Glasgow Open Championship History
Early winners names were engraved on silver balls
The trophy is housed in a handsome walnut cabinet
The original engraved golf clubs are also on the trophy
CB MacFarlane of Glasgow GC was the first winner.
- History
- Honours list
- Robert Scott Jnr
- Andrew Jamieson
- Sam McKinlay
- Gordon B Peters
- FWG Deighton
- RR Jack
- Gordon Cosh
- DG Carrick
- Graeme Shaw
- DB Howard
- Craig Watson
The archives of the Corporation of the city of Glasgow reveal that the origins of this elite competition were in 1897. At a meeting on the 2nd of June of that year the Parks Department sub-committee of the City Corporation agreed to invest no more than £15 for the purchase of a golf trophy to be played for over the golf course at Alexandra Park. By September of 1897 a trophy had been purchased from Messrs Thomas Smith & Son for £13 and the inaugural competition took place on the 23rd of September of that year.
Trophy and winners -
Over the years the trophy was embellished with a number of golf clubs and silver balls. Latterly silver plates were used to record the winners names. There is now a complete record available of all the winners from 1897 and the clubs they represented.
The Glasgow Open Amateur Open Championship has played a major role in the life of the elite golfer since its inception. The first winner, CB MacFarlane of Glasgow Golf Club who was capped against England in 1912. His son, also C.B. Macfarlane was also an early winner. In 1912, another early winner was JH Irons of Pollok Golf Club. He was the first winner of the Pollok Club Championship in 1920. He played cack handed. His other claim to fame was as a wing half for Queens Park from 1896 - 1901. He was an amateur but played for Scotland v Wales in an international involving professionals.
First Winner - C B MacFarlane
The first winner in 1897 and the following year was C B MacFarlane of Glasgow Golf Club, and the last winner in the 19th century was A Reid of St Nicholas Golf Club of Prestwick. The Sub-Committee of Parks ran the competition, and the Entry Fee was 1 Shilling. There is however, no record of any Prize Fund. In September 1901, the Corporation decided that the trophy should be displayed in the Peoples Palace at Glasgow Green and it was displayed there for many years.
After the initial focus on Alexandra Park, the competition had a more nomadic existence also being played at Lethamhill and Blackhill, courses all owned by the City, and perhaps surprisingly Hayston Golf Club at Kirkintilloch.
Between the World Wars Erskine Golf Club was a host venue as was Cawder and Ralston. However after the first post WW11 event was held at Cathkin Braes, the Parks Sub-Committee approached Pollok Golf Club to host the event and it has remained there ever since, the trophy in a handsome display case.
Donald Cameron
The winner in 1939, 1949 & 1952 was Donald Cameron, an ex Scottish Internationalist and a member of Kirkintilloch Golf Club, who the formed Donald Cameron league in 1947. He presented a trophy to be played for annually and invited the following clubs to participate: Balmore, Bishopbriggs, Cawder, Douglas Park, Hayston, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie and Milngavie. In 1958 the following clubs were admitted to the league: Bearsden, Dullatur, Glasgow, and Hilton Park. In the sixties the leagues' compliment of clubs was complete with the addition of Sandyhills and Windyhill.
Graeme Shaw - 3 consecutive titles
In the 1984 Championship, John Peters of Pollok (son of Gordon B Peters winner in 1934) shot a 64, a member's course record. Not good enough, as the man who signed his card shot 62, a new course record. This was Graeme Shaw of Haggs Castle Golf Club on his way to the first of 3 consecutive titles. Other players who have won the competition 3 or more times include E.W. Hammond, Craig Watson & D.B. Howard.
Walker Cup players
Over the timeline of the Championship about 30% of the winner have either been Walker Cup or Internationalists. There are 16 Walker Cup golfers in the winners list:
R Scott Jnr, Andrew Jamieson, Jack McLean, Gordon B Peters
Hector Thomson, Sam McKinlay, Frank Deighton, Reid Jack
Stuart Murray, Gordon Cosh, Iain Carslaw, Charlie Green
David Carrick, Graeme Shaw, Barclay Howard and Craig Watson.
