Midland Professional Foursomes
Tournament information
LocationEnglish Midlands
Established1907
FormatInitially Match-play
Stroke-play from 1925
Final year1939

The Midland Professional Foursomes was an annual professional foursomes golf tournament played in the English Midlands. The event ran from 1907 to 1939. Initially it was a match-play event but from 1925 it became a 36-hole stroke-play tournament. Martini sponsored a similar event from 1956 to 1960, while other events were held in 1963 and 1965.

History

The first tournament was arranged in early 1907, following the initial interest in the London Professional Foursomes. Entries were open to members of the Midland section of the PGA.[1] 11 entries were received, but didn't include Tom Williamson or James Sherlock.[2] The format closely followed that of the London Professional Foursomes. The tournament was match-play. In the early rounds the first named couple in the draw had the choice of course. Each round had to be completed by a specific date with the final to be completed by the end of February 1907. Matches were over 36 holes with a sudden-death playoff in the event of a tie. The semi-finals were played on 12 March at Handsworth and Derby with the final on 20 March at Harborne. [3] The semi-finals and final were all one-sided matches, George Coburn and Alfred Lewis winning the final 5&3.[4] The 1908 event followed a similar format, although were only 9 entries. Coburn and Alfred Lewis repeated their success of 1907, winning the final 7&5.[5]

The format was revised in 1909 with the tournament played over two days, matches being over 18 holes. 13 pairs entered so that two rounds were played each day. Tom Williamson entered for the first time playing with brother Hugh. However they lost in the quarter-finals to the eventual winners, George Coburn and Billy Whiting. The final was a close match, with Coburn and Whiting winning at the 19th hole.[6] The 1910 event followed a similar format, 16 pairs entering. The Williamson brother were beaten as the same and Coburn and Billy Whiting repeated their success of 1909.[7] Coburn and Billy Whiting reached final again in 1911 but were beaten in a close match by Jack Bloxham and William Hamlet.[8] With 21 entries in 1912 the tournament was extended to a third day. Walter Tedder and Tom Williamson beat the defending champions 2&1 in the 18-hole final.[9] In 1913 the final was extended to 36 holes and was won by Len Holland and George Tuck.[10] There was a significant change in 1914, with the pairings drawn by lot. There were a record 22 pairs with Tuck against successful, this time in partnership with Arthur Ham.[11]

The event returned in 1920, players choosing their own pairings. Dunlop presented a pair of challenge cups which were held by the winners for a year. There were 14 entries but with a 36-hole final the event still extended to three days. Len Holland and George Tuck, the 1913 winners, won again , beating George Cawsey and Arthur Ham at the 37th hole.[12] The final was reduced to 18 holes in 1921, meaning the event could be reduced to two days. Holland and Tuck retained the title at the 20th hole on the final, Tuck's fourth successive win in the event.[13] Holland and Tuck were beaten in the 1922 semi-finals at the 19th hole by Harry Cawsey and Tom Williamson, won went on to win the title.[14] 22 couples played in 1923, extending the event to three days. Michael Bingham & W. G. Saunders won a one-sided final 6&4.[15] There were 16 pairs in 1924, Bingham and Saunders retaining the title in a close final, winning at the 19th hole.[16]

There was a major change in format from 1925 with the event changing from match-play to stroke-play. It was contested over 36 holes in a single day. In 1925 the pairings were drawn, as in 1914. Michael Bingham won the third year in a row, this time partnered with Stanley Godfrey.[17] From 1926 players again chose their own pairings, Jack Bloxham and Tom Richards winning the tournament.[18] There was a tie in 1927, George Buckle and George Tuck beating Tom Barber and Ted Douglas by one stroke in the 9-hole evening playoff.[19]

In 1928 the event was opened up to all PGA members but was won by the Midland pair of Archie Compston and Dick Wheildon.[20] There was a four-way tie in 1929. The four pairs played an extra nine holes in the evening, which eliminated two of the pairs, but two of the pairs were still tied.[21] Those two pairs returned the following day but were still tied after an 18-hole playoff. It was only after a further 9-hole playoff that Tom Barber and Michael Bingham were eventually successful.[22] The 1930 tournament was not held in Midlands but at Gerrards Cross. Henry Cotton and his brother Leslie won, finishing a stroke ahead of two of the Whitcombe brothers, Charles and Ernest.[23] The event had always been played very early in the year, mostly in February or March but from 1931 it was played in October. William Button and Jack Stait won in 1931, followed by Bert Gadd and Charlie Ward in 1932 and George Oke & Charles Whitcombe in 1933.[24][25][26]

The event was not held from 1934 to 1937 but was revived in July 1938. Bill Firkins and Algy Holton won that year with Bill Branch and George Johnson winning the 1939 tournament, held in May.[27][28] The event was not restarted after World War II.

