The Sun-Herald Tournament was a golf tournament held in Australia from 1924 to 1926. It was the first Australian tournament with significant prize money and was run along the lines of the British News of the World Match Play. The first event in 1924 was sponsored by The Sun newspaper in Sydney and was called the Sun Tournament. In 1925 and 1926 the events were co-sponsored by The Herald newspaper in Melbourne. The 1925 event was held in Melbourne and was called the Herald-Sun tournament while 1926 the event returned to Sydney and was called the Sun-Herald Tournament. The 1926 event was combined with the Australian Professional Championship.[1]

Sun-Herald Tournament
Tournament information
LocationAustralia
Established1924
Final year1926
Final champion
Frank Eyre

Format

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Qualification was by a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions; one for each state. There were a pre-determined number of qualifiers from each event. A total of 16 players qualified for the final stage with the winner determined by a knock-out competition. The final stage lasted four days, with all matches over 36 holes. There were consolation events for players losing in the early rounds.

Prize money

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Total prize money for each event was £500. The winner received £195 and a £5 gold medal. The losing-finalist received £100 with the losing semi-finalist each getting £40. All 16 players reaching the final stage received a minimum of £5.

Winners

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Year Winner Country Venue Margin
of victory
Runner-up Ref
Sun Tournament
1924 Carnegie Clark   Australia Royal Sydney 37 holes   Walter Clark [2]
Herald-Sun Tournament
1925 Tom Howard   Australia Royal Melbourne 3 & 2   Walter Spicer [3]
Sun-Herald Tournament
1926 Frank Eyre   Australia The Australian Golf Club 6 & 5   Arthur Le Fevre [4]

1924 Sun Tournament

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Qualifying

Four qualifying events were held. 1 place was allocated to South Australia, 7 to Victoria, 7 to New South Wales and 1 to Queensland. One Tasmanian golfer travelled to Victoria to try to qualify.

Final stage

The final stage was played from 7 to 10 July at Royal Sydney Golf Club. The complete draw was announced on 3 July.[9]

Source:[10][11][12][13][14]

First round
7 July
Second round
8 July
Semi-finals
9 July
Final
10 July
Arthur Le Fevre
Tom Howard 3&2 Tom Howard
Jock Young Dan Soutar 2&1
Dan Soutar 6&4 Dan Soutar
Walter Spicer 2 up Carnegie Clark 3&2
Arthur Spence Walter Spicer
Reg Jupp Carnegie Clark 10&8
Carnegie Clark 6&5 Carnegie Clark 37h
Ted Cates Walter Clark
Fred Popplewell 11&10 Fred Popplewell 4&3
Rowley Banks 1 up Rowley Banks
Charlie Campbell Fred Popplewell
Rufus Stewart Walter Clark 8&7
Walter Clark 3&2 Walter Clark 11&10
Barney Keating 2&1 Barney Keating
Les McManus

The final was tied after 36 holes and went to extra holes. At the first extra hole both players were about 10 feet from the hole in two. Walter putted first and finished 9 inches from the hole. Carnegie putted next, just having room to pass Walter's ball. The putt ended on the lip of the hole, directly between Walter's ball and the hole; a "dead stymie". Walter tried to chip over Carnegie's ball but he knocked Carnegie's ball into the hole, giving Carnegie a three and winning the match.[15][16]

1925 Herald-Sun Tournament

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Qualifying

Two qualifying events were held. 8 places were allocated to a qualifying event in Melbourne and 8 to another in Sydney. Professionals from Queensland were included in the Sydney event, while those from South Australia and Tasmania played in Melbourne.[17]

Final stage

The final stage was played from 6 to 9 July at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The complete draw was made on 29 June.[20]

Source:[21][22][23][24]

First round
6 July
Second round
7 July
Semi-finals
8 July
Final
9 July
Walter Baldwin 3&2
Barney Keating Walter Baldwin
Walter Clark 1 up Walter Clark 4&3
Ernie Wood Walter Clark
Fred Popplewell w/o Walter Spicer 9&8
Ted Smith Fred Popplewell
Walter Spicer 4&3 Walter Spicer 3&2
Billy Iles Walter Spicer
Don Spence Tom Howard 3&2
Rowley Banks 37h Rowley Banks 6&5
Dan Soutar 6&5 Dan Soutar
Steve Holder Rowley Banks
Will Corry Tom Howard 7&6
Tom Howard 1 up Tom Howard 37h
Arthur Le Fevre Frank Eyre
Frank Eyre 5&4

1926 Sun-Herald Tournament

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Qualifying

Four qualifying events were held. 2 place was allocated to South Australia, 6 to Victoria, 6 to New South Wales and 2 to Queensland. Tasmanians could play in the Victorian event.