Scottish Internationals
In addition are 24 Scottish Internationals:
CB McFarlane, Willie Tulloch, John Lang, Donald Cameron
Eddie Hamilton, Walter McLeod, John Stuart, Billy Jack
Sandy Sinclair, Colin Strachan, Scot Cochran, John McTear
Keith McIntosh, Alastair Forsyth, Barry Hume, George Crawford
Derek Crawford, Jonathan King, Matthew Clark, Andrew Brodie
Calum Fyfe, George Duncan, Callum Macauley, and Neil MacRae.
In the years to come let us hope our winners achieve the same success and recognition as the galaxy of great golfers noted above. We wish them well.
Robert Scott Jnr (far right) with members of the 1924 Walker Cup team.
Robert Scott Jnr, was a notable winner of the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship winning twice in 1913 & 1919. He also won the Tennant Cup four times in 1912, 1921, 1925 and 1929 and was the Winner of the Cameron Corbett at Haggs Castle twice in 1912 and 1913. Scott reached the semi-final of the Amateur Championship at Prestwick in 1922.
Notably he was the leading Amateur at the 1923 Open Championship at Troon. He played for Scotland versus England in five successive years from 1924. In addition, he was one of the two undefeated members of the 1924 Walker Cup team.
Scott had a distinction with the Hon. Michael Scott of fighting back from being three down in the foursomes to beat the legendary Bobby Jones and WC Fownes at Garden City New York, in 1924 – Jones’s only defeat in five Walker Cup matches.
Andrew Jamieson Jnr won the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship once in 1925 and had a glittering career as a Scottish Internationalist and Walker Cup player in 1926 at St Andrews. Andrew is perhaps best remembered when he met the famed Bobby Jones the US Champion at Muirfield in the British Amateur on 28 May 1926. Andrew was 21 years old at the time and beat the Champion by 4 and 3.
When the match was recalled some 25 years later, Bobby Jones ,wrote saying: ‘I remember quite well the the very thorough beating administered to me by Andrew Jamieson. Although Andrew Jamieson was not too well known at the time I can assure you he was a worthy opponent for anyone- he played uncommonly well’
In the Walker Cup played the following week Jamieson had a creditable playing record: won one lost one in a very close match. Andrew Jamieson played International golf for Scotland in 1927, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36 and 1937
Jamieson participated in a number of more local competitions . As well as winning Glasgow Open Amateur Championship in 1925, and the Tennant Cup at Killermont in 1928. Notably, he won the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1927 at Western Gailes.
Bobby Jones Congratulating Andrew Jamieson after the latters convincing
if unexpected victory at Muirfield.
Andrew Jamieson British Amateur May 1926
Photo coutesy of GGC - l-r Sam McKinlay, Willie Turnesa, Dick Chapman and JG Campbell
after the 1947 semi-finals of the Amateur Championship at Carnoustie.
Sam McKinlay enjoyed a great career in golf culminating in his appearance at the 1934 event at St. Andrews He probably first drew attention to himself at the age of 19 by reaching the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1927. In 1929, he found himself chosen to play for Scotland in international matches against England, Ireland and Wales, and was then chosen to play in each of the next four years as well.
The records show that he did not play in 1934, which seems somewhat strange as that was the year of his Walker Cup appearance, but it could have been that he could not fit both events into the holiday time he had from newspaper work. He was back as a Scotland player in 1935, and again in 1937, before concluding his international career in 1947. SL (as he was known) also distinguished himself in important one-day, 36-hole stroke events of the period, winning the Tennant Cup at Killermont once, the Edward Trophy at Glasgow Gailes twice, and the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship three times.
When he first appeared in championships he entered from Alexandra, located at Letham Hill, Millerston, Subsequently he entered from Western Gailes, and then from the Glasgow Club. he was later to become a member of the R&A, there to serve as a Walker Cup selector, and also as a member of the Rules of Golf Committee.
1936 Walker Cup at Pine Valley Golf Club GB Peters on the front row second from left
Gordon B Peters won the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship in 1934, entered from Fereneze Golf Club. Five years later he won the 1939 Tennant Cup, the last played before the Second World War. In 1949, exactly 10 years after his Tennant Cup victory, he won the Cameron Corbett at Haggs Castle.
He played for Scotland in the Home Internationals for Scotland from 1934-38. Notably he played in two Walker Cups, of 1936 &1938. The 1936 Walker Cup, the 9th Walker Cup Match, was played on September 2nd and 3rd, 1936, at Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, New Jersey.
