William Cosgrove
Personal information
Born	1855 Inveresk, Scotland
Died	1927, aged 73 Newington, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sporting nationality	Scotland
Career
Status	Professional
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP
The Open Championship	T3: 1877

William Cosgrove (1855 – 1927) was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. Cosgrove had one top-10 finish in The Open Championship. His best performance was a third place tie in the 1877 Open Championship.

Cosgrove was born at Inveresk, Scotland, in 1855. He was the son of Alexander Cosgrove, a maker of golf clubs, and his wife Janet Nelson. The family resided in James Place, Millhill, Inveresk. He married Mary Jane Quin in 1878 and was employed as a maker of golf balls. His cousin, Ned Cosgrove, also became a professional golfer.^[1]

The 1877 Open Championship was the 17th Open Championship, held 6 April at Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Pringle. Cosgrove scored rounds of 41-39-44-40=164, finishing tied for third, and won a useful £2 in prize money.^[2]

Cosgrove teed it up again in the 1878 Open Championship held 4 October at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Jamie Anderson won the Championship for the second successive year, by two strokes from runner-up Bob Kirk. Cosgrove had rounds of 55-56-55=166 and finished in a tie for sixth place with Willie Park, Sr.^[2]

Davie Strath and Bob Ferguson played together but Strath had a disappointing 45 in the first round which left him well behind the leaders. Ferguson began in disappointing fashion but managed to salvage a 40. William Brown led on 39 with Ferguson and Jamie Anderson on 40. After two rounds, three players were level on 80: Brown, Ferguson and Cosgrove with Anderson and Bob Pringle only two behind. Strath was five behind on 85.

Anderson carded a 37 in the third round while Ferguson could muster only a 40 and Davie Strath scored 38. Anderson now led on 119 with Ferguson on 120, Ferguson on 122 and Strath on 123. In the final round Strath took a horrendous 9 at the second to drop out of contention. Ferguson also had a disappointing last round and Anderson's 41 was enough to give him the Championship.^[2]

Note: Cosgrove played only in The Open Championship.

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Cosgrove died in 1927 at Newington, Edinburgh, Scotland.^[1]