Final stage

The final stage was played from 18 to 21 October at the Australian Golf Club. The complete draw was announced on 6 October.[28]

Source:[29][30][31][32]

First round
18 October
Second round
19 October
Semi-finals
20 October
Final
21 October
Billy Iles
Ted Smith 7&6 Ted Smith
Arthur Spence Arthur Le Fevre 1 up
Arthur Le Fevre 6&5 Arthur Le Fevre 2 up
Dick Carr Dan Soutar
Don Thomson 11&9 Don Thomson
Dan Soutar 4&3 Dan Soutar 3&2
Vic James Arthur Le Fevre
Don Spence 7&5 Frank Eyre 6&5
Rowley Banks Don Spence
Carnegie Clark 6&5 Carnegie Clark 2&1
Fred McDowall Carnegie Clark
Frank Eyre 6&5 Frank Eyre 3&2
Willie Harvey Frank Eyre 5&4
Horace Boorer 3&2 Horace Boorer
Will Corry

References

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  1. ^ ""Auld Reekie's " Golf". The Referee. No. 2068. New South Wales. 27 October 1926. p. 20. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Thrilling finish". The Sun. No. 4270. Sydney. 10 July 1924. p. 9 (Final extra). Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Professional golf". The Age. No. 21, 924. Victoria, Australia. 10 July 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Frank Eyre". The Sun. No. 4980. Sydney. 22 October 1926. p. 11 (Final extra). Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Golf". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 8 May 1924. p. 15. Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Golf". The Argus. No. 24, 278. Melbourne. 30 May 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Golf". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 710. 9 June 1924. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 971. 14 June 1924. p. 18. Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Golf Stars". The Sun. No. 4264. Sydney. 3 July 1924. p. 9 (Final extra). Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Professionals Golfers Game". The Sun. No. 4267. Sydney. 7 July 1924. p. 7 (Final extra). Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Golf tournament". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 991. 8 July 1924. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Brilliant golf at Rose bay". The Sun. No. 4268. Sydney. 8 July 1924. p. 9 (Final extra). Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Two Clarks in Final". The Sun. No. 4269. Sydney. 9 July 1924. p. 9 (Final extra). Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Thrilling finish". The Sun. No. 4270. Sydney. 10 July 1924. p. 9 (Final extra). Retrieved 20 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Lost on the greens". The Sun. No. 4271. Sydney. 11 July 1924. p. 10 (Final extra). Retrieved 21 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Professional Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 994. 11 July 1924. p. 12. Retrieved 21 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "£500 Golf Purse". The Herald. No. 14, 976. Victoria, Australia. 20 May 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Golf". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 604. Victoria, Australia. 17 June 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Sydney Matches". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 604. Victoria, Australia. 17 June 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Professional Golf". Sporting Globe. No. 304. Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Golf". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 621. Victoria, Australia. 7 July 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Herald-Sun £500 golf purse". The Herald. No. 14, 017. Victoria, Australia. 7 July 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Spicer and Howard in final of Herald-Sun £500 purse". The Herald. No. 14, 018. Victoria, Australia. 8 July 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Golf Champion". The Herald. No. 14, 019. Victoria, Australia. 9 July 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Golf". Daily Mail (Brisbane). No. 7669. Queensland, Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 14. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ a b "Golf". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 25, 004. Victoria, Australia. 29 September 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Golf". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 18. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ ""Sun-Herald" golf". The Newcastle Sun. No. 2758. New South Wales, Australia. 6 October 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 703. New South Wales, Australia. 19 October 1926. p. 12. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Golf". The Advertiser. South Australia. 20 October 1926. p. 17. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Golf". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXV, no. 18, 397. Tasmania, Australia. 21 October 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Frank Eyre". The Sun. No. 4980. New South Wales, Australia. 22 October 1926. p. 11 (Final extra). Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.