The United States won by 9 matches to 0 with 3 matches halved. However Peters held his head high, he halved his 36 hole foursome tie playing with Morton Dykes versus Charlie Yates & Walter Emery and on the following day was on the wrong side of a very close singles match losing 1 down to Emery after a 36 hole struggle.
1938 Walker Cup at St Andrews GB Peters is in the back row extreme left
The 10th Walker Cup playing was on the 3rd and 4th of June 1938, on the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland. Great Britain and Ireland won by 7 matches to 4 with one match halved. It was their first victory in the Walker Cup.
Great Britain & Ireland took a one point lead after the first day foursomes. Playing magnificent golf in the first round to score 73, Hector Thomson and Gordon Peters, the only all Scottish partnership, gained a three hole lead over Johnny Goodman, the American Amazon champion and Martin Ward, and held it in a grim struggle during the afternoon to win by four and two.
On the second day the home team won 5 of the 8 singles matches. Peters beat Reynolds Smith in his 36 hole match. His record over 2 Walker Cups is impressive: Played 4 games, won 2, halved 1, lost 1.
Read more about Gordon B Peters in extracts from his own personal memoirs kindly provided by his grandson Gordon Peters -
As well as being a GP in Glasgow, Dr Frank Deighton, was a leading Scottish and British amateur golfer of the 1950s and early’60s. Frank Deighton was twice Scottish Amateur champion and twice a member of the Walker Cup team, he represented Scotland seven times in the Home International series, playing in a total of 19 fixtures and also against South Africa, New Zealand and Scandinavia.
In 1950 he made his debut for Scotland in the Home Internationals at Royal St David’s in Wales, where he scored 4½ points out of a possible 6. Other representative distinctions included being a member of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Commonwealth Tournaments of 1954 and ’59.
His early golfing talent was nurtured at Hilton Park Golf and later he became a member at Glasgow Golf Club and Western Gailes. Notable victories in open tournaments included two wins in the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship in 1951 & 56’, three wins in the Tennant Cup, the Edward Trophy, the Silver Tassie at Gleneagles and the Scottish Foursomes title with David Reid.
His first victory was the 1945 West of Scotland Alliance title. In 1946 he won the Scottish Universities’ Championship at Carnoustie and in 1947 tied for the Boyd Quaich. One of his best seasons was 1956, when he won his first Scottish Amateur title, defeating A McGregor 8 and 7 at Troon. In the Amateurs v Professional match of the same year he and Joe Carr combined to beat Max Faulkner and Dai Rees at foursomes, while he beat Faulkner, 1951 Open Champion, 6 and 5 at singles.
However 1959 was notable, he played his best ever championship golf in securing his second Scottish title, this time over the Old Course at St Andrews. Until the semi-final, his seventh tie, he had lost only two holes and in the 36 hole final he beat R Murray 6 and 5 for a win that gave him much satisfaction.
Scotland's 1950 Home Internationals Team
Back row (left to right): JR McKay, KW Walker, CD Lawrie, FWG Deighton, RR Jack, GW Mackie, R Wight, A Sinclair junior.
Front row (l to r): AT Kyle, J Cameron Conn (SGU president), WS McLeod, GB Peters (non-playing team captain), WC Gibson, WM Berrie (SGU honorary secretary), JB Stevenson.
FWG Deighton with the Scottish Amateur Championship Trophy
Robert Reid Jack had a famous career as an amateur golfer and will be remembered as one of Scotlands finest and, at his peak, possibly one of the best in the world. One of the many highlights happened in 1957 when he won the Amateur Championship at Formby in Lancashire. Another had come in 1955 when he had won the Scottish Amateur at Muirfield.
Also at Muirfield he won the Silver Medal for the leading amateur in the 1959 Open Championship indeed he finished fifth and was leading with ten holes to play ultimately being overtaken by Gary Player on the way to his first Major.
Also in 1959, again at Muirfield, Reid Jack as he was universally known, had taken part in the Walker Cup. Reid was one of only three player to win points in a resounding defeat to the USA beating Billy Joe Patton comfortably, this was a comfort for Patton had beaten him in the Walker Cup 2 years earlier on the last green at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.
Jack was also a member of the 1958 Eisenhower Trophy team, played nine times for Scotland, and represented Britain in European and Commonwealth events throughout the Fifties. Reid Jack was also successful in competing in other leading amateur competitions winning the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship in 1953 and 1954 and the Edward Trophy in 1959 playing out of Dullatur Golf Club
Scotland's 1951 Home Internationals Team
Back row standing (left to right): RC MacGregor, WS McLeod, JR McKay, SB Williamson, HM Dickson (SGU president), WM Berrie (SGU honorary secretary).
