Spalding Women's Open Stroke Play

Spalding Women's Open Stroke Play

Tournament information
Location	England
Established	1954
Format	Stroke play
Final year	1959
Final champion
Elizabeth Price

The Spalding Women's Open Stroke Play was a national women's 72-hole stroke play golf tournament played in England from 1954 to 1959. It was sometimes referred to as the unofficial stroke play championship. The 1954 event was won by Jean Donald, who had recently become a professional. The event was preceded by the Women's National Tournament which was held from 1945 to 1951 and again in 1953.

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue	Ref.
Daily Sketch Women's National Tournament
1945	Jeanne Bisgood	75	3 strokes	Gabrielle Style Mervyn Sutherland Pilch	Royal Mid-Surrey	[1]
Daily Graphic Women's National Tournament
1946	Frances Stephens	80	2 strokes	Gabrielle Style	Royal Mid-Surrey	[2]
1947	Frances Stephens	148	1 stroke	Maureen Ruttle	Sudbury	[3]
1948	Frances Stephens	147	6 strokes	Gabrielle Style	Royal Mid-Surrey	[4]
1949	Frances Stephens	154	Playoff	Diana Critchley	Wentworth	[5] [6]
1950	Frances Stephens	152	1 stroke	Jeanne Bisgood	Wentworth	[7]
1951	Jeanne Bisgood	149	3 strokes	Jean Donald Ann Phillips	Wentworth	[8]
1952	Not held
Sunday Graphic Women's National Tournament
1953	Frances Stephens	315	Countback	Jean Donald	Sunningdale	[9]
Spalding Women's Open Stroke Play
1954	Jean Donald	313	4 strokes	Gabrielle Keiller	Walton Heath	[10]
1955	Elizabeth Price	295	23 strokes	Gabrielle Keiller	Walton Heath	[11]
1956	Marley Spearman	308	3 strokes	Elizabeth Price	Moor Park	[12]
1957	Jessie Valentine	291	2 strokes	Marley Spearman	Moor Park	[13]
1958	Frances Smith	301	6 strokes	Marley Spearman	The Berkshire	[14]
1959	Elizabeth Price	297	1 stroke	Bridget Jackson	Worthing	[15]

References

1. "Win for newcomer to women's golf". The Daily Telegraph . 1 September 1945. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com/.
2. "Wanda Morgan's lapse". The Daily Telegraph . 14 September 1946. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com/.
3. "Miss Stephens wins for second year". The Daily Telegraph . 13 September 1947. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com/.
4. "Golf hat-trick by Miss Stephens". The Daily Telegraph . 15 August 1948. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com/.
5. "Tournament play-off". The Glasgow Herald . 13 August 1949. p. 2.
6. "Another victory for Miss Stephens". The Glasgow Herald . 15 August 1949. p. 3.
7. "Miss Stephens wins at Wentworth". The Glasgow Herald . 20 July 1950. p. 2.
8. "Miss Bisgood scores record 69". The Glasgow Herald . 18 July 1951. p. 9.
9. "Miss Donald equals winning score". The Glasgow Herald . 15 July 1953. p. 2.
10. "Miss Donald wins by four strokes". The Glasgow Herald . 31 July 1954. p. 9.
11. Wilson, Enid (16 July 1955). "Miss Price first by 23 strokes". The Daily Telegraph. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Wilson, Enid (17 October 1956). "Mrs Spearman all the way". The Daily Telegraph. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Wilson, Enid (26 October 1957). "Mrs Valentine improves to beat holder". The Daily Telegraph. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Wilson, Enid (25 October 1958). "Mrs Smith is winner by six strokes". The Daily Telegraph. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Wilson, Enid (31 October 1959). "Last round of 69 earns Miss Price the title". The Daily Telegraph. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.