1903 News of the World Match Play

The 1903 News of the World Match Play was the first News of the World Match Play tournament. It was played from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 October at Sunningdale Golf Club. 32 players competed in a straight knock-out competition, with each match contested over 18 holes, except for the final which was over 36 holes. The winner received £100 out of a total prize fund of £200. James Braid defeated Ted Ray 4 & 3 in the final to win the tournament.

1903 News of the World Match Play
Tournament information
Dates13–15 October 1903
LocationSunningdale, Berkshire, England
Course(s)Sunningdale Golf Club
Organised byThe PGA
FormatMatch play – 18 holes
(Final 36 holes)
Statistics
Field32 players
Prize fund£200
Winner's share£100
Champion
James Braid
def. Ted Ray 4 & 3
Sunningdale Golf Club
Location in England

Qualification

Entry was restricted to members of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA). Qualification was by a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions; one for each of the five PGA sections. The number of qualifiers from each section was based on the membership of that section. The Southern section had 16 qualifiers, the Midland and Northern sections had 5 each, the Scottish section 4 and the Irish section 2.[1] In the event of a tie for places there was a playoff.

The Northern section held their qualification at Huddersfield on 22 September with Ted Ray winning with a score of 148.[2] The Scottish section qualification was the following day at Earlsferry with Robert Thomson winning with a score of 153. Arnaud Massy failed to qualify,[3] The Irish section played on 24 September at Lahinch with George Coburn winning with a score of 157.[4] The Southern section played on 29 September at Acton with J.H. Taylor winning with a score of 140. There was a tie for the final two places and there was a 36-hole play-off the following day.[5] The Midland section played on 7 October at Hollinwell with Tom Williamson winning with a score of 151.[6] Harry Vardon was ill and didn't enter.

The qualifiers were:

Format

The matches were over 18 holes except for the final which was over 36 holes. Extra holes were played in the event of a tied match. Two rounds were played on the first day, two more on the second day with the final on the third day.

Results

Source:[7][8][9][10]

First round
13 October 		Second round
13 October 		Third round
14 October 		Semi-finals
14 October 		Final
15 October
Arthur Gray 3&1
Willie MacNamara Arthur Gray
Tom Simpson J.H. Taylor 2&1
J.H. Taylor 3&1 J.H. Taylor 3&1
John Milne Sandy Herd
Andrew Scott 3&2 Andrew Scott
Sandy Herd 7&6 Sandy Herd 4&3
George Carter J.H. Taylor
Walter Toogood James Braid 4&2
James Hepburn 2up James Hepburn
Jack Ross James Braid 5&4
James Braid 6&5 James Braid 19h
Harry Cawsey Alfred Toogood
Alfred Toogood 4&3 Alfred Toogood 1up
Jack White Tom Williamson
Tom Williamson 1up James Braid 4&3
John Clucas Ted Ray
James Forrester 2&1 James Forrester 2&1
Robert Thomson 4&3 Robert Thomson
Ralph Smith James Forrester
William Jeffries George Coburn 5&4
George Coburn 3&2 George Coburn 4&3
James Sherlock Willie Fernie
Willie Fernie 19h George Coburn
Ted Ray 3&2 Ted Ray 4&3
Jack Rowe Ted Ray 7&5
Tom Vardon 3&2 Tom Vardon
Philip Wynne Ted Ray 2&1
John Whiting Rowland Jones
Rowland Jones 6&4 Rowland Jones 7&5
Arthur Mitchell David Herd
David Herd 1up

Prize money

The winner received £100 and a gold medal, the runner-up £30 and a silver medal, the losing semi-finalists £15 and a bronze medal, while the third round losers received £10, making a total prize fund of £200.

References
  1. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 3 August 1903. p. 10.
  2. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 23 September 1903. p. 5.
  3. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 24 September 1903. p. 9.
  4. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 25 September 1903. p. 10.
  5. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 30 September 1903. p. 9.
  6. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 8 October 1903. p. 5.
  7. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 9 October 1903. p. 9.
  8. "Golf – The professional tournament – Defeat of Jack White and Tom Vardon". The Glasgow Herald. 14 October 1903. p. 12.
  9. "Golf – The great professional tournament – Braid and Ray the finalists". The Glasgow Herald. 15 October 1903. p. 11.
  10. "Golf – The great professional tournament – Success of James Braid". The Glasgow Herald. 16 October 1903. p. 15.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.