Holman was born on January 5, 1907, in Pasadena, California, United States. Holman played his tournament in 1925 whilst at university at the national Intercollegiate Championships where he reached the final losing to Bud Chandler, the same year he reached the finals of the Essex County Invitation, losing to the Spanish player Manuel Alonso Areizaga, and the Delaware State Championships losing Fritz Mercur. He played at the 1926 U.S. National Championships, where he was defeated in the second round by Bill Johnston.
