Penfold Professional Golf League Explained

Penfold Professional Golf League
Location:Northwood, London
Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire
Establishment:1938
Course:Sandy Lodge Golf Club
Little Aston Golf Club
Month Played:June
Final Year:1939
Final Champion:Henry Cotton and Charles Whitcombe

The Penfold Professional Golf League was a professional golf tournament played in England. The event was held twice, in 1938 and 1939. It was contested by 12 players, each playing the other in a round robin format. Everyone played two matches per day for the first five days and another match on the final day, a Saturday. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a halved match. Total prize money was £1,000 with £200 for the winner. The tournament was sponsored by Penfold Golf.

1938

The event was held at Sandy Lodge Golf Club in Northwood, London from 13–18 June. The field consisted of the leading 11 in the 1937 Harry Vardon Trophy standings together with Percy Alliss who had won the 1937 News of the World Matchplay. The Harry Vardon Trophy standings were based on the average score in major stroke play events during the season. The winner of the Yorkshire Evening News Tournament also qualified but since the winner, Arthur Lacey, finished fourth in the averages, there were places for the leading 11 in the averages.[1]

Final table

PosPlayerWHLPts
1 Percy Alliss72216
2 Bert Gadd55115
Reg Whitcombe713
4 Dick Burton52412
Henry Cotton524
Arthur Lacey524
7 Sam King51511
Alf Padgham434
9 Bill Branch3359
10 Charles Whitcombe3268
11 Abe Mitchell3086
12 Paddy Mahon1375

1939

The event was held at Little Aston Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire from 12–17 June. The field consisted of the defending champion, Percy Alliss and the leading 11 in the 1938 Harry Vardon Trophy standings. As in 1937 the Harry Vardon Trophy standings were based on the average score in major stroke play events during the season.[2]

Final table

PosPlayerWHLPts
1 Henry Cotton90218
Charles Whitcombe821
3 Bert Gadd70414
4 Sam King53313
5 Jimmy Adams60512
Alf Padgham605
7 Reg Whitcombe42510
8 Arthur Lacey4169
Alf Perry416
10 Dick Burton4078
11 Dai Rees1375
12 Percy Alliss1284

Winners

Year Winner Country Venue Score Margin
of victory
Runner-up Winner's
share (£)
Ref
1938 16 1 point 200 [3]
1939
18 Tie Shared 200
and 150
[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Times . 23 November 1937 . 6 . Golf – A new professional event.
  2. News: The Times . 18 May 1939 . 5 . Professional league tournament – The order of play.
  3. News: League victory for Alliss – Halved match with Mahon – R Whitcombe and Gadd second . . 4 . 20 June 1938.
  4. News: Another tournament ends in tie – Henry Cotton's fine finish . . 6 . 19 June 1939.