Middle row seated (l to r): WC Gibson, JC Wilson, JM Dykes, RD Brand (non-playing team captain), AT Kyle, DA Blair, D Cameron.
Front seated (l to r): RR Jack, JB Stevenson
Walker Cup 1957 - The Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, August 30-31
GB&I Team
Back - A. Bussell, M. Bonallack, G. Wolstenholme, A. Thirlwell, D. Sewell;
Front - P. Scrutton, R. Jack, G. Micklem, J. Carr, F. Deighton
Gordon Cosh throughout his pomp as an Amateur golfer ‘proved himself a competitor of the highest order’ . This was particularly the case during the 1965 Walker Cup where, in this enthralling match, he had an admirable record winning 3 of his 4 games.
The 1965 Walker Cup, the 20th Walker Cup Match, was played on September 3 and 4, 1965, at Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore, Maryland. The event was tied at 11 matches each with 2 matches halved.
Cosh’s performance was outstanding. Partnering Michael Lunt they defeated William Campbell and Downing Gray in a close foursomes match 1 up and then he went on to win both his singles matches versus Don Allen (twice) by 2up and 4&3 respectively. His second foursome tie, with the same partner, saw a defeat of 2&1 by Ed Tutwiller and Billy Joe Patton.
Gordon’s career in golf started out in traditional fashion by being active in Junior and Youths golf. In 1955 & 6 he was runner-up in the west of Scotland boys match play. In 1960 he was a playing captain in the match of Scotland versus England youths.
The 1965 Walker Cup Team.
Gordon Cosh is second to the right of the trophy next to GB&I Captain Joe Carr
The 1960s saw Gordon travel the world. In addition to playing in the home internationals from 1964 to 69 inclusive and not forgetting the aforementioned Walker cup match in 1965 Gordon also played in the GB and Ireland games versus Europe in Bilbao in 1966 and 68. There was also time in 1966 to play in the world amateur team championship in Mexico City, the Eisenhower Trophy.
Of course international honours and participation in the worlds leading amateur golf competitions was based on a solid bedrock of domestic achievement through the 60s Gordon’s had an outstanding record. He was the west of Scotland champion in 1961 and in that year also won the Cameron Corbett vase.
In 1963 the Russell cup and the Elderslie trophy were also added to his trophy cabinet. The Elderslie trophy also featured in the following year as did the Turnberry trophy, the Newlands trophy and the West of Scotland championship.
Further success came in 1965 with victory in the GGU Matchplay Championship, the Craigmillar Open and another West of Scotland Championship, Gordon maintained his form into 1966, was a semifinalist in the amateur championship, joint runner-up for the Lytham Trophy and another West of Scotland Championship to his impressive collection
The Gordon Cosh Honours Display at Cowglen Golf Club.
In addition to International honours Gordon won the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1968 beating Lindsay Renfrew 4&3 at Muirfield. He also had time to be runner-up in the Scottish Strokeplay and be a quarter finalist at the Amateur Championship. Other major competitions won include the 1969 Glasgow Open Amateur Championship. At the presentation of Prizes he was presented with the trophy by a Glasgow councillor who congratulated him on his excellent score "Out in 69, back in 68”.
So whilst the Walker Cup of 1965 and the Scottish Amateur Championship win 3 years later could be considered his halcyon days, the plethora of other golfing experiences all over the world all highlight the acute words of Pat Ward-Thomas previously described.
Gordon continued to win significant major competitions, the the Belle Isle cup and the GGU Strokeplay were won in 1972, the GGU Strokeplay again in 1974, the Newlands trophy in 1980 and his last major victory the GGU Matchplay in 1983.
Truly a wonderful record of golfing achievement. Gordon was honoured by his home club, Cowglen when they named their premier lounge in the Clubhouse after him and created a superb honours board detailing many of his achievements.
David Carrick has been, and still is, a stalwart of Douglas Park Golf Club and is one of their most notable players of all time.
David had significant success in the Dunbartonshire County Championships as follows -
DGU Strokeplay Champion 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1994
DGU Matchplay Champion 1985
In addition early in his career he also won a number of 36 hole events notably including the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship in 1980 & 1981.
