| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Australia |
| Established | 1947 |
| Final year | 1959 |
| Final champion | |
| Kel Nagle and Gary Player | |
The Ampol Tournament was the richest golf event of its time in Australia. From 1952 the sponsor, Ampol, offered great prize money to attract the leading American and European players to compete.
Total prize money was initially A£1,000, rising to A£1,300 in 1951. In 1952 and 1954, two tournaments were arranged a few weeks apart. Prize money was A£3,500 for each of the 1952 events while each of the 1954 events had prize money of A£1,500. The A£10,000 in 1956 was the biggest purse outside the United States. [1] Prize money was A£2,500 in 1953 and 1955 and A£3,000 in 1957 and 1959. Prize money often exceeded the advertised figures since part of the proceeds from gate receipts was sometimes added. [2]
The 1959 tournament was played the week before the 1959 Canada Cup.
In October 1952 Von Nida beat Oliver 72 to 77 in the 18-hole playoff. In November 1954 the first round was played at Huntingdale Golf Club. The 1959 event was over 54 holes. Ampol sponsored a 36-hole tournament in 1958 with total prize money of A£500. This event was won by an amateur, Bob Stevens. [19]
Francis "Frank" Arthur Sedgman is an Australian former world No. 1 tennis player. Over the course of a three-decade career, Sedgman won five Grand Slam singles tournaments as an amateur as well as 22 Grand Slam doubles tournaments. He is one of only five tennis players all-time to win multiple career Grand Slams in two disciplines, alongside Margaret Court, Roy Emerson, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams. In 1951, he and Ken McGregor won the Grand Slam in men's doubles. Sedgman turned professional in 1953, and won the Wembley World Professional Indoor singles title in 1953 and 1958. He also won the Sydney Masters tournament in 1958, and the Melbourne Professional singles title in 1959. He won the Grand Prix de Europe Professional Tour in 1959.
Peter William Thomson was an Australian professional golfer. In the late 1940s, Thomson turned pro and had much success on the Australasian circuits, culminating with a win at the 1951 Australian Open. He then moved onto the PGA Tour, playing on the circuit in 1953 and 1954, but did not have much success, failing to win. He decided to focus on Europe thereafter with extraordinary success, winning dozens of tournaments on the British PGA, including the Open Championship five times. As a senior, Thomson continued with success, winning 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all-time.
The Australian Open, owned and run by Golf Australia, is the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The Open was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year.
Norman Guy Von Nida was an Australian professional golfer.
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The Adelaide Advertiser Tournament was a golf event played in Adelaide, Australia between 1948 and 1967. Up to 1960 the event was played in March or April but was later played in September or October. The venue generally alternated between Royal Adelaide Golf Club and Kooyonga Golf Club. Prize money was £500 from 1948 to 1952, £1,000 from 1953 to 1964, £1,500 in 1965 and A$3,000 in 1966 and 1967.
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The Dunlop Cup was a series of annual professional golf tournaments held in Australia from 1930 to 1952. Four separate events were held each year, in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. The tournaments were sponsored by Dunlop Perdriau Rubber Co., later renamed Dunlop Rubber Australia.
Robert Francis Stevens was an Australian amateur golfer. He won the 1952 Australian Amateur. He was a member of the Australian team that won the first Commonwealth Tournament in 1954 and was also in the team that won the inaugural Eisenhower Trophy in 1958.
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