Dunlop-Southport Tournament Explained

Southport Tournament
Location:Southport, England
Establishment:1930
Month Played:May
Final Year:1948
Final Champion:Fred Daly

The Southport Tournament was a professional golf tournament played in the Southport area in North West England. It was founded in 1930 when it was sponsored by a Manchester newspaper, the Daily Dispatch. From 1931 it was sponsored by Dunlop and was known as the Dunlop-Southport Tournament, being jointly funded by Southport Corporation. The last event was played in 1948 when Southport Corporation withdrew their funding.[1] It was replaced by the "Dunlop Tournament", played at various location in the United Kingdom. The tournament was played in May and was played over 72 holes of stroke play. Qualifying, over 36 holes, took place at local courses immediately before the tournament.

Henry Cotton dominated the first six events, winning twice and being runner-up in the other four.

The 1939 event was cancelled because of difficulties finding suitable courses for qualifying and the event itself.

Winners

Year Winner Venue Score Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Winner's
share (£)
Ref
Daily Dispatch Southport Tournament
1930 285 4 strokes 200 [2] [3]
Dunlop-Southport Tournament
1931 287 2 strokes 360 [4]
1932 281 Playoff
(36 holes)
360 [5] [6]
1933 293 1 stroke [7]
1934 279 2 strokes 300 [8]
1935 295 1 stroke 315 [9]
1936 282 2 strokes 315 [10]
1937 280 3 strokes [11]
1938 287 2 strokes 315 [12]
1939: No tournament
1940–45: No tournament due to World War II
1946 296 1 stroke 350 [13]
1947 285 5 strokes 350 [14]
1948 290 Playoff
(36 holes)
350 [15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Times . 18 December 1947 . 2 . Golf – New year's professional tournaments.
  2. News: Great golf at Southport – Compston wins . . 3 . 10 May 1930.
  3. News: Compston wins British golf – Horton Smith deadlocked with Henry Cotton for second money . . 58 . 9 May 1930.
  4. News: British golf triumph – Cotton wins at Southport . . 3 . 16 May 1931.
  5. News: A thrilling finish – Twine equals Cotton's wins at Southport . . 18 . 14 May 1932.
  6. News: Cotton's £200 shot – One stroke victory at Southport . . 18 . 16 May 1932.
  7. News: Davies wins by a stroke – Thrilling finish to Southport tourny . . 7 . 13 May 1933.
  8. News: The Times . 5 May 1934 . 6 . Padgham wins at Southport – Remarkable scoring.
  9. News: Southport £1600 tournament – C Whitcombe's putting victory . . 7 . 20 May 1935.
  10. News: Padgham wins again – Prize-money now totals £1015 . . 3 . 9 May 1936.
  11. News: Richard Burton wins £1600 golf tournament – Charles Whitcombe in second place: Jack M'Leans good showing . . 19 . 8 May 1937.
  12. News: Padgham's bid in vain – Don Curtis wins £1600 tournament . . 3 . 7 May 1938.
  13. News: Faulkner wins at Southport – Exciting golf finish . . 4 . 11 May 1946.
  14. News: Another fine win for Von Nida – £850 in three weeks . . 2 . 10 May 1947.
  15. News: Two Irishmen tie for first prize at Southport . . 4 . 8 May 1948.
  16. News: Daly's sound victory at Southport – Opponents poor finish . . 4 . 10 May 1948.