Wikipedia

Midland Open

The Midland Open is an annual golf tournament played in the English Midlands. The event is currently organised by the Midlands Region of the Professional Golfers' Association.

Midland Open
Tournament information
LocationEnglish Midlands
Established1923
FormatStroke-play
Current champion
Matthew Cort

History edit

The Midland Professional Golf Club held its first meeting in December 1897. The club held its first championship on 12 May 1898. However the week before, on 3 May, a match was organised at the Coventry club at Whitley Common, between the club and a team of amateurs.[1] The match was played at the Coventry club until 1902, after which it was played at a number of courses.[2] The amateurs won in 1904 at Sandwell Park, but otherwise the professionals were successful, usually by a large margin.[3]

In 1923, the Midland Counties Golf Association agreed to the creation of a new event, involving both amateur and professionals playing individually on level terms.[4][5] The competition was played the day after the annual amateurs v. professionals match, at the same course, Little Aston.[6] The competitors were the first 25 professionals from the Midland Professional Championship and the leading 15 from the Midland Amateur Championship. Both of these were 36-hole stroke-play events played in a single day, and the new tournament took the same form. Prizes amounting to nearly £100 were given by the Birmingham Gazette. The leading three amateurs received gold medals while there were cash prizes for the leading eight professionals.[7][8]

Dick Wheildon won the first event in 1923 with Carl Bretherton the leading amateur, tied for 10th place.[9] Michael Bingham won 1924 with Bretherton again the leading amateur, tied for 7th place.[10] There was amateur winner in 1925, Robert Humphries winning by four strokes from George Buckle who took the first prize as the leading professional.[11] Tom Williamson won in 1926 with Bretherton again the leading amateur.[12] In 1927 the field was expanded with the leading 30 professionals and 20 amateurs qualifying. With a number of qualifying amateurs was later increased to 25. The 1930 event was won by an amateur, William Tweddell who had won the Amateur Championship earlier in the year. Tom Williamson was the leading professional.[13] Jim Morris won in 1928 with Stanley Lunt the leading amateur.[14]

In 1929 the order of the Midland Professional Championship and the Midland Challenge Cup was changed, with the championship played earlier in the year and the challenge cup moving to September and becoming the qualifying event for the professionals. Tom Barber won by four strokes, having won the Midland Challenge Cup earlier in the month.[15] In 1930 Michael Bingham became the first player to win the event twice, finishing three strokes ahead of the amateur Eric Fiddian.[16] There was tie in 1931 between Tom Barber and Tom Williamson. There was no playoff and the title was shared.[17] Bert Gadd was another multiple winner, winning in 1934 and 1935.[18] He was followed by the amateur Charlie Stowe who won in 1936 and 1937.[19] Max Faulkner won in 1938 during his break spell as the professional at Leamington Spa.[20] The qualifying events for the 1939 tournament had been held but the Midland Open planned for September was cancelled because of the start of World War II.

The event was revived in 1947 with a new trophy and prize money provided by the Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. The format remained the same as in the pre-war period, the professionals qualifying through the Midland section of the News of the World Match Play in September.[21] Walter Lees won the event, a stroke ahead of Jack Hargreaves.[22] Bert Williamson won in 1948 with a record low score of 136.[23] 1949 saw the start of a new event, the Midland Amateur-Professional Foursomes, a three-day match-play tournament, also sponsored by the Birmingham Post & Mail. The Midland Open was moved from its late-season date to July with the new foursomes event played immediately after, at the same course. Qualification for the professionals was based on the Midland Professional Championship, held in May. Charlie Ward won the Midland Open by six strokes with a new record of 135, his first win in the event.[24]

There was an amateur success in 1950, with John Llewellyn Morgan winning the event.[25] Charlie Ward, the 1949 winner, won again in 1951, 1952 and 1954, with Frank Miller winning in 1953.[26][27] There was a three-way tie in 1955 between Frank Jowle, Peter Butler and Jack Hargreaves. There was a 36-hole playoff the following Monday after the foursomes event. Jowle won with a score of 141, with Hargreaves scoring 142 and Butler 144.[28] Butler won in 1956, 1958 and 1960, with Ward having his fifth win 1957 and David Snell in 1959.[29][30][31] In 1959 the Midland Challenge Cup was used as the qualifying event for the professionals but the championship was again used from 1960. Snell had a final round of 63 in 1959 to set a new record total of 134.[30]

