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London Professional Foursomes Tournament

(Redirected from Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament)

The London Professional Foursomes Tournament was a professional golf tournament played annually from 1907 to 1911. In 1909 the southern section of the PGA took over the organisation of the event which was called the Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament. The winners received the "Dewar Shields" donated by Sir Thomas Dewar.

London Professional Foursomes
Tournament information
LocationEngland
Established1907
Final year1911
Final champion
Tom Ball and Fred Robson

The Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament started in 1911 and the Southern Professional Foursomes was not played again.

History edit

1907 edit

In late 1906 Sir Thomas Dewar presented a 50-guinea challenge cup for a London Professional Foursomes Tournament.[1] The tournament was a knock-out event. In the early rounds the first named couple in the draw had the choice of course. The semi-finals and final were to be played at a neutral venue. 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.[2] Initially 7 first-round matches were played but, through some oversight, this only reduced the number of pairs to 18 and two further first-round matches were needed to reduce the number of pairs from the initial 25 to 16.[3] The final was between Rowland Jones/Alfred Toogood and Ralph Smith/Albert Tingey, Sr. and was arranged for 27 February. However, Jones had arranged to play in Grand Duke Michael's Tournament in Cannes on 26 and 27 February and so could not play on the pre-arranged date. It was suggested that the final be postponed but it was argued that Jones should not have entered unless he was available and so Smith and Tingey claimed the final.[4][5] A fill-in match involving Smith and Tingey was arranged. The chief prizes were a pair of shields to be held for one year and gold medals presented by Mr F A Johnson.[4]

In late August a 108-hole match was arranged on the Isle of Wight between the finalists. 36 holes were played on three successive days on three different courses, at St Helens, the Needles and Sandown.[6] Jones and Toogood, both of whom were from the Isle of Wight, won comfortably 12&10.[7]

The interest in the London Professional Foursomes led to running of a Midland Professional Foursomes tournament using a similar format.[8]

1908 edit

The format was revised for 1908 with each round being played on the same day on a specific course. 13 matches were played at Banstead Downs on 3 March which reduced the field from 29 to 16 pairs.[9] The final was arranged for 6 April at Walton Heath and was to be between George Duncan/Charles Mayo and Ben Sayers, Jr./Jack White. Unfortunately Jack White was ill and, a postponement not being allowed, the final was awarded to George Duncan and Charles Mayo.[10]

1909 edit

In early 1909 the southern section of the PGA took over the management of the event from Mr Johnson. Entry was restricted to southern section members.[11] The first four rounds were played at Bushey Hall on 6 and 7 April, matches being reduced to 18 holes. 27 pairs played.[12] The 36-hole final was played at Walton Heath on 26 May and resulted in a convincing win for James Batley and William Horne.[13]

1910 edit

The 1910 event was planned for 26 to 28 January at Stoke Poges with four 18-hole rounds on the first two days followed by a 36-hole final. 26 pairs played. The ground was very frosty for the first two days and then there was snow followed by a rapid thaw which left the course waterlogged and the final had to be postponed.[14] The final was rearranged for 8 February and was won by the Taylor brothers, J.H. and Josh.[15]

1911 edit

The 1911 event was played from 14 to 16 March at Fulwell. As in 1910 there were four 18-hole rounds on the first two days followed by a 36-hole final. 29 pairs played. The final was won by Tom Ball and Fred Robson.[16]

Winners edit

Year Winners Country Venue Margin
of victory		 Runners-up Winner's
share (£)		 Ref
London Professional Foursomes Tournament
1907 Ralph Smith &
Albert Tingey, Sr.		   England
  England		 Bramshot Golf Club Walk-over   Rowland Jones &
  Alfred Toogood		 [17]
1908 George Duncan &
Charles Mayo		   Scotland
  England		 Walton Heath Golf Club Walk-over   Ben Sayers, Jr. &
  Jack White		 [18]
Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament
1909 James Batley &
William Horne		   England
  England		 Walton Heath Golf Club 11 & 10   James Bradbeer &
  George Charles		 [13]
1910 J.H. Taylor &
Josh Taylor		   England
  England		 Stoke Poges Golf Club 6 & 5   James Bradbeer &
  George Charles		 [15]
1911 Tom Ball &
Fred Robson		   England
  England		 Fulwell Golf Club 3 & 2   Charles Johns &
  Anthony Kettley		 [16]

References edit

  1. ^ "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 21 December 1906. p. 10.
  2. ^ "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 22 December 1906. p. 7.
  3. ^ "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 19 January 1907. p. 7.
  4. ^ a b "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 22 February 1907. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 23 February 1907. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Professional Foursome for £50". The Times. 23 May 1907. p. 10.
  7. ^ "Professional Foursome for £50". The Times. 31 August 1907. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Midland professional foursome competition". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 26 January 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 4 March 1908. p. 13.
  10. ^ "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 7 April 1908. p. 11.
  11. ^ "London Professional Foursomes". The Times. 20 March 1909. p. 20.
  12. ^ "Golf – Southern Professional Foursomes". The Times. 8 April 1909. p. 4.
  13. ^ a b "London professional foursomes". The Glasgow Herald. 27 May 1909. p. 13.
  14. ^ "Golf – Southern Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 29 January 1910. p. 16.
  15. ^ a b "Southern professional foursomes – The Taylors win the final". The Glasgow Herald. 9 February 1910. p. 13.
  16. ^ a b "Professional golf foursome – Victory of Ball and Robson". The Glasgow Herald. 17 March 1911. p. 9.
  17. ^ "Professional match at Bramshot". The Glasgow Herald. 28 February 1907. p. 13.
  18. ^ "London foursomes". The Glasgow Herald. 7 April 1908. p. 13.
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