 he played on the European Tour for the first time. He played in six events, making the cut only twice, failing to record anything better than a 69th-place finish. In November he received some attention for his play at the Colgate Champion of Champions, opening with a 69 (−3), putting him the top ten. In January 1978 he shot an opening round 70 (−2) at the Traralgon Loy Yang Classic to put himself in the top ten. He shot one-under-par for the remainder of the tournament and finished in a tie for twelfth.
In 1978 Reese did not return to Europe. He did play in North America and Australia and recorded some highlights. In early June he played the Homestead Wasatch Mountain Open, a two-round tournament in Midway, Utah. He opened with a 69 (−3) for the joint lead. In the second round he shot a 72 to finish joint fourth, four back. In late July he played the Sierra Nevada Open Invitational in Reno, Nevada. He opened with a 69 (−3) at Tahoe-Donner Golf Course to put himself in second place among all competitors, one back. Soon thereafter the returned to Australia. In October he finished in second place in the qualifying stage of the New South Wales Open. In November he made the cut in the Australian Open, finishing in a tie for 32nd. A few days later he won the pro-am leading up to Otago Charity Classic shooting a 63 (−9).
In 1979 he recorded his first high finishes in well-publicized professional events. In March he opened well at the Western Australia PGA Championship with consecutive rounds of 72. He was in third place, three back of leader Mike Ferguson. He finished in solo fourth place. In the northern hemisphere summer he again played mini-tours in North America. In July he played the two-round Quebec Open. He opened with a 66 (−6) to lead the professionals. In the final round Reese had a 25-foot putt to force a playoff with Daniel Talbot. Reese missed, finishing joint second with Bob Beauchemin at 138 (−6). Late in the year he returned to the Australasian region. In September he played the 54-hole Pago Pago tournament in American Samoa. Reese shot three consecutive rounds in the 60s to win it in a "runaway." In October he shot a second round 68 to move in the top ten at the Queensland Open. He finished in a tie for fifth. The following week he finished in a tie for eighth at the Garden State PGA Championship.