From 1961 to 1963 the Midland open was played after the Midland Amateur-Professional Foursomes. In 1964 the foursomes became a 54-hole stroke-play event and was again played after the open. From 1968 to 1971 the Midland open was a 54-hole event with the foursomes being reduced to 36-holes. With only a single round played on the first day, followed by a cut, qualification through the professional championship was no longer needed. The Midland Amateur-Professional Foursomes was last held in 1971. In 1961 Ralph Moffitt had a first round of 61 and went on to win the tournament with a record total of 130, 11 strokes ahead of anyone else.[32] Moffitt won again in 1964 and 1970.[33] Peter Butler had his fourth and fifth wins in 1965 and 1969, while David Snell won for the second time in 1966.[34][35][36] In 1967 56-year-old Tom Collinge won on his home course at Olton.[37]

From 1972 to 1974 the Midland open was again played as a one-day 36-hole event with qualification for professionals through the Midland Professional Championship. However from 1975 it was held over two days, allowing a much larger field. Brian Waites, the 1971 winner, won again in 1976 and 1981.[38] There was an amateur winner in 1973, Keith Hodgkinson, the first since 1950, and he was soon followed by Sandy Lyle who won in 1975 after an 18-hole playoff against Brian Waites.[39][40] The Welsh professional Andy Griffiths won twice, in 1978 and 1980.[41] In 1982 the championship was turned into a 72-hole event called the Midland All Stars Championship, but struggled for sponsorship and was dropped after the 1983 season.[42][43]

Winners edit

Year Winner Score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Venue Ref
Midland Amateur and Professional Tournament
1923   Dick Wheildon 148 3 strokes   Len Holland Little Aston [9][8]
1924   Michael Bingham 144 1 stroke   Ted Douglas Moseley [10]
1925   Robert Humphries (a) 141 4 strokes   George Buckle Copt Heath [11]
1926   Tom Williamson 142 2 strokes   Tom Barber Handsworth [12]
1927   William Tweddell (a) 146 3 strokes   Tom Williamson Blackwell [13]
1928   Jim Morris 146 1 stroke   Jack Bloxham Sandwell Park [14]
1929   Tom Barber 144 4 strokes   John Beddard (a)
  Michael Bingham		 Finham Park [15]
1930   Michael Bingham 139 3 strokes   Eric Fiddian (a) Stourbridge [16]
1931   Tom Barber
  Tom Williamson		 141 Tied Olton [17]
1932   Frank Weston 140 5 strokes   Charlie Ward Sutton Coldfield [44]
1933   George Buckle 142 2 strokes   William Button Harborne [45]
1934   Bert Gadd 145 1 stroke   Tom Richards
  Charlie Ward
  Tom Williamson		 Castle Bromwich [46]
1935   Bert Gadd 137 6 strokes   Bill Martin Little Aston [18]
1936   Charlie Stowe (a) 137 3 strokes   Bill Branch
  Arthur Lees		 South Staffordshire [47]
1937   Charlie Stowe (a) 137 1 stroke   Bill Martin Sandwell Park [19]
1938   Max Faulkner 143 1 stroke   George Johnson
  Bob Pemberton		 Moseley [20]
1939–1946: No tournament
Midland Open Championship
1947   Walter Lees 141 1 stroke   Jack Hargreaves Sutton Coldfield [22]
1948   Bert Williamson 136 2 strokes   George Johnson
  Charlie Ward
  George White		 Blackwell [23]
1949   Charlie Ward 135 6 strokes   George Johnson
  Norman Roffe		 Sutton Coldfield [24]
1950   John Llewellyn Morgan (a) 143 1 stroke   George Johnson Little Aston [25]
1951   Charlie Ward 136 3 strokes   Jack McMillan Sandwell Park [48]
