Silver King Tournament

The Silver King Tournament was a professional golf tournament played at Moor Park Golf Club near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The event was promoted by The Silvertown Company, manufacturer of the Silver King golf ball.[1] It was held from 1936 to 1953.

Silver King Tournament
Tournament information
LocationRickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England
Established1936
Course(s)Moor Park Golf Club
Month playedApril
Final year1953
Final champion
Flory Van Donck
Moor Park Golf Club
Location in England

From 1954 Moor Park became the venue of the Spalding Tournament which had been played at Worthing Golf Club from 1949 to 1953. The Spalding Tournament was moved to April, replacing the Silver King Tournament as the season opening event.

History

The 1936 tournament was played on 22–24 April. Both the High Course and the West Course were used on the first two days, each of the entrants playing one round on each course. The leading 60 made the cut and played 36 holes on the High Course on the final day. In the event of a tie for 60th place there was to be a 9-hole playoff on the West Course on the second evening. The total prize money was £1000.[2] Arthur Lacey led after the first two days on 133, six strokes ahead of the field. 10 players tied on 150 for the last 6 places but it was decided to dispense with the playoff and allow all 64 players to make the cut.[3] On the final morning Lacey, one of the early starters, took 75 and was tied with Alf Padgham, one of the late starters, after a 66. These two were three ahead of the rest. Lacey had another poor round in the afternoon, taking 76 and finishing on 284. He was later passed by Alf Perry on 283 who was then passed by Dick Burton on 282. Henry Cotton then took the lead with a score of 281 leaving Padgham needing 11 for the last three holes for victory. Padgham got a good 4 at the long 16th and followed up with a 4 at the 17th and 3 at the short 18th to win by a stroke.[4]

The 1937 tournament was played on 21–23 April. The format was the same as used in 1936. Bob Kenyon led after the first two days on 138. 63 players scoring 152 and better made the cut.[5] As in 1936 the half-way leader had a poor final day, Kenyon scoring 75 and 76 to drop down the field. Four players were tied on 211 after three rounds: Henry Cotton, Bill Cox, Arthur Lacey and Alf Perry with Paddy Mahon a shot behind. Cotton had a final round 68 which the other leaders couldn't match. Mahon got the closest but after taking 5 at the 16th he needed a hole-in-one at the last to tie. His tee shot finished 8 feet from the hole. He holed the putt to finish one behind Cotton but in second place on his own.[6]

Winners
YearWinnerCountryScoreMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share (£)		Ref
1936Alf Padgham England2801 stroke Henry Cotton200[7]
1937Henry Cotton England2791 stroke Paddy Mahon200[8]
1938Charles Whitcombe England2762 strokes Alf Perry
Eddie Whitcombe		200[9]
1939Alf Padgham England285Playoff
(36 holes)		 Dick Burton200[10][11]
1940–45: No tournament due to World War II
1946Dai Rees Wales2887 strokes Allan Dailey
Reg Horne
Charlie Ward		350[12]
1947Alf Padgham England2854 strokes Sam King300[13]
1948Jimmy Adams Scotland283TieShared 300
and 200		[14]
Charlie Ward England
1949Dick Burton England2811 stroke Charlie Ward300[15]
1950John Panton Scotland2765 strokes Ossie Pickworth300[16]
1951Flory Van Donck Belgium2852 strokes Jack Hargreaves
Wally Smithers		300[17]
1952Reg Horne England2761 stroke Arthur Lees300[18]
1953Flory Van Donck Belgium2746 strokes Ken Bousfield
Bill Branch
John Pritchett		300[19]
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References
  1. "Golf – £1000 professional tournament". The Times. 22 November 1935. p. 6.
  2. "Golf – Professionals at Moor Park". The Times. 15 April 1936. p. 5.
  3. "Golf – Lacey's fine score". The Times. 24 April 1936. p. 6.
  4. "Golf – The "Silver King" tournament". The Times. 25 April 1936. p. 6.
  5. "Golf – Professionals at Moor Park". The Times. 23 April 1937. p. 6.
  6. "Cotton's triumph – A low score at Moor Park". The Times. 24 April 1937. p. 6.
  7. "Padgham brilliant victory in £1000 tourney – Record run of big prizes". The Glasgow Herald. 25 April 1936. p. 3.
  8. "Thrilling golf finish – Cotton takes big tourney prize – Irishman's gallant bid just fails". The Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1937. p. 3.
  9. "Whitcombe's in £1000 golf struggle – Uncle leads nephew by two strokes to win first prize". The Glasgow Herald. 23 April 1938. p. 3.
  10. "Golf thrills at Moor Park – Padgham and Burton to play off". The Glasgow Herald. 22 April 1939. p. 19.
  11. "Padgham wins £1000 tournament – Burton retired in replay". The Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1939. p. 19.
  12. "Rees wins £1500 golf tournament – A M Dailey best of Scots". The Glasgow Herald. 15 April 1946. p. 4.
  13. "Golf – Padgham's success at Moor Park". The Times. 12 April 1947. p. 8.
  14. "Scot ties for first place in "Silver King" golf". The Glasgow Herald. 16 April 1948. p. 2.
  15. ""Silver King" winner's stroke of luck". The Glasgow Herald. 23 April 1949. p. 6.
  16. "Panton's winning total equals record". The Glasgow Herald. 22 April 1950. p. 9.
  17. ""Silver King" golf winner". The Glasgow Herald. 21 April 1951. p. 2.
  18. "Horne wins "Silver King" golf tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 19 April 1951. p. 2.
  19. "Belgian's great win in "Silver King" golf – New record aggregate of 274". The Glasgow Herald. 18 April 1953. p. 12.
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