Midland Professional Championship

The Midland Professional Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the English Midlands. The event is organised by the Midlands Region of the Professional Golfers' Association. It is the oldest tournament in professional golf having been first contested in 1898.

Midland Professional Championship
Tournament information
LocationEnglish Midlands
Established1898
FormatStroke-play
Current champion
Daniel Whitby-Smith

History

edit

The event was originally organised by the Midland Professional Golf Club, an early professional golfers' association. The club held its first meeting at Edgbaston golf club on 9 December 1897.[1] A 36-hole stroke-play tournament was held, 25 professionals competing, followed by a business meeting at which officers were elected.[2] Thomas Whare, the North Warwickshire professional, won with a score of 155, two strokes ahead of David Duncan and Frank Wingate. The initial plan was to hold four meetings a year.[3] The second tournament was held at the Sutton Coldfield club in February 1898 and was won by Tom Williamson with a score of 162.[4] At a meeting following the event it was decided to hold a Championship meeting at Harborne on 12 May, to be played over 54 holes.[5]

The first championship meeting, in 1898, took an unusual form. There was a 36-hole tournament, which determined the distribution of the cash prizes. The leading 12 players then competed over a further 18 holes, the leading score over the 54 holes decided the championship with the runner-up also receiving a gold medal.[6] The 36-hole stage was won by Sydney Wingate, with a score of 157, with Thomas Whare two strokes behind. A number of the leading 12 did not complete in the third round of the day. Wingate was paired with David Brown, the 1886 Open Champion, for the final round. Brown scored 35 for the first nine, to Wingate's 41, to lead by a stroke. Both took 41 for the second nine to give Brown a one stroke win over Wingate, with George Cawsey a further shot behind.[7][8][9] Two further events were held in 1898, at Bulwell in August and at Olton in November. Harry Vardon was present at Olton and played a 9-hole foursomes after the tournament. Also at Olton, Edward Chance took over as president of the club.[10][11]

The Midland Professional Golf Club again held four tournaments in 1899, in February at Kings Norton, in May at Sandwell Park, in September at Robin Hood and in November at Handsworth. The championship was contested at Sandwell Park but, unlike 1898, it was played as a 36-hole event like the other tournaments. Alfred Toogood won the championship. by a stroke from James Sherlock.[12] In 1900 the schedule was reduced to two, a championship meeting in April and an open meeting in October, open to professionals from outside the Midland region. Tom Williamson won the championship, two strokes ahead of George Cawsey.[13] The same format was used in 1901 with James Sherlock winning the championship, four strokes ahead of Cawsey.[14]

In early 1902 the Midland Counties Competition, an organisation that ran some important amateur competitions in the Midlands and a predecessor of the current Midland Golf Union, passed a resolution recommending that clubs in the region subscribe a maximum of two guineas towards prize money in the two Midland professional tournaments. A sub-committee with Edward Chance as chairman, was created to organise the distribution of prize money.[15] The initiative proved successful and helped fund the events. Also in 1902 the Midland Professional Golf Club amalgamated with the Professional Golfers' Association, which had been formed in 1901, becoming the Midland section of the PGA.[16] Tom Williamson won the April event for a second time.[17] The open autumn tournament saw Harry Vardon, JH Taylor, and James Braid competing and was won by JH Taylor.[18]

The 1903 championship was won for a second time by James Sherlock, nine strokes ahead of the field. Sherlock was presented with a silver cup donated by Edward Chance.[19] The "Chance Cup" became associated with the championship until the 1920s, although when it was first presented is unclear. 1903 also saw the first News of the World Match Play tournament, the first national event organised by the PGA. Each section was allocated a number of places in the final stage, the Midland section having 5 of the 32 places available. The autumn event acted as the qualifying event.[20] A new trophy, the "Midland Challenge Cup", was purchased for the autumn competition.[21]

Alfred Lewis won in 1904, a stroke ahead of James Sherlock. Tom Williamson and his brother Harry because of the sudden death of their mother.[22] 1905 saw the first tie in the championship, between James Sherlock and Tom Williamson, both on 159. It was decided that the championship would be decided based on their performances at the autumn meeting.[23] Williamson won the autumn tournament, thus winning both the Midland Challenge Cup and the Chance Cup.[24] Sherlock and Williamson were absent from the 1906 championship and the tournament was won by Jack Fulford.[25] Williamson won the championship in 1907 and 1909 and was runner-up to George Cawsey in 1908.[26][27][28] Edward Veness won in 1910, ahead of Jack Oke, with Williamson in third place.[29]