1952   Charlie Ward 139 3 strokes   Bernard Hunt Moor Hall [49]
1953   Frank Miller 140 3 strokes   Bill Firkins Blackwell [26]
1954   Charlie Ward 140 1 stroke   Jack Cawsey Sutton Coldfield [27]
1955   Frank Jowle 137 Playoff[a]   Peter Butler
  Jack Hargreaves		 Moseley [28][50]
1956   Peter Butler 139 3 strokes   Frank Jowle
  Frank Miller
  Charlie Ward		 Sandwell Park [51]
1957   Charlie Ward 141 2 strokes   Bob Hastelow Little Aston [29]
1958   Peter Butler 140 1 stroke   Jack Hargreaves Olton [52]
1959   David Snell 134 2 strokes   Jack Hargreaves Moor Hall [30]
1960   Peter Butler 139 1 stroke   Ron Moses Sutton Coldfield [31]
1961   Ralph Moffitt 130 11 strokes   Tom Collinge
  John Goodwin
  Frank Miller		 Blackwell [32]
1962   George Maisey Jr. 141 Playoff[b]   Harley Roberts (a) Handsworth [53][54]
1963   Tony Rees 142 1 stroke   Charlie Ward Copt Heath [55]
1964   Ralph Moffitt 142 Playoff[c]   Peter Butler Little Aston [56][57]
1965   Peter Butler 144 2 strokes   Richard Livingston
  John Miller		 Sandwell Park [34]
1966   David Snell 139 3 strokes   David Astill Blackwell [35]
1967   Tom Collinge 137 2 strokes   Geoff Marks (a) Olton [37]
1968   Les Thompson 217 1 stroke   Alan Smith (a)
  Charlie Ward		 Little Aston [58]
1969   Peter Butler 210 2 strokes   Maurice Bembridge
  Bill Firkins Jr
  Frank Miller		 Blackwell [36]
1970   Ralph Moffitt 210 Playoff[d]   Nick Underwood Olton [33][59]
1971   Brian Waites 205 3 strokes   Paul Herbert Blackwell [60]
1972   Richard Livingston 141 1 stroke   Brian Waites Little Aston [61]
1973   Keith Hodgkinson (a) 142 1 stroke   Eamonn Darcy
  Nick Underwood
  Charlie Ward		 Olton [39]
1974   Jim Rhodes 146 1 stroke   Nick Underwood Sandwell Park [62]
1975   Sandy Lyle (a) 137 Playoff[e]   Brian Waites Walsall [40][63]
1976   Brian Waites 136 9 strokes   Paul Herbert
  David Llewellyn		 Hill Valley [64]
1977   John Anderson 144 Playoff[f]   Andy Bownes
  Hugh Boyle		 Hill Valley [65]
1978   Andy Griffiths 136 7 strokes   Brian Waites Hill Valley [66]
1979   David Ridley 144 Playoff[g]   Phil Weaver Redditch [67]
1980   Andy Griffiths 146 Playoff[h]   Pete Cowen Forest of Arden [41]
1981   Brian Waites 136 4 strokes   Pete Cowen Forest of Arden [38]
Midland All Stars Championship
1982   Tony Minshall 288 1 stroke   Alan Roach (a) Forest of Arden [68]
1983   David J. Russell 286 2 strokes   David Thorp Purley Chase [43]
1984–1991: Not held
Midland Open
1992   Gary Collinson 287 1 stroke   Simon Wood The Vale [69]
1993   Gary Emerson 281 1 stroke   Chris Hall The Vale [70]
1994   Steve Webster (a) 205 1 stroke   Stephen Bennett Kilworth Springs [71]
1995   Steve Russell 201 3 strokes   James Cook
  Joe Higgins		 Welcombe [72]
1996   Matt Stanford 270 1 stroke   Stewart Cronin Staberton Park [73]
1997–2002: Not held
  1. ^ Jowle won a 36-hole playoff, played six days later. He scored 141, Hargreaves 142 and Butler 144.
  2. ^ Maisey won a 36-hole playoff, played ten days later, 145 to 148.
  3. ^ Moffitt won an 18-hole playoff, played three months later, 66 to 68.
  4. ^ Moffitt won an 18-hole playoff, played two months later, 67 to 77.
  5. ^ Lyle won an 18-hole playoff, played six weeks later, 73 to 76.
  6. ^ Anderson won with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  7. ^ Ridley won with a par at the first extra hole.
  8. ^ Griffiths won with a birdie at the third extra hole.

