Northern Professional Championship

The Northern Professional Championship was a professional golf tournament played in Northern England. The event was generally a regional tournament but from 1923 and 1927 and in 1936 it was an open event with significant prize money.

Northern Professional Championship
Tournament information
LocationNorthern England
Established1920

The event was started in 1920 by the Northern section of the PGA with entry restricted to members of that section. In 1923 the Championship became a national event; the Championship being extended to 72 holes with £350 in prize money under the sponsorship of the Manchester Daily Dispatch.[1] In 1925 the prize money was increased to £1000 with £350 for the winner.[2] In early 1928 the Daily Dispatch withdrew their support for the championship which had been planned for Birkdale in July.[3] The tournament did take place but it reverted to an event for the professionals in the Northern section of the PGA. In 1936 the event again became an open tournament called the Morecambe-Penfold Northern Open Championship with prize money of £750.[4] However, this sponsorship only lasted for one event and the championship again became a closed tournament.

History

The first Championship was held in 1920 at the Manchester Golf Club, Hopwood Park. It was a 36-hole medal event and was won by Thomas Renouf after a playoff.[5] The winner received the "Manchester Guardian Cup" and the total prize money was £40.[6] The second event was held at Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds and was won by Arthur Havers, again after a playoff.[7] In 1922 Havers retained the Championship at Blackpool.[8][9]

The 1928 Championship was held at Birkdale Golf Club and was won by Bill Large, Sr..[10] Thomas Renouf, 1920 champion, regained the title in 1929 at Pleasington Golf Club, Blackburn.[11] the 1930 event was held at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club, Durham and was won by local professional Charles Gadd, brother of George, the 1924 and 1926 champion.[12] The event returned to Lytham in 1931 and was won by Bill Davies, a runner-up in 1926 and 1927.[13] Philip Rodgers won in 1932 at Furness Golf Club[14] while Cyril Fryer won in 1933 at Fleetwood Golf Club.[15] Dick Burton won in 1934, played again at Fleetwood Golf Club[16] while Bill Davies, 1931 winner, regained the title in 1935 at Moortown Golf Club.[17]

In 1936 the Championship was an open event called the Morecambe-Penfold Northern Open Championship. It was played at Heysham Golf Club from 9–11 September with prize money of £750. The Times reported that "much of the old prestige has returned to the Northern Professional Championship, which has been thrown open, as in the days when famous players were among the winners".[18] There were 18 holes on the first two days after which the leading 60 played 36 holes on the final day. After the first day Tom Pierpoint led after a 68 with Ted Jarman a stroke behind.[18] After two rounds Jarman led on 139 with four players on 142. Pierpoint faded after a 77. On the final day Jarman scored 74 and 79 to drop well down the leaderboard. Percy Alliss scored 68 and a course record 67 to win by 5 shots from Henry Cotton with Paddy Mahon a further shot behind.[19]

Percy Alliss retained the title in 1937 at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire.[20] The Championship was not contested in 1938 and 1939 but was contested again in 1946.[21]

Winners

This table only gives details from 1923 to 1927 and in 1936 when the Championship was an open event.

YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share (£)		Ref
Daily Dispatch Northern Professional Championship
1923Gene Sarazen United StatesLytham & St Annes Golf Club2902 strokes Walter Hagen100[22]
1924George Gadd EnglandWilmslow Golf Club2873 strokes Frank Ball
Albert Hallam		100[23]
1925Abe Mitchell EnglandLytham & St Annes Golf Club3052 strokes Tom Walton350[24]
1926George Gadd EnglandFormby Golf Club2963 strokes Bill Davies
Bill Mehlhorn
Ernest Whitcombe		350[25]
1927Charles Whitcombe EnglandBlackpool Golf Club2806 strokes Bill Davies350[26]
Morecambe-Penfold Northern Open Championship
1936Percy Alliss EnglandHeysham Golf Club2775 strokes Henry Cotton[19]

References
  1. "The Northern Professional Championship". The Times. 27 January 1923. p. 5.
  2. "Golf – Northern Professional Championship". The Times. 20 January 1925. p. 5.
  3. "Northern Professional Championship". The Times. 10 January 1928. p. 5.
  4. "Professionals at Morecambe – Fine win for Alliss". The Times. 12 September 1936. p. 5.
  5. "Northern Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 May 1920. p. 5.
  6. "Northern Professional Championship". The Times. 13 May 1920. p. 6.
  7. "The Northern Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 27 May 1921. p. 12.
  8. "Havers retains Northern Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 4 May 1922. p. 12.
  9. http://www.golfinggadds.com/page140.htm
  10. "The Northern Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 July 1928. p. 6.
  11. "The Northern Professional title winner". The Glasgow Herald. 6 September 1929. p. 19.
  12. "The Northern Professional Tournament". The Times. 22 August 1930. p. 5.
  13. "W H Davies wins Northern Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 September 1931. p. 19.
  14. "Northern Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 10 September 1932. p. 17.
  15. "Northern Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 8 September 1933. p. 20.
  16. "Golf – Northern Professional Championship". The Times. 31 August 1934. p. 4.
  17. "W H Davies beats Ryder Cup players". The Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1935. p. 18.
  18. "Northern Professional Championship – T Pierpoint leading". The Times. 10 September 1936. p. 5.
  19. "Alliss now Northern Champion – Record final round at Heysham". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1936. p. 6.
  20. "Northern title retained – Alliss wins professional championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 August 1937. p. 7.
  21. http://www.golfinggadds.com/page108.htm
  22. "Northern Championship – An American victory". The Glasgow Herald. 2 June 1923. p. 15.
  23. "Golf – Northern Championship – G Gadd wins championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 June 1924. p. 5.
  24. "Northern Professional Championship – Abe Mitchell's victory". The Glasgow Herald. 19 June 1925. p. 15.
  25. "Golf – Gadd's fine victory – Championship won under difficult conditions". The Glasgow Herald. 11 June 1926. p. 6.
  26. "Golf – Whitcombe the wizard – Wins northern title by record score". The Glasgow Herald. 13 August 1927. p. 6.
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