1911 saw the introduction of a second event for which sectional qualification was required. the Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament. Qualification was based on individual stroke-play, qualifiers being drawn randomly into pairs for the finals stage. The Midland section was allocated 9 of the 64 places. The Midland section took the opportunity to switch the events; the Midland Challenge Cup being played as an open event in April, serving as the qualifying for the Sphere and Tatler Foursomes in May, while the championship and Chance Cup were played as a closed event in the autumn and acted as qualification for the News of the World Match Play.[30][31] The reversal of the events caused some confusion in the press. Tom Williamson won the championship.[32] The 1912 championship resulted in a tie between George Buckle and Harry Cawsey.[33] They had a playoff the following morning but were still tied after both scored 76. They then played a further 18 holes in the afternoon which Buckle won, scoring 79 and Cawsey's 82.[34] George Tuck won the championship in 1913 while the 1914 tournament was cancelled for the start of World War I.[35]

The championship restarted in 1919, acting again as qualification for the News of the World Match Play. 10 places were available instead of the pre-war 5, the main event have been extended from 32 players to 64. Bert Weastell and Len Holland tied on 149, Weastell winning the 9-hole playoff, played the same evening.[36] Although the Sphere and Tatler Foursomes was not revived after the war, another event, the Daily Mail Tournament, replaced it in the calendar and also involved sectional qualifying. The Midland Challenge Cup continued to be played in April while the championship continued to be played in September. In 1920 there was a three-way tie between Tom Williamson, George Buckle and Dick Wheildon.[37] The following day there was a 36-hole playoff but Williamson and Wheildon were still tied and only after a further 9-hole playoff did Williamson win.[38] In 1921 it was reported that the professionals were keen to separate the championship from the News of the World qualifying, and an extra event was organised in July for the qualifying.[39] However the experiment was not repeated and from 1922 the September event reverted to covering both the championship and the qualifying. There was a surprise winner in 1921 when Willie Robertson won.[40] However Tom Williamson won again in 1922 for what was to be the final time.[41]

George Buckle, the 1912 champion, won in 1923 beating Ernest Hanton in the 18-hole playoff, played the following day.[42] There was a four-way tie in 1924, Jack Bloxham winning the 18-hole playoff by two strokes.[43] Buckle won for the third time in 1925, this time by three strokes.[44] Ted Douglas, who had spent many year in New Zealand, won in 1926.[45] In 1927 Tom Barber and Archie Compston tied on 147.[46] Compston left immediately after the championship to play in the German Open and did not turn up for the playoff on the following day, Barber being awarded the championship by default.[47]

The Daily Mail Tournament was not played from 1928 to 1935 and the opportunity was taken to separate the News of the World Match Play qualifying from the championship. The Midland Challenge Cup was awarded to the winner of the News of the World qualifying event, as was the case before 1911. In 1928 this was held in June with the championship in September but from 1929 the order was reversed, with the championship played in the early part of the year and the News of the World qualifying in September. There was a 5-way tie in the 1928 championship.[48] Frank Weston won the 18-hole playoff the following day by two strokes.[49] There was another playoff in 1929. George Buckle beat Tom Green by two strokes, for his fourth championship win.[50] Green won a stroke in 1930 and retained the title in 1931, winning by four strokes.[51][52] In 1932 Tom Barber won the title for a second time after a three-way playoff.[53] Charlie Ward won the title in 1933 by two strokes from Barber and Algy Holton.[54]

From 1934 to 1937 Dunlop sponsored a number of regional events. In most cases these were new events but for the Midland region they sponsored the existing Midland Professional Championship. Charlie Ward retained the title in 1934.[55] Bill Firkins won in 1935, while Bill Branch won by seven strokes in 1936 and Freddie Beck won in 1937.[56][57][58] Except in 1935, when the event was not held, the winner gained entry to the end-of-season limited-field Dunlop-Metropolitan Tournament. Herbert Manton won the championship by four strokes in 1938.[59] The Daily Mail Tournament had restarted in 1935. Sectional qualifying was initially separate from the championship but in the 1939 the two were combined. The event was over two days and was won by Bill Martin.[60]

The championship restarted in September 1946, also acting as qualifying for the News of the World Match Play. However, from 1947 it returned to an early season event. Walter Lees won in 1946 with his older brother Arthur Lees winning in 1948 and 1949.[61][62] Charlie Ward, the 1933 and 1934 champion, won three more times in the 1950s, in 1950, 1953 and 1955, and for a sixth time in 1963.[63] Another multiple winner was Jack Hargreaves, who won in 1952 and 1960.[64] Sectional qualifying for the News of the World ended in 1961 and from 1962 was replaced by local qualifying immediately before the event. The 1965 championship was reduced to 27 holes after early morning delays meant that it proved impossible for the entire field to complete 36 holes in a single day.[65] From 1966 the event was played over two days. Stuart Murray was the most successful golfer in the 1960s, winning three times, in 1964, 1967 and 1968.[66]

Brian Waites won four times in the 1970s, in 1972, 1977, 1978 and 1979. He won in 1977 in a sudden-death playoff, the first in the championship's history, and in a second playoff in 1979.[67][68] Uniroyal sponsored the event from 1970 to 1977.