Additional source:[74]

References edit

  1. ^ "Amateurs v Professionals". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 4 May 1898. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Midland Amateurs v Professionals". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 23 May 1903. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Team of amateurs defeats the professionals". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 11 May 1904. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "New county competition sanctioned". Birmingham Gazette. 24 February 1923. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "New competition". Birmingham Gazette. 7 March 1923. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Amateur v Professionals". Birmingham Gazette. 15 August 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "The Gazette tourney". Birmingham Gazette. 26 September 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Fine Midlands golf". Birmingham Gazette. 12 October 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Open champion of the Midlands". Birmingham Gazette. 12 October 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Open championship of Midlands". Birmingham Gazette. 3 October 1924. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Sensational golf by R. P. Humphries". Birmingham Gazette. 2 October 1925. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b ""A wonderful day's performance"". Birmingham Gazette. 1 October 1926. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Gazette tournament won by Dr. Tweddell". Birmingham Gazette. 30 September 1927. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Youth in brilliant vein at Sandwell". Birmingham Gazette. 28 September 1928. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Gazette cup for T. Barber". Birmingham Gazette. 27 September 1929. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Bingham, open champion". Birmingham Gazette. 3 October 1930. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Tie in Midland open golf championship at Olton". Birmingham Gazette. 9 October 1931. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b "Four players break course record in Midland golf cup contest". Birmingham Gazette. 27 September 1935. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "Charles Stowe, record-breaker, retains Midland "open" title". Birmingham Gazette. 1 October 1937. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Max Faulkner Midland open champion". Birmingham Gazette. 30 September 1938. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Charles Ward breaks course record". Birmingham Gazette. 11 September 1947. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "Lees wins Midlands golf title". Birmingham Gazette. 8 October 1947. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b Hirst, Wilf (13 October 1948). "Record 66 for "open" winner". Birmingham Gazette. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b Camkin, John (13 July 1949). "Two great rounds by Charles Ward". Birmingham Gazette. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b "Amateur wins Midland open championship". Birmingham Post. 19 July 1950. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b "Midland open golf championship won by F. E. Miller". Birmingham Post. 15 July 1953. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b "C. H. Ward wins a fourth Midland championship". Birmingham Post. 14 July 1954. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "Triple tie for Midland open championship". Birmingham Post. 13 July 1955. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (10 July 1957). "Ward's fifth Midland open title". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b c "Snell's 63 earns two-shot victory". The Daily Telegraph. 15 July 1959. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (22 June 1960). "Third Midland 'open' title for Butler". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (23 June 1961). "Amazing first round by Moffitt: Worthy champion". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b Davies, David (18 June 1970). "Underwood and Moffitt share first place in Midland open". Birmingham Post. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (16 June 1965). "Fourth Midland open title for Peter Butler". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (15 June 1966). "David Snell takes Midland title with three-stroke margin". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b Davies, David (19 June 1969). "Peter wins the first part of his double". Birmingham Post. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b Davies, David (14 June 1967). "Veteran Tom Collinge shatters a golf adage". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ a b "Waites triumphs". The Daily Telegraph. 17 September 1981. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b Davies, David (13 June 1973). "Amateur Keith Hodgkinson wins Midland open in par". Birmingham Post. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ a b "Play-off to decide Mids open". Birmingham Post. 17 July 1975. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ a b "Griffiths Midland champ again". Sandwell Evening Mail. 11 September 1980. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Golfers make good start". Derby Evening Telegraph. 7 September 1982. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b "TNT Overnight Midlands All Star Championships". Sandwell Evening Mail. 9 September 1983. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Weston wins by good margin". Birmingham Gazette. 30 September 1932. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Round of 68 by G. Buckle". Birmingham Gazette. 29 September 1933. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Title for Bert Gadd". Birmingham Gazette. 5 October 1934. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Fine golf by C. Stowe". Birmingham Gazette. 2 October 1936. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Ward regains Midland championship". Birmingham Post. 18 July 1951. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Ward keeps Midland open championship". Birmingham Post. 16 July 1952. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "Midland golf replay won by Jowle". Birmingham Post. 19 July 1955. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Butler wins Midland open golf title". Birmingham Post. 11 July 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (9 July 1958). "Two rounds of 70 give Butler second win in Midland 'open'". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (27 July 1962). "Young Maisey misses easy putt and ties". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (6 August 1962). "Maisey Jun, five down, rallies to win Midland 'open'". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (21 June 1963). "Consistency gives Rees Midland open". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (17 June 1964). "Butler and Moffitt on 142, to replay". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (14 September 1964). "Brilliant 66 gives Moffitt 'open' victory". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ Davies, David (13 June 1968). "Thompson survives slip to break 17-year spell". Birmingham Post. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ Davies, David (14 August 1970). "In-form Moffitt regains the title". Birmingham Post. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ Davies, David (10 June 1971). "Brian Waites is new holder of Midland open championship". Birmingham Post. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ Davies, David (14 June 1972). "Livingston is champion by a stroke". Birmingham Post. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ Davies, David (16 July 1974). "Underwood pipped to Midland title by Rhodes". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Sandy wins Post golf trophy". Birmingham Post. 27 August 1975. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Open field destroyed as Waites takes title". Birmingham Post. 29 July 1976. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ "Anderson flair comes out in the open". Birmingham Post. 1 September 1977. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ Norman, Dick (21 September 1978). "Griffiths has 10 birdies". The Daily Telegraph. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ Norman, Dick (31 August 1979). "Ridley wins in play-off". The Daily Telegraph. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ "Russell upsets his own calculations". Derby Evening Telegraph. 10 September 1982. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "Midland Open". Birmingham Evening Mail. 31 July 1992. p. 63 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "Midland Open Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 4 September 1993. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ Blair, Michael (14 October 1994). "Webster's nerves of steel serve him well". Birmingham Post. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ Blair, Michael (7 July 1995). "Touch of steel rewards Russell with first senior title". Birmingham Post. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ "Midland Open Championship". Birmingham Evening Mail. 26 July 1996. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ^ "KCC Midland Open – Past Champions". The PGA. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
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