Midland Open Explained

Midland Open
Location:English Midlands
Establishment:1923
Format:Stroke-play
Current Champion:Matthew Cort

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.

History

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]

Dick Wheildon won the first event in 1923 with Carl Bretherton the leading amateur, tied for 10th place. Michael Bingham won 1924 with Bretherton again the leading amateur, tied for 7th place. There was amateur winner in 1925, Robert Humphries winning by four strokes from George Buckle who took the first prize as the leading professional. Tom Williamson won in 1926 with Bretherton again the leading amateur. 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. Jim Morris won in 1928 with Stanley Lunt the leading amateur.

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. In 1930 Michael Bingham became the first player to win the event twice, finishing three strokes ahead of the amateur Eric Fiddian. There was tie in 1931 between Tom Barber and Tom Williamson. There was no playoff and the title was shared. Bert Gadd was another multiple winner, winning in 1934 and 1935. He was followed by the amateur Charlie Stowe who won in 1936 and 1937. Max Faulkner won in 1938 during his break spell as the professional at Leamington Spa. 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.[8] Walter Lees won the event, a stroke ahead of Jack Hargreaves. Bert Williamson won in 1948 with a record low score of 136. 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.

There was an amateur success in 1950, with John Llewellyn Morgan winning the event. Charlie Ward, the 1949 winner, won again in 1951, 1952 and 1954, with Frank Miller winning in 1953. 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. Butler won in 1956, 1958 and 1960, with Ward having his fifth win 1957 and David Snell in 1959. 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.

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. Moffitt won again in 1964 and 1970. Peter Butler had his fourth and fifth wins in 1965 and 1969, while David Snell won for the second time in 1966. In 1967 56-year-old Tom Collinge won on his home course at Olton.

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. 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. The Welsh professional Andy Griffiths won twice, in 1978 and 1980. 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.[9]

Winners

Year Winner Score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Ref
Midland Amateur and Professional Tournament
1923 148 3 strokes Little Aston [10] [11]
1924 144 1 stroke Moseley [12]
1925 Robert Humphries (a) 141 4 strokes Copt Heath [13]
1926 142 2 strokes Handsworth [14]
1927 William Tweddell (a) 146 3 strokes Blackwell [15]
1928 146 1 stroke Sandwell Park [16]
1929 144 4 strokes Finham Park [17]
1930 139 3 strokes Eric Fiddian (a) Stourbridge [18]
1931 141 Tied Olton [19]
1932 140 5 strokes Sutton Coldfield [20]
1933 142 2 strokes Harborne [21]
1934 145 1 stroke Castle Bromwich [22]
1935 137 6 strokes Little Aston [23]
1936 Charlie Stowe (a) 137 3 strokes South Staffordshire [24]
1937 Charlie Stowe (a) 137 1 stroke Sandwell Park [25]
1938 143 1 stroke Moseley [26]
1939–1946: No tournament
Midland Open Championship
1947 141 1 stroke Sutton Coldfield [27]
1948 136 2 strokes Blackwell [28]
1949 135 6 strokes Sutton Coldfield [29]
1950 John Llewellyn Morgan (a) 143 1 stroke Little Aston [30]
1951 136 3 strokes Sandwell Park [31]
1952 139 3 strokes Moor Hall [32]
1953 140 3 strokes Blackwell [33]
1954 140 1 stroke Sutton Coldfield [34]
1955 137 Playoff Moseley [35] [36]
1956 139 3 strokes Sandwell Park [37]
1957 141 2 strokes Little Aston [38]
1958 140 1 stroke Olton [39]
1959 134 2 strokes Moor Hall [40]
1960 139 1 stroke Sutton Coldfield [41]
1961 130 11 strokes Blackwell [42]
1962 141 Playoff Harley Roberts (a) Handsworth [43] [44]
1963 142 1 stroke Copt Heath [45]
1964 142 Playoff Little Aston [46] [47]
1965 144 2 strokes Sandwell Park [48]
1966 139 3 strokes Blackwell [49]
1967 137 2 strokes Geoff Marks (a) Olton [50]
1968 217 1 stroke Little Aston [51]
1969 210 2 strokes Blackwell [52]
1970 210 Playoff Olton [53] [54]
1971 205 3 strokes Blackwell [55]
1972 141 1 stroke Little Aston [56]
1973 Keith Hodgkinson (a) 142 1 stroke Olton [57]
1974 146 1 stroke Sandwell Park [58]
1975 Sandy Lyle (a) 137 Playoff Walsall [59] [60]
1976 136 9 strokes Hill Valley [61]
1977 144 Playoff Hill Valley [62]
1978 136 7 strokes Hill Valley [63]
1979 144 Playoff Redditch [64]
1980 146 Playoff Forest of Arden [65]
1981 136 4 strokes Forest of Arden [66]
Midland All Stars Championship
1982 288 1 stroke Alan Roach (a) Forest of Arden [67]
1983 286 2 strokes Purley Chase [68]
1984–1991: Not held
Midland Open
1992 287 1 stroke The Vale [69]
1993 281 1 stroke The Vale [70]
1994 Steve Webster (a) 205 1 stroke Kilworth Springs [71]
1995 201 3 strokes Welcombe [72]
1996 270 1 stroke Staberton Park [73]
1997–2002: Not held

Additional source:[74]

Notes and References

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