Martini Midland Professional Foursomes

A Martini sponsored event was played from 1956 to 1960.[29] The event was a 36-hole stroke-play event, played in a single day. Players entered individually with the pairings randomly drawn. Total prize money was £300 in 1956, rising to £500 in 1957. David Snell and Charlie Ward won in 1956, with Bill Firkins and Ralph Moffitt winning in 1957 followed by Frank Miller and Moffitt in 1958.[30][31][32] Martini also sponsored a Southern event from 1957 and a Northern event in 1958. In 1959 four events were run, extended to cover all the PGA sections. The Midland event also included the Welsh and East Anglian sections. Bill Firkins and Malcolm Hill won the event.[33] In 1960 the four regional tournaments also acted as qualifying event for a national event which was held at The Berkshire club in late August. Bryon Hutchinson and John Wiggett won the Midland event, players in the leading 12 pairs qualifying for the national event.[34]

Stuart C. Goodwin Midland Professional Foursomes

In 1963 Stuart Goodwin sponsored an event with prize money of £735, the winners receiving £100 each.[35] It was held at Sherwood Forest Golf Club from 30 April to 2 May. Goodwin had sponsored a national event, the Sherwood Forest Foursomes Tournament, on the same course in 1959. There was an 18-hole individual stroke-play qualification stage on the first day, after which the leading 32 players were drawn into 16 foursomes pairings.[36] There were then four rounds of match-play on the following two days. The event was won by George Bell and Horace Lester.[37]

Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Midland Professional Foursomes

In 1965 Bass, Mitchells & Butlers sponsored an event with prize money of £1,000, the winners receiving £150 each. The event was a 36-hole stroke-play event, played over two days. Players chose their own pairings. It was originally planned to be played at Little Aston Golf Club from 7 and 8 September.[38] However, the second day was abandoned because of rain and the second round was eventually played on 27 October.[39] The event was won by David Astill & David Talbot, one of the leading pairs after the first day.[40]

Winners

YearWinnersScoreMargin of
victory		Runners-upVenueRef
Midland Professional Foursomes
1907George Coburn & Alfred Lewis5 & 3George Cawsey & Willie LewisHarborne (final)[4]
1908George Coburn & Alfred Lewis7 & 5Jack Fulford & Jack OkeKings Norton (final)[5]
1909George Coburn & Billy Whiting19 holesAlfred Lewis & Jack OkeSandwell Park[6][41]
1910George Coburn & Billy Whiting4 & 3Charles Richards & Edward VenessHarborne[7][42]
1911Jack Bloxham & William Hamlet1 upGeorge Coburn & Billy WhitingOlton[8]
1912Walter Tedder & Tom Williamson2 & 1Jack Bloxham & William HamletHandsworth[9]
1913Len Holland & George Tuck4 & 3John Hutchings & William HutchingsCastle Bromwich[10][43]
1914Arthur Ham & George Tuck4 & 3George Buckle & Vivian RichardsStourbridge[11]
1915–1919: No tournament
1920Len Holland & George Tuck37 holesGeorge Cawsey & Arthur HamLittle Aston[12]
1921Len Holland & George Tuck20 holesGeorge Buckle & Dick WheildonNorthamptonshire County[13]
1922Harry Cawsey & Tom Williamson2 & 1George Buckle & Dick WheildonRushcliffe[14]
1923Michael Bingham & W. G. Saunders6 & 4Alfred Lewis & Martin LewisWalmley[15]
1924Michael Bingham & W. G. Saunders19 holesTed Douglas & Alfred MatthewsBlackwell[16]
1925Michael Bingham & Stanley Godfrey1344 strokesGeorge Buckle & F Nicholls
Ted Douglas & Alfred Lewis		North Worcestershire[17]
1926Jack Bloxham & Tom Richards1501 strokeTom Barber & Ted DouglasWillesley Park[18]
1927George Buckle & George Tuck152Playoff[lower-alpha 1]Tom Barber & Ted DouglasBlackwell[19]
1928Archie Compston & Dick Wheildon1512 strokesTom Barber & Frank Dennis
Keith Dalby & Stewart Field
Charles Johns & Herbert Jolly
Arthur Lacey & Bill Moore		Northamptonshire County[20]
1929Tom Barber & Michael Bingham153PlayoffJock Ballantine & Jack Hooker
Bill Firkins & Algy Holton
Len Holland & Dick Wheildon		Hollinwell[21][22]
1930Henry Cotton & Leslie Cotton1431 strokeCharles Whitcombe & Ernest WhitcombeGerrards Cross[23]
1931William Button & Jack Stait1422 strokesBill Firkins & Algy HoltonCopt Heath[24]
1932Bert Gadd & Charlie Ward1461 strokeFreddie Beck & Ken Hooker
Bill Peters & A Wells
Jack Seager & Frank Weston		Ladbrook Park[25]
1933George Oke & Charles Whitcombe1432 strokesBill Davies & Bob KenyonSandwell Park[26]
1934–1937: No tournament
1938Bill Firkins & Algy Holton1444 strokesWilliam Button & Herbert Manton
Jack Cawsey & Jack Hargreaves
H Lewis & F Reynolds		Moor Hall[27]
1939Bill Branch & George Johnson1461 strokeJack Cawsey & Jack HargreavesKings Norton[28]
1940–1955: No tournament
Martini Midland Professional Foursomes
1956–1960: see Martini Professional Foursomes
1961–1962: No tournament
Stuart C. Goodwin Midland Professional Foursomes
1963George Bell & Horace Lester4 & 2Don Smart & Charlie WardSherwood Forest[37]
1964: No tournament
Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Midland Professional Foursomes
1965David Astill & David Talbot1452 strokesStuart Murray & Charlie WardLittle Aston[40]
  1. ↑ Buckle and Tuck won a 9-hole playoff, played the same evening.

