Roehampton Invitation Golf Tournament
First played: 1920
Last played: 1935
The Roehampton Invitation was a 36-hole, stroke-play tournament in its first year, 1920. But each year after that, a 36-hole, stroke-play qualifier was followed by the low qualifiers (the number varied) facing off in a match-play bracket. Matches were scheduled for 18 holes.
The tournament's early history featured several older (by championship golf standards) players getting wins. J.H. Taylor, one-third of the Great Triumvirate, was 50 when he won in 1921. Sandy Herd, who had been runner-up in the inaugural Roehampton Invitation, was 55 when he won in 1923. And Ted Ray was 47 when he won in 1924.
Abe Mitchell was the tournament's big winner with three overall titles. And he won them consecutively in 1926-28. Archie Compston and Mark Seymour were the tournament's other multiple winners, two victories each.
The Whitcombe family came close multiple times before Reg Whitcombe finally won the Roehampton in 1934. Ernest Whitcombe had been runner-up in 1927, and Charles Whitcombe was a three-time runner-up.
Winners of the Roehampton Invitation
1920 — George Duncan, 1441921 — J.H. Taylor def. James Ockenden, 5 and 4
1922 — James Ockenden def. George Duncan, 2 and 1
1923 — Sandy Herd def. Fred Jewell, 3 and 2
1924 — Ted Ray def. Rowland Jones, 1-up
1925 — Aubrey Boomer def. Archie Compston, 2 and 1
1926 — Abe Mitchell def. George Duncan, 3 and 2
1927 — Abe Mitchell def. Ernest Whitcombe, 3 and 1
1928 — Abe Mitchell def. Fred Robson, 1-up (19th hole)
1929 — Archie Compston def. Charles Whitcombe, 1-up
1930 — Mark Seymour def. Fred Robson, 1-up
1931 — Herbert Jolly def. Charles Whitcombe, 1-up
1932 — Mark Seymour def. Alf Padgham, 4 and 2
1933 — Allan Dailey def. Charles Whitcombe, 8 and 6
1934 — Reg Whitcombe def. Arthur Lacey, 7 and 5
1935 — Archie Compston def. Alf Padgham, 3 and 1
Golf course: The tournament was named after its host course, Roehampton Club in London, England.
