1903 News of the World Match Play

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1903 News of the World Match Play
Tournament information
Dates13–15 October 1903
Location Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
Course(s) Sunningdale Golf Club
Organised by The PGA
Format Match play – 18 holes
(Final 36 holes)
Statistics
Field32 players
Prize fund£200
Winner's share£100
Champion
Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid
def. Ted Ray 4 & 3
1904  
England relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Sunningdale Golf Club

The 1903 News of the World Match Play was the first News of the World Match Play tournament. It was played from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 October at Sunningdale Golf Club. 32 players competed in a straight knock-out competition, with each match contested over 18 holes, except for the final which was over 36 holes. The winner received £100 out of a total prize fund of £200. James Braid defeated Ted Ray 4 & 3 in the final to win the tournament.

Contents

Qualification

Entry was restricted to members of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA). Qualification was by a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions; one for each of the five PGA sections. The number of qualifiers from each section was based on the membership of that section. The Southern section had 16 qualifiers, the Midland and Northern sections had 5 each, the Scottish section 4 and the Irish section 2. [1] In the event of a tie for places there was a playoff.

The Northern section held their qualification at Huddersfield on 22 September with Ted Ray winning with a score of 148. [2] The Scottish section qualification was the following day at Earlsferry with Robert Thomson winning with a score of 153. Arnaud Massy failed to qualify, [3] The Irish section played on 24 September at Lahinch with George Coburn winning with a score of 157. [4] The Southern section played on 29 September at Acton with J.H. Taylor winning with a score of 140. There was a tie for the final two places and there was a 36-hole play-off the following day. [5] The Midland section played on 7 October at Hollinwell with Tom Williamson winning with a score of 151. [6] Harry Vardon was ill and did not enter.

The qualifiers were:

Format

The matches were over 18 holes except for the final which was over 36 holes. Extra holes were played in the event of a tied match. Two rounds were played on the first day, two more on the second day with the final on the third day.

Results

Source: [7] [8] [9] [10]

First round
13 October
Second round
13 October
Third round
14 October
Semi-finals
14 October
Final
15 October
Flag of England.svg Arthur Gray 3&1
Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Willie MacNamara Flag of England.svg Arthur Gray
Flag of England.svg Tom Simpson Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor 2&1
Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor 3&1 Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor 3&1
Flag of Scotland.svg John Milne Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Herd
Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew Scott 3&2 Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew Scott
Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Herd 7&6 Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Herd 4&3
Flag of England.svg George Carter Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor
Flag of England.svg Walter Toogood Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 4&2
Flag of Scotland.svg James Hepburn 2up Flag of Scotland.svg James Hepburn
Flag of Scotland.svg Jack Ross Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 5&4
Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 6&5 Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 19h
Flag of England.svg Harry Cawsey Flag of England.svg Alfred Toogood
Flag of England.svg Alfred Toogood 4&3 Flag of England.svg Alfred Toogood 1up
Flag of Scotland.svg Jack White Flag of England.svg Tom Williamson
Flag of England.svg Tom Williamson 1up Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 4&3
Flag of the Isle of Man.svg John Clucas Flag of Jersey.svg Ted Ray
Flag of Scotland.svg James Forrester 2&1 Flag of Scotland.svg James Forrester 2&1
Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thomson 4&3 Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thomson
Flag of Scotland.svg Ralph Smith Flag of Scotland.svg James Forrester
Flag of England.svg William Jeffries Flag of Scotland.svg George Coburn 5&4
Flag of Scotland.svg George Coburn 3&2 Flag of Scotland.svg George Coburn 4&3
Flag of England.svg James Sherlock Flag of Scotland.svg Willie Fernie
Flag of Scotland.svg Willie Fernie 19h Flag of Scotland.svg George Coburn
Flag of Jersey.svg Ted Ray 3&2 Flag of Jersey.svg Ted Ray 4&3
Flag of England.svg Jack Rowe Flag of Jersey.svg Ted Ray 7&5
Flag of Jersey.svg Tom Vardon 3&2 Flag of Jersey.svg Tom Vardon
Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Philip Wynne Flag of Jersey.svg Ted Ray 2&1
Flag of England.svg Billy Whiting Flag of England.svg Rowland Jones
Flag of England.svg Rowland Jones 6&4 Flag of England.svg Rowland Jones 7&5
Flag of England.svg Arthur Mitchell Flag of Scotland.svg David Herd
Flag of Scotland.svg David Herd 1up

Prize money

The winner received £100 and a gold medal, the runner-up £30 and a silver medal, the losing semi-finalists £15 and a bronze medal, while the third round losers received £10, making a total prize fund of £200.

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References

  1. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 3 August 1903. p. 10.
  2. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 23 September 1903. p. 5.
  3. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 24 September 1903. p. 9.
  4. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 25 September 1903. p. 10.
  5. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 30 September 1903. p. 9.
  6. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 8 October 1903. p. 5.
  7. "Golf – Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 9 October 1903. p. 9.
  8. "Golf – The professional tournament – Defeat of Jack White and Tom Vardon". The Glasgow Herald . 14 October 1903. p. 12.
  9. "Golf – The great professional tournament – Braid and Ray the finalists". The Glasgow Herald . 15 October 1903. p. 11.
  10. "Golf – The great professional tournament – Success of James Braid". The Glasgow Herald . 16 October 1903. p. 15.

Coordinates: 51°23′17″N0°37′52″W / 51.38806°N 0.63111°W / 51.38806; -0.63111