 His first significant win at the state level came in the 1931 New South Wales Amateur Championship, and he repeated there in 1934, 1937, and 1938.From age 16, Ferrier represented New South Wales seven times in Australian men's inter-state team play, in 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1939; he compiled an overall head-to-head record of 7 wins and 3 losses in those events.He was runner-up in the 1931 Australian Open at the age of 16, taking a six on the 72nd hole to lose by one stroke to five-time champion Ivo Whitton.