Winners

edit
Year Winner Score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Ref
Midland Professional Championship
1898   David Brown 238 1 stroke   Sydney Wingate Harborne [8]
1899   Alfred Toogood 167 1 stroke   James Sherlock Sandwell Park [12]
1900   Tom Williamson 157 2 strokes   George Cawsey Derbyshire [13]
1901   James Sherlock 156 4 strokes   George Cawsey Atherstone [14]
1902   Tom Williamson 152 1 stroke   Alfred Lewis Bilston [17]
1903   James Sherlock 152 9 strokes   George Cawsey
  Laurence Gourlay
  Willie Lewis
Cleeve Hill [19]
1904   Alfred Lewis 153 1 stroke   James Sherlock Sutton Coldfield [22][69]
1905   Tom Williamson 159 Playoff[a]   James Sherlock Harborne [23][24][70]
1906   Jack Fulford 153 1 stroke   William Jeffries Derbyshire [25]
1907   Tom Williamson 151 1 stroke   George Cawsey
  George Coburn
Robin Hood [26][71]
1908   George Cawsey 150 2 strokes   Tom Williamson Notts [27][72]
1909   Tom Williamson 145 4 strokes   Frank Coltart Leicestershire [28][73]
1910   Edward Veness 151 2 strokes   Jack Oke Stourbridge [29][74]
1911   Tom Williamson 153 1 stroke   Jack Bloxham
  George Tuck
Ladbrook Park [32][75]
1912   George Buckle 150 Playoff[b]   Harry Cawsey Seacroft [33][34]
1913   George Tuck 153 1 stroke   George Buckle Little Aston [35]
1914–1918: No tournament
1919   Bert Weastell 149 Playoff[c]   Len Holland Sandwell Park [36]
1920   Tom Williamson 151 Playoff[d]   George Buckle
  Dick Wheildon
Moseley [37][38]
1921   Willie Robertson 144 1 stroke   George Buckle Robin Hood [40]
1922   Tom Williamson 144 1 stroke   Len Holland Copt Heath [41]
1923   George Buckle 138 Playoff[e]   Ernest Hanton Edgbaston [76][42]
1924   Jack Bloxham 146 Playoff[f]   George Buckle
  Len Holland
  George Tuck
Olton [77][43]
1925   George Buckle 144 3 strokes   Jim Morris
  George Tuck
  Tom Williamson
Walmley [44]
1926   Ted Douglas 144 1 stroke   Tom Barber Finham Park [45]
1927   Tom Barber 147 Playoff[g]   Archie Compston Harborne [46][47]
1928   Frank Weston 149 Playoff[h]   Moses O'Neill
  Charles Pixton
  Tom Richards
  Dick Wheildon
Handsworth [48][49]
1929   George Buckle 144 Playoff[i]   Tom Green North Worcestershire [78][50]
1930   Tom Green 144 1 stroke   Michael Bingham
  Tom Williamson
Copt Heath [51]
1931   Tom Green 139 4 strokes   Bill Firkins
  Bob Pemberton
Castle Bromwich [52]
1932   Tom Barber 143 Playoff[j]   James Adwick
  Bert Gadd
Henbury [53]
1933   Charlie Ward 145 2 strokes   Tom Barber
  Algy Holton
Little Aston [54]
Dunlop-Midland Professional Championship
1934   Charlie Ward 143 2 strokes   Bill Martin
  Tom Richards
  Willie Robertson
Olton [55]
1935   Bill Firkins 150 1 stroke   Bill Hancock
  Norman Roffe
Little Aston [56]
1936   Bill Branch 137 7 strokes   Freddie Beck Sandwell Park [57]
1937   Freddie Beck 141 1 stroke   George Buckle Harborne [58]
Midland Professional Championship
1938   Herbert Manton 139 4 strokes   Jack Hargreaves
  Jack Loach
Beau Desert [59]
1939   Bill Martin 145 5 strokes   Norman Roffe
  George Johnson
Woodhall Spa [60]
1940–1945: No tournament
1946   Walter Lees 140 4 strokes   Jack Cawsey
  Leslie Cliffe
Sandwell Park [61]
1947   Ken Adwick 144 1 stroke   Bill Branch
  Charlie Ward
North Shore [79]
1948   Arthur Lees 143 Playoff[k]   Tom Hassall Trentham [80][81]
1949   Arthur Lees 136 1 stroke   Charlie Ward Blackwell [62]
1950   Charlie Ward 138 Playoff[l]   Jack Hargreaves Moor Hall [82]
1951   Ron Moses 145 Playoff[m]   Bert Williamson Sandwell Park [83][84]
1952   Jack Hargreaves 143 Playoff[n]   Charlie Ward Copt Heath [85][86]
1953   Charlie Ward 143 Playoff[o]   Jack Hargreaves
  Edgar Noke
Harborne [87][88]
1954   Alan Cunningham 142 1 stroke   Frank Jowle Olton [89]
1955   Charlie Ward 142 3 strokes   Frank Jowle South Staffordshire [63]
1956   Bob Hastelow 137 Playoff[p]   Charlie Ward Robin Hood [90][91]
1957   David Snell 145 1 stroke   George Maisey