The 1980’s were a very successful period for David, there was success at the 1983 Champion of Champions event held over the challenging Leven Links and also success in a number of 36 hole competitions including The Kirkintilloch Shield which he won 3 times, the Mike Barron Memorial Trophy won twice and also The Garnkirk Trophy, The Elderslie Trophy, The Eastwood Quaich and The Cumbrae Cup
The early victories kicked-off his International career and he represented Scotland during the years 1981-1989.
His achievements during his International tenure were prodigious, the Scottish Amateur Championship was won at Southerness in 1985 and the Scottish Strokeplay Championship at Lundon Links and Ladybank in 1987.
During this golden period of his career he achieved the pinnacle of Amateur Golf by being selected twice for the Walker Cup in 1983 at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake and 1987 at Sunningdale Old.
His last major victory was the Tennant Cup in 1989
Graeme Shaw won the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship 3 years in a row from1984-1986, he is the only player to achieve this wonderful feat in the history of the competition stretching back to 1897.
Graeme also won the GGU Matchplay Championship also in 1986 and the Strokeplay Championship in 1989.
He represented Scotland regularly in the Home Internationals from 1984 until the early 1990’s and was in the team that won the Championship in 1986 and enjoyed the distinction of having the joint best record, winning 5 of his 6 matches including grabbing the win that ensured the team of the Triple Crown.
The highlight of Graeme’s golfing career was membership of the 1987 Walker Cup team which was played at Sunningdale Old in the South of England. In this august company and in a heavy defeat for GB&I he had a creditable record playIng 4 games winning 2 and losing 2.
Barclay Howard was regarded as one of the finest golfers of his generation. During his career he played in the Walker Cup twice in 1995 & 1997. His first appearance at Royal Porthcawl was notable for being a rare GB&1 victory. He also played in the Eisenhower trophy for Scotland.
Barclay Howard (front left) with the successful 1995 Walker Cup Team
Over the years Barclay won more than 100 amateur tournaments including the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship 3 times in 1993, 1995 & 1996. Other notable victories included winning the Cameron Corbett Vase also three times, the West of Scotland Open in 1993, the Leven Gold Medal 1994, the St. Andrews Links Trophy twice, & the 1997 Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. He was associated with Cochrane Castle Golf Club for all of his golfing career.
Barclay Howard in 1978 with his haul of Trophies won that year
In 1997, perhaps the peak of his career, he won the silver medal for the leading amateur at the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Barclay Howard at the 1997 Open Championship at Royal Troon after rolling in his final putt.
The first major Amateur title won by Craig was the 1989 Glasgow Open Amateur Championship. He went on and had a stellar career. This included winning the 1997 Amateur Championship and he was in the British & Irish Walker Cup team that year. He was the captain of the 2019 Walker Cup team.
The 1997 Walker Cup, the 36th Walker Cup Match, was played on August 9 and 10, at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York. The event was won by the United States 18 to 6. Watson however performed well beating Steve Scott 1 up in the first day singles. The following afternoon he halved his tie with Jason Gore. Playing with Steven Young he lost his solitary foursomes outing versus Brad Elder & John Harris.
His overall Walker Cup playing record is a creditable one, played 3 ties, W1. L1. H1
In addition to his stellar performance in winning the Amateur Championship Watson won the Glasgow Open Amateur Championship 4 times, firstly in 1989, then in 1999, 2002 and 2007. Craig also lost 3 play-offs for this prestigious title in1992,2006 & 2010
Craig won the Tennant Cup, the oldest Open Amateur Strokeplay Trophy in the World, hosted by Glasgow Golf Club in 2001 and the Edward Trophy also hosted by Glasgow Golf Club in 2006. He also won the Cameron Corbet at Haggs Castle twice in 1996 & 1997.
Other Significant Amateur Wins
1992 St Andrews Links Trophy
1994 Scottish Mid Amateur Championship
1997 Amateur Championship
1998 St Andrews Links Trophy
2000 East of Scotland Championship
2001 North of Scotland Championship
Amateur Team appearances
European Amateur Team Championship (representing Scotland): 1997, 1999, 2001 (winners), 2003
Walker Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1997, 2017 (non-playing captain, withdrew), 2019 (non-playing captain)
St Andrews Trophy (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1998, 2016 (non-playing captain, tie), 2018 (non-playing captain)
