Historical information

Miss Leonora “Leo” Wray MBE

Leonora “Leo” Wray (1886-1979) was a champion NSW golfer, regarded as the “mother” of Australian golf. She won state and national titles multiple times across three decades. The Leonora Wray Trophy is awarded to the No. 1 player in Australia in national stroke average. Regarding her golf game Leo remarked, “Never a chance thrown away, or a single shot played without a definite object.”

She was said to be commanding in “stature and mien” – a raconteur with a deep, booming voice who inspired in young players “a mixture of fear and awe, respect and affection”. In 1909 she contracted typhoid fever and was unable to play for 10 years. She was awarded an MBE in 1968 for her services to golf and inducted into the Sport Australian Hall of Fame in 1985.

Photographer notations on slide: "Miss Wray. Vic Women's Ch'ship B98"
Description: Golfer Leonora Wray swings her driver. She is wearing a tiepin and cufflinks.
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Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer:
Leonora Wray AKA “Leo” was a champion NSW golfer who is regarded as the “Mother” of Australian women’s golf. She won the NSW State Championships (1906, 1907, 1908) and the Australian title (1907, 1908). In 1909 she contracted typhoid fever and was unable to play for 10 years.

Leonora regained the national title in 1929 and the NSW Championship in 1930. She was the champion women’s player of the Australian club ten times between 1907 and 1938 and five times champion at the Royal Sydney Golf Club between 1924 and 1933. She competed in the Australian Women’s Golf Championship at Royal Melbourne against the British team in 1935.

During WWII, Leonora worked for the ANZAC Buffet Ladies Auxiliary in Hyde Park, Sydney.

Regarding her golf game, she remarked, “Never a chance thrown away, or a single shot played without a definite object.”

Leo was said to be commanding in “stature and mien” – a raconteur with a deep, booming voice who inspired in young players “a mixture of fear and awe, respect and affection.”

Her portrait by Henry Hanke is held by the Australian Golf Club. Women’s Golf NSW holds its annual Leonora Wray Scratch Teams event and the Leonora Wray Trophy is awarded to the No. 1 player in Australia in national stroke average.

In 1968 she was awarded an MBE for her services to women’s golf. In 1985 Leo was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Physical description

Glass slide