  Ralph Moffitt
Seacroft [92]
1958   Jack Cawsey 141 1 stroke   Tony Grubb
  Frank Jowle
  Charlie Ward
Hawkstone Park [93]
1959   George Maisey 140 1 stroke   Ralph Moffitt Luffenham Heath [94]
1960   Jack Hargreaves 137 4 strokes   Peter Butler
  Bryon Hutchinson
Ladbrook Park [64]
1961   Peter Butler 142 Playoff[q]   George Johnson Hawkstone Park [95][96]
1962   Tony Rees 141 1 stroke   Peter Butler
  Ralph Moffitt
Luffenham Heath [97]
1963   Charlie Ward 139 2 strokes   Peter Butler Edgbaston [98]
1964   Stuart Murray 139 1 stroke   Peter Butler
  Ralph Moffitt
  Don Smart
  David Talbot
Rushcliffe [99]
1965   Sean Hunt 102[r] 2 strokes   Don Smart
  John Wiggett
Hawkstone Park [65]
1966   John Anderson 143 3 strokes   David Lait
  Ted Large
Coxmoor [100]
1967   Stuart Murray 143 Playoff[s]   John Anderson Whittington Barracks [101][102]
1968   Stuart Murray 143 3 strokes   Maurice Bembridge Olton [66]
1969   Terry Squires 144 1 stroke   Peter Butler
  David Snell
  Brian Waites
Shifnal [103]
Uniroyal Midland PGA Championship
1970   David Llewellyn 138 2 strokes   Bob Johnson Moor Hall [104]
1971   Bob Beattie 142 1 stroke   Maurice Bembridge South Staffordshire [105]
1972   Brian Waites 138 3 strokes   Eamonn Darcy Kedleston Park [106]
1973   Richard Livingston 140 Playoff[t]   David Snell Handsworth [107][108]
1974   Mike Gallagher 137 2 strokes   Ted Large
  David Llewellyn
  Brian Waites
Stratford-on-Avon [109]
1975   Hugh Boyle 144 1 stroke   Terry Squires Peterborough Milton [110]
1976   Paul Herbert 138 5 strokes   Paul Bottell
  Tony Grubb
  Ian Richardson
Longcliffe [111]
1977   Brian Waites 138 Playoff[u]   Phil Weaver Coxmoor [67]
Midland PGA Championship
1978   Brian Waites 135 5 strokes   Ian Richardson
  Phil Weaver
Ladbrook Park [112]
1979   Brian Waites 143 Playoff[v]   David Steele Lincoln [68]
1980   David Vaughan 141 2 strokes   Brian Waites Barnham Broom [113]
1981   David Stewart 140 2 strokes   Richard Livingston Burton-on-Trent [114]
1982   Pip Elson 136 4 strokes   David Dunk Staverton Park [115]
1983   Tony Minshall 144 2 strokes   Bob Larratt Staverton Park [116]
1984   Mark Mouland 136 Playoff[w]   Steve Marr Staverton Park [117]
1985   Kevin Hayward 142 Playoff[x]   Andy Griffiths Staverton Park [118]
1986   Tony Skingle 70[y] Playoff[z]   Philip Hinton
  Phil Weaver
Sutton Coldfield [119]
1987   Ross McFarlane[aa] 272 4 strokes   Mark Mouland Staverton [120]
1988   Graham Farr 276 3 strokes   Jim Rhodes Kings Norton [121]
1989   Joe Higgins 138 4 strokes   Graham Farr Forest of Arden [122]
1990   Gary Stafford 275 8 strokes   Graham Farr Forest of Arden [123]
1991   Kevin Dickens 283 5 strokes   Chris Hall Forest of Arden [124]
1992   Joe Higgins 286 2 strokes   Stephen Russell South Staffordshire [125]
1993   Peter Baker 143 1 stroke   Jim Payne The Warwickshire [126]
1994   Peter Baker 143 2 strokes   David Eddiford
  John King
The Warwickshire [127]
1995   Shane Rose 141 Playoff[ab]   Cameron Clark The Warwickshire [128]
1996   David J. Russell 137 1 stroke   Peter Baker
  Neil Turley
The Warwickshire [129]
1997   Joe Higgins 137 2 strokes   Peter Baker
  Paul Wesselingh
The Belfry [130]
1998   Steve Webster 137 1 stroke   Joe Higgins The Belfry [131]
1999   Chris Hall 136 4 strokes   Carl Mason
  Andy Stokes
The Belfry [132]
2000   David J. Russell 134 8 strokes   Matt McGuire
  Darren Prosser
The Belfry [133]
2001   Tim Rouse 210 1 stroke   Martin Poxon Belton Woods [134]
2002   Robert Rock 213 2 strokes   Alasdair Thomas Belton Woods [135]
2003   Philip Edwards 209 1 stroke   Brian Rimmer Belton Woods [136]
2004   Paul Streeter 213 2 strokes   Brian Rimmer Belton Woods [137]
2005   Adrian Carey 214 Playoff[ac]   Paul Bagshaw Belton Woods [138]
2006   Paul Streeter 211 Playoff[ad]   Daniel Greenwood Belton Woods [139]
2007   Ian Lyner 211 2 strokes   Simon Lilly Belton Woods [140]
