North British-Harrogate Tournament

North British-Harrogate Tournament

Tournament information
Location	Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
Established	1947
Month played	July
Final year	1954
Final champion
Eric Lester

The North British-Harrogate Tournament was a professional golf tournament played in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. It was played annually from 1947 to 1952. Total prize money was £2100. From 1947 to 1949 there were two qualifying rounds on two courses before the 72-hole event. There was a cut after 36 holes. From 1950 to 1952 the tournament was extended to 90 holes. Two courses were used on the first two days after which there was a cut. there was a further cut after three rounds.

In 1953 the sponsor changed and the event was known as the Swallow-Harrogate Tournament. The sponsor was Swallow Raincoats. The format was also changed. There was a 36-hole qualifying stage over two courses on the first two days. the leading 64 players qualified and played six rounds of knockout 18-hole match-play on the next three days. Total prize money remained at £2100.

The 1954 event was played in two distinct parts with separate prize money. There was a 72-hole stroke-play event with £1500 prize money. The leading 16 then played knockout match-play over the next two days. This second stage had prize money of £600, so that the total prize money remained at £2100.

In 1955 Swallow Raincoats switched their sponsorship to the Penfold Tournament which became known as the Swallow-Penfold Tournament. The 1955 event had a first prize of £1000 out of total prize money of £4000.

Winners

Year	Winner	Country	Venue	Score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share (£)	Ref
North British-Harrogate Tournament
1947	Norman Von Nida	Australia	Harrogate Golf Club	271	2 strokes	Charlie Ward	500	[1]
1948	Roberto de Vicenzo	Argentina	Oakdale Golf Club	277	2 strokes	Reg Horne	500	[2]
1949	Charlie Ward	England	Pannal Golf Club	281	2 strokes	Ken Bousfield Antonio Cerdá Fred Daly	500	[3]
1950	Bobby Locke	South Africa	Pannal Golf Club	348	3 strokes	Ken Bousfield	500	[4]
1951	Flory Van Donck	Belgium	Oakdale Golf Club	337	4 strokes	Peter Thomson	500	[5]
1952	John Panton	Scotland	Pannal Golf Club	343	6 strokes	Harry Weetman	500	[6]
Swallow-Harrogate Tournament
1953	Jack Hargreaves	England	Harrogate Golf Club	2 & 1		Roberto de Vicenzo	500	[7]
Swallow-Harrogate Stroke Play Tournament
1954	Bobby Locke	South Africa	Oakdale Golf Club	276	4 strokes	Bill Shankland	250	[8]
Swallow-Harrogate Match Play Tournament
1954	Eric Lester	England	Oakdale Golf Club	2 up		Antonio Cerdá	200	[9]

From 1950 to 1952 the tournament was played over 90 holes. In 1950 one round was played at Oakdale Golf Club. In 1951 one round was played at Pannal Golf Club. In 1952 one round was played at Harrogate Golf Club. In the stroke play stage of the 1954 event, one round was played at Pannal Golf Club.

References

1. "Seventeen under 4's for 72 holes". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1947. p. 2.
2. "Argentine golfer's success". The Glasgow Herald. 24 July 1948. p. 4.
3. "Ward wins at Pannal". The Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1949. p. 2.
4. "First prize for Locke". The Glasgow Herald. 31 July 1950. p. 6.
5. "Van Donck wins with record aggregate". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1951. p. 2.
6. "Great victory for Panton". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1952. p. 2.
7. "Victory for Hargreaves". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1953. p. 9.
8. "Harrogate win for Locke". The Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1954. p. 4.
9. "Lester wins at Oakdale". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1954. p. 9.