David Arthur Blair MBE, MC (25 August 1917 – 10 April 1985) was a Scottish amateur golfer. He finished in the top-10 in the Open Championship in 1960 and played in the Walker Cup in 1955 and 1961. He was a retired major in the Seaforth Highlanders in the British Army. His younger brother Chandos was also in the Seaforth Highlanders.
Contents
Early life
Blair was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Military career
Blair graduated from Sandhurst on 26 August 1937 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. He was captured at El Adem in 1942 but escaped in 1943. He was awarded the Military Cross when his company made an assault crossing over a canal in Holland in late 1944.
Business career
Blair was chairman of the Scotch whisky export committee from 1985 to 1980 and a director of Distillers Company. He was also chairman of United Glass Ltd.
Family
Blair married in 1947 Elizabeth Adela Morton, daughter of Major Harold Trestrail Morton and his wife Beatrice Nathalie Shaw of The Abbey, Aston Abbotts.
Amateur wins
1935 Scottish Boys' Championship
1947 Army Championship
1948 Nairn Open
1953 Scottish Amateur, Royal St. Georges Gold Vase
1955 Golf Illustrated Gold Vase
1956 Golf Illustrated Gold Vase
1955 R&A Silver Cross, George Glennie Medal
1961 Scandinavian Amateur Championship
1964 Royal St. Georges Gold Vase
1966 Hampshire Hog
1967 Royal St. Georges Gold Vase, Hampshire Hog
1968 R&A Silver Cross
1970 Hampshire Hog
Source:
Results in major championships
Note: Blair only played in the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
Commonwealth Tournament (representing Great Britain): 1954
Walker Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1955, 1961
Amateurs–Professionals Match (representing the Amateurs): 1956, 1960