2008   Ian Walley 201 Playoff[ae]   Simon Lilly Belton Woods [141]
2009   Cameron Clark 211 2 strokes   Ian Walley Belton Woods [142]
2010   Cameron Clark 200 9 strokes   Paul Streeter Belton Woods [143]
2011   Matthew Cort 196 2 strokes   Paul Streeter Belton Woods [144]
2012   Jak Hamblett 136 1 stroke   Craig Shave Belton Woods [145]
2013   Matthew Cort 131 2 strokes   James Whatley Cold Ashby [146]
2014   Paul Broadhurst 129 Playoff   Matthew Cort Shifnal [147]
2015   Matthew Cort 128 6 strokes   Luke Towler
  Andrew Willey
Shifnal [148]
2016   Paul Streeter and
  Andrew Willey
131 Playoff Tied[af] Shifnal [149]
2017   Luke Towler 136 Playoff   Christopher Evans
  James Freeman
  Andrew Willey
Shifnal [150]
2018   Andrew Willey 68[ag] 1 stroke   Matthew Cort
  James Whatley
Shifnal [151]
2019   James Brittain 134 1 stroke   Andrew Willey Shifnal [152]
2020   James Brittain 136 3 strokes   Cameron Hoggarth
  Craig Shave
Moseley [153]
2021   Adam Keogh 133 1 stroke   Simon Lilly
  Craig Shave
Moseley [154]
2022   James Whatley 127 2 strokes   James Freeman
  Simon Lilly
Sapey [155]
2023   Daniel Whitby-Smith 63[ah] 2 strokes   Jordan Boulton
  James Whatley
  Andrew Willey
Harborne [156]
  1. ^ The tie between Williamson and Sherlock was resolved at the autumn meeting at Kings Norton which Williamson won with a score of 145, Sherlock scoring 153.
  2. ^ Buckle and Cawsey tied at 76 after an 18-hole playoff the following morning. They played a further 18 holes in the afternoon with Buckle scoring 79 and Cawsey 82.
  3. ^ Weastell beat Holland 41 to 43 in a 9-hole playoff, played the same evening.
  4. ^ Williamson and Wheildon tied on 148 with Buckle on 153 after a 36-hole playoff, played the following day. Williamson beat Wheildon 39 to 40 after a further 9 holes.
  5. ^ Buckle beat Hanton 74 to 75 in an 18-hole playoff, played the following day.
  6. ^ Bloxham scored 73 in a playoff, played the following day, Holland and Tuck scored 75 while Buckle scored 76.
  7. ^ Compston left immediately after the championship to play in the German Open and did not turn up for the playoff on the following day.
  8. ^ Weston won a playoff, played the following day, with 74, ahead of Wheildon with 76, O'Neill 77, Richards 78 and Pixton 79.
  9. ^ Buckle beat Green 74 to 76 in the 18-hole playoff, played the same day.
  10. ^ In a playoff Barber scored 73, Adwick 78 and Gadd 82.
  11. ^ Lees beat Hassall 68 to 75 in a playoff.
  12. ^ Ward beat Hargreaves 33 to 38 in a playoff, played the same evening.
  13. ^ Moses beat Williamson 70 to 73.
  14. ^ Hargreaves beat Ward 70 to 75.
  15. ^ Ward scored 71, Noke 72 and Hargreaves 75.
  16. ^ Hastelow beat Ward 69 to 73.
  17. ^ Butler beat Johnson 67 to 70.
  18. ^ The event was reduced to 27 holes.
  19. ^ Murray beat Anderson 71 to 78.
  20. ^ Livingston beat Snell 72 to 73.
  21. ^ Waites won with a par at the second sudden-death hole.
  22. ^ Waites won with a par at the first extra hole.
  23. ^ Mouland won at the first extra hole.
  24. ^ Hayward won at the second extra hole.
  25. ^ The event was reduced to 18 holes after the first day was abandoned because of bad weather.
  26. ^ Skingle won at the second extra hole, Hinton having dropped out at the first.
  27. ^ McFarlane won the event but Mouland became the Midland Professional champion since McFarlane was not a Midland member.
  28. ^ Rose won with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  29. ^ Carey won with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  30. ^ Streeter won with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  31. ^ Walley won with an eagle at the fifth extra hole.
  32. ^ The sudden-death playoff was stopped after three holes due to darkness.
  33. ^ The event was reduced to 18 holes because of strong winds.
  34. ^ The event was reduced to 18 holes because of bad weather.