In 1907 and 1908 all matches were over 36 holes. The finals in 1913, 1914 and 1920 were also over 36 holes.

References

  1. ↑ "Midland professional foursome competition". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 26 January 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Midland professional foursome entries". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 8 February 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Midland professional foursomes". The Guardian. 13 March 1907. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Coburn and A. J. Lewis win professional foursomes". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 21 March 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Final of Midland professional foursomes". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 19 March 1908. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Coburn and Whiting win the professional tourney". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 18 February 1909. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Coburn and Whiting win the professional foursome". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 17 February 1910. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Hamlet and Bloxham win at Olton". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 9 March 1911. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 "Williamson and Tedder win Midland foursomes". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 1 March 1912. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Win for Tuck & Holland". Birmingham Gazette. 28 February 1913. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Professional honours for Tuck and Ham". Birmingham Gazette. 27 February 1914. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "A keen final". Birmingham Gazette. 5 March 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 "Tuck and Holland again win Midland foursomes". Birmingham Gazette. 10 March 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 "Local players lose in final of foursomes tourney". Birmingham Gazette. 16 March 1922. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 "Golf cup for Bingham and Saunders". Birmingham Gazette. 16 March 1923. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 "Gruelling contest at Blackwell". Birmingham Gazette. 20 March 1924. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 "Dunlop foursomes cup". Birmingham Gazette. 19 March 1925. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 "Success of J. Bloxham and T. H. Richards". Birmingham Gazette. 24 March 1926. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. 1 2 "High scores and bad putting". Birmingham Gazette. 24 March 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 "Trophies to remain in Midlands". Birmingham Gazette. 4 April 1928. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 "Terrific driving by M. Bingham". Birmingham Gazette. 27 March 1929. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. 1 2 "Stern struggle for golf honours". Birmingham Gazette. 28 March 1929. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. 1 2 "Victory by one shot". Birmingham Gazette. 16 April 1930. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "Course record broken". Birmingham Gazette. 15 October 1931. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 "Ward and Gadd in form". Birmingham Gazette. 6 October 1932. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. 1 2 "Record in Midland competition". Birmingham Gazette. 4 October 1933. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. 1 2 "A. J. Holton & W. R. Firkins winners of Midland foursomes". Birmingham Gazette. 14 July 1938. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. 1 2 "Johnson and Branch Midland champions". Birmingham Gazette. 18 May 1939. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "New Midland foursomes". Birmingham Post. 13 September 1956. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "C. Ward and Snell win foursomes". Birmingham Post. 27 September 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ Woodbine, Maurice (29 August 1957). "Moffitt and Firkins win golf foursomes by two strokes". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Five-stroke victory for Miller and Moffitt". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 21 August 1958. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Foursomes won by four strokes". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 21 August 1959. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Woodbine, Maurice (22 July 1960). "Wiggett and Hutchinson hang on to their lead". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Steel chief new local golf sponsor". The Guardian Journal. 6 November 1962. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ Woodbine, Maurice (1 May 1963). "Young Maisie ties for first place". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. 1 2 Woodbine, Maurice (3 May 1963). "Bell and Lester win through". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ Woodbine, Maurice (8 September 1965). "Lead shared by Ward, Murray". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ Woodbine, Maurice (9 September 1965). "Midland title switched to Oct. 27". Birmingham Post. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. 1 2 Woodbine, Maurice (28 October 1965). "Midland prize for Talbot and Astill". Birmingham Post. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Midland professional foursome tournament". The Guardian. 18 February 1909. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Midland professional foursomes". The Guardian. 17 February 1910. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "Midland professional foursome". Birmingham Daily Mail. 27 February 1913. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.