1903 News of the World Match Play

1903 News of the World Match Play
Tournament information
Dates 13–15 October 1903
Location Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
Course(s) Sunningdale Golf Club
Organised by The PGA
Format Match play – 18 holes
(Final 36 holes)
Statistics
Field 32 players
Prize fund £200
Winner's share £100
Champion
Scotland James Braid
def. Ted Ray 4 & 3
Sunningdale Golf Club
Location in England

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.

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 didn't 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
                                   
England Arthur Gray 3&1  
Ireland Willie MacNamara       England Arthur Gray    
England Tom Simpson     England J.H. Taylor 2&1  
England J.H. Taylor 3&1       England J.H. Taylor 3&1  
Scotland John Milne         Scotland Sandy Herd    
Scotland Andrew Scott 3&2     Scotland Andrew Scott  
Scotland Sandy Herd 7&6   Scotland Sandy Herd 4&3  
England George Carter         England J.H. Taylor    
England Walter Toogood         Scotland James Braid 4&2  
Scotland James Hepburn 2up     Scotland James Hepburn    
Scotland Jack Ross     Scotland James Braid 5&4  
Scotland James Braid 6&5       Scotland James Braid 19h
England Harry Cawsey         England Alfred Toogood    
England Alfred Toogood 4&3     England Alfred Toogood 1up
Scotland Jack White     England Tom Williamson    
England Tom Williamson 1up       Scotland James Braid 4&3
Isle of Man John Clucas         Jersey Ted Ray  
Scotland James Forrester 2&1     Scotland James Forrester 2&1  
Scotland Robert Thomson 4&3   Scotland Robert Thomson    
Scotland Ralph Smith         Scotland James Forrester    
England William Jeffries         Scotland George Coburn 5&4  
Scotland George Coburn 3&2     Scotland George Coburn 4&3
England James Sherlock     Scotland Willie Fernie    
Scotland Willie Fernie 19h       Scotland George Coburn  
Jersey Ted Ray 3&2       Jersey Ted Ray 4&3  
England Jack Rowe       Jersey Ted Ray 7&5  
Jersey Tom Vardon 3&2   Jersey Tom Vardon    
Ireland Philip Wynne         Jersey Ted Ray 2&1
England John Whiting         England Rowland Jones    
England Rowland Jones 6&4     England Rowland Jones 7&5
England Arthur Mitchell     Scotland David Herd    
Scotland 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.

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″N 0°37′52″W / 51.38806°N 0.63111°W / 51.38806; -0.63111

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