Additional source:[157]

From 1911 to 1927 (except in 1921) and in 1946 the championships were also the Midland section qualifying events for the News of the World Matchplay. The 1939 championship was the Midland section qualifying event for the Daily Mail Tournament. The 1954 championship acted as the qualifying event for the Goodwin (Sheffield) Foursomes Tournament while the 1959 event was the qualifying for the Sherwood Forest Foursomes Tournament.

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Midland Club of Professional Golfers". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 9 December 1897. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Professional competition at Warley". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 10 December 1897. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "The Midland Professional Club". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 13 December 1897. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "The second of a series". Birmingham Daily Mail. 11 February 1898. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "The Midland Professional Club". Warwickshire Herald. 17 February 1898. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "The next meeting of the Midland professional club". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 5 May 1898. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Professional tournament at Harborne". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 13 May 1898. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Midland Counties Professional Golf Championship". Birmingham Daily Post. 13 May 1898. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "The championship meeting of the Midland Counties Professionals Club". Birmingham Daily Post. 13 May 1898. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Professional tourney at Olton". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 11 November 1898. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "During his stay". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 17 November 1898. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Success of the Minchinhampton pro". The Gloucestershire Echo. 19 May 1899. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "The Midland counties professional golf club". Derby Daily Telegraph. 26 April 1900. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Midland professional championship". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 19 April 1901. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Midland competition". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 22 February 1902. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "The Midland Professionals". The Times. 26 March 1902. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Professional tourney at Bilston". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 17 April 1902. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Professional golfers' tournament". The Daily Telegraph. 2 October 1902. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "Professional tournament at Cheltenham". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 23 April 1903. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Professional tournament at Nottingham". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 8 October 1903. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "On the links". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 8 October 1903. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "Professional tourney at Streetly". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 21 April 1904. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Professional tourney at Harborne". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 20 April 1905. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b "T. Williamson, Professional champion". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 21 September 1905. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b "Professional championship at Derby". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 26 April 1906. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b "Professional championship goes to Notts". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 25 April 1907. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b "Professional tourney at Hollinwell". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 16 April 1908. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "Professional tournament at Leicester". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 22 April 1909. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b "Midland golf". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 21 April 1910. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Now beginning with next big competition". Birmingham Daily Mail. 23 May 1911. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Professional golf". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 7 April 1911. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b "Midland golf". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 14 September 1911. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b "Professional golf". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 26 September 1912. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b "G. R. Buckle wins". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 27 September 1912. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b "£400 tourney". Birmingham Gazette. 18 September 1913. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b "Three ties". Birmingham Gazette. 4 September 1919. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Exciting golf". Birmingham Gazette. 16 September 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ a b "New Midland champion". Birmingham Gazette. 17 September 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Gossip from the links". Birmingham Gazette. 16 February 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ a b "A surprise at Robin Hood". Birmingham Gazette. 15 September 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ a b "Professional golf". Birmingham Gazette. 14 September 1922. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ a b "Buckle wins by one stroke". Birmingham Gazette. 7 September 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b "New Midland golf champion". Birmingham Gazette. 12 September 1924. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ a b "Coveted golf title won for third time". Birmingham Gazette. 10 September 1925. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ a b "New course record set up at Finham Park". Birmingham Gazette. 9 September 1926. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ a b "Aggregate of 147 by Compston and Barber". Birmingham Gazette. 8 September 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ a b "Final missed by Compston". Birmingham Gazette. 9 September 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ a b "Keen struggle for golf honours". Birmingham Gazette. 6 September 1928. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ a b "New Midland golf champion". Birmingham Gazette. 7 September 1928. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ a b "G. R. Buckle wins title after a tie". Birmingham Gazette. 20 June 1929. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ a b "Midland professional golf title". Birmingham Gazette. 22 May 1930. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ a b "Title retained by Tom Green of Copt Heath". Birmingham Gazette. 30 April 1931. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b "Barber wins again". Birmingham Gazette. 28 April 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ a b "C. H. Ward's golf triumph". Birmingham Gazette. 27 April 1933. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ a b "C. H. Ward's wins again". Birmingham Gazette. 19 April 1934. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ a b "Title-holder beaten". Birmingham Gazette. 18 April 1935. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ a b "Two record rounds by W. J. Branch". Birmingham Gazette. 9 April 1936. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ a b "A. G .Beck's golf triumph". Birmingham Gazette. 14 April 1937. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ a b "H. R. Manton's record 66 at Beau Desert". Birmingham Gazette. 26 May 1938. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ a b "W. J. Martin Midland champion". Birmingham Gazette. 3 March 1939. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ a b "C. H. Ward fails to qualify". Birmingham Gazette. 12 September 1946. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ a b Camkin, John (26 May 1949). "Lees wins great fight with Ward". Birmingham Gazette. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ a b "C. Ward again wins Midland championship". Birmingham Post. 28 April 1955. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ a b "Hargreaves wins by four strokes". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 28 April 1960. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ a b Woodbine, Maurice (17 April 1965). "Great finish earns title for Hunt". Birmingham Post. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ a b Davies, David (18 July 1968). "'Sheriff' Murray outshoots rivals". Birmingham Post. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ a b Lowe, Desmond (4 June 1977). "Waites takes title again". Nottingham Evening Post. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ a b Davies, David (21 April 1979). "Waites is as good as his forecast". Birmingham Post. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "Professional tournament at Streetly". The Glasgow Herald. 21 April 1904. p. 11.
  70. ^ "The Professional Golfers' Association". The Glasgow Herald. 21 September 1905. p. 9.
  71. ^ "Midland professional tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 25 April 1907. p. 11.
  72. ^ "Golf – Midland professional competition". The Glasgow Herald. 16 April 1908. p. 9.
  73. ^ "Golf – Professional tournament at Leicester". The Glasgow Herald. 22 April 1909. p. 13.
  74. ^ "Midland professional meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 21 April 1910. p. 15.
  75. ^ "£400 professional tournament – Midland qualifying competition". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1911. p. 12.
  76. ^ "Professional golf at Edgbaston". Birmingham Gazette. 6 September 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ^ "Four tie for Midland golf championship". Birmingham Gazette. 11 September 1924. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ^ "Flooded greens at Northfield". Birmingham Gazette. 13 June 1929. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ^ "Ward second for Midland title". Birmingham Gazette. 17 April 1947. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. ^ "Handsworth golfer and Arthur Lees tie". Birmingham Gazette. 21 May 1948. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  81. ^ "Lees is Midland golf champion". Birmingham Gazette. 22 May 1948. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ^ "Ward defeats Hargreaves after replay". Birmingham Post. 25 May 1950. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  83. ^ "A tie for the Midland championship". Birmingham Post. 24 May 1951. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  84. ^ "Sandwell Park club take two championships". Birmingham Post. 25 May 1951. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ "Hargreaves and Ward to replay to-day". Birmingham Post. 24 April 1952. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  86. ^ "Hargreaves beats Ward". Birmingham Post. 25 April 1952. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  87. ^ "Triple replay to decide Midland title". Birmingham Post. 30 April 1953. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  88. ^ "Ward wins replay by one stroke". Birmingham Post. 1 May 1953. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  89. ^ "Cunningham sets up course record in Midland event". Birmingham Post. 29 April 1954. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  90. ^ "Tie between Hastelow and Ward". Birmingham Post. 26 April 1956. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  91. ^ "Hastelow beats Ward in Midland replay". Birmingham Post. 27 April 1956. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  92. ^ "Worksop professional wins Midland title". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 2 May 1957. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  93. ^ "Midland title for J. H. Cawsey". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 1 May 1958. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  94. ^ "G. A. Maisey has a great win". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 30 April 1959. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  95. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (13 April 1961). "Butler recovers well to tie with Johnson". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  96. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (15 April 1961). "Butler's first Midland title". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  97. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (19 April 1962). "Young Rees wins title by one stroke". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  98. ^ "30 years fail to loosen Ward's grip". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. 19 April 1963. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  99. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (30 April 1964). "Murray finishes stroke ahead". Birmingham Post and Birmingham Gazette. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  100. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (26 April 1966). "19-year-old Anderson triumphs". Birmingham Post. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  101. ^ Davies, David (18 May 1967). "Murray misses title by an inch". Birmingham Post. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  102. ^ Davies, David (22 May 1967). "Murray beats weather to win play-off". Birmingham Post. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  103. ^ "Squires goes east with title". Birmingham Post. 18 July 1969. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  104. ^ "Llewellyn takes Midland title". Birmingham Post. 4 June 1970. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  105. ^ Davies, David (27 May 1971). "Decision from St. Andrews costs Bembridge first place and £125". Birmingham Post. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  106. ^ Davies, David (4 May 1972). "Waites adds Uniroyal to his pound side bet". Birmingham Post. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  107. ^ Davies, David (3 May 1973). "Eight-hour wait, then Snell is forced to share the limelight". Birmingham Post. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  108. ^ Davies, David (4 June 1973). "Livingston hangs on to win Uniroyal play-off". Birmingham Post. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  109. ^ Davies, David (4 May 1974). "Gallagher's fine opening takes him to the title". Birmingham Post. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  110. ^ Woodbine, Maurice (31 May 1975). "Boyle home by one stroke". The Daily Telegraph. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  111. ^ Davies, David (26 May 1976). "Herbert sees that justice is done". Birmingham Post. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  112. ^ "Brave Weaver goes down fighting". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 4 August 1978. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  113. ^ "Vaughan new king of Midlands". Sandwell Evening Mail. 13 June 1980. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  114. ^ "Stewart's late burst takes title". Sandwell Evening Mail. 19 June 1981. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
  115. ^ "Elson round in record 66". The Daily Telegraph. 11 June 1982. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  116. ^ "No-luck Larratt robbed". Leicester Mercury. 16 June 1983. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  117. ^ "Experience gives Mouland the edge". The Daily Telegraph. 21 June 1984. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  118. ^ "Hayward wins PGA playoff". The Daily Telegraph. 14 June 1985. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  119. ^ "First victory for Skingle". The Daily Telegraph. 1 August 1986. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  120. ^ "Mark takes glory". Sunday Mercury. 4 October 1987. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  121. ^ "Farr breaks trophy duck". Sunday Mercury. 23 September 1988. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  122. ^ "Midland Professionals' Championship". Evening Mail. 4 October 1989. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  123. ^ "Ace Gary tastes success at last". Birmingham Evening Mail. 31 August 1990. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  124. ^ "Midland PGA Howson Stroke-play Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 12 October 1991. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  125. ^ "Safety-first pays off for below-par Higgins". Birmingham Post. 10 October 1992. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  126. ^ Prentice, Jennifer (6 October 1993). "Baker birdies carry day". The Daily Telegraph. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  127. ^ "Peter Baker". The Daily Telegraph. 18 May 1994. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  128. ^ Blair, Michael (17 May 1995). "Rose finds his Garden of Eden". Birmingham Post. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  129. ^ "David J Russell". The Daily Telegraph. 12 August 1996. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  130. ^ Blair, Michael (18 October 1997). "Emphatic Higgins proves that old habits die hard". Birmingham Post. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  131. ^ Scott, Ged (22 October 1998). "Webster proves his pedigree to snatch victory". Birmingham Post. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  132. ^ Scott, Ged (21 October 1999). "Inclement weather drives Hall to victory". Birmingham Post. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  133. ^ Draper, Roger (26 October 2000). "Russell romps to an eight-shot triumph". Coventry Telegraph. p. 84 – via Newsbank.
  134. ^ "The De Vere Midland Professional Championship". The Birmingham Post. 29 June 2001 – via Newsbank.
  135. ^ "Former Belfry professional Rob Rock". The Birmingham Post. 21 June 2002 – via Newsbank.
  136. ^ "Edwards' late surge earns place in history". The Birmingham Post. 20 June 2003 – via Newsbank.
  137. ^ "De Vere Midland Pro Championship". The Daily Telegraph. 28 April 2004. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  138. ^ "Walmley's Adrian Carey". The Birmingham Post. 29 April 2005 – via Newsbank.
  139. ^ "PGA Midland Pro Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 21 September 2006. p. 84 – via Newspapers.com.
  140. ^ "Midland Professional Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 26 September 2007. p. 66 – via Newspapers.com.
  141. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 23 September 2008. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
  142. ^ "Midland Professional Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 23 September 2009. p. 59 – via Newspapers.com.
  143. ^ "PGA Midland Fineturf Midland Professional Ch'ship". The Daily Telegraph. 1 September 2010. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  144. ^ "Fineturf Lakeland Midland Pros Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  145. ^ "Midland PGA Professionals Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  146. ^ "Midland Professionals' Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  147. ^ "Midland Professionals' Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  148. ^ "PGA Midland Professionals' Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  149. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  150. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  151. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  152. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  153. ^ "Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  154. ^ "EH Smith Midland Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  155. ^ "PGA Midlands Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  156. ^ "PGA Midlands Professional Championship". The PGA. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  157. ^ "PGA Midland Professional Championship – Past Champions". The PGA. Retrieved 31 October 2022.