Sumrie Better-Ball Tournament History, Winners
First played: 1969
Last played: 1978
The Sumrie Better-Ball employed two-player teams using the better ball format. That means they played stroke play, with each golfer on the team playing his own ball throughout. On each hole, the lower of the partners' scores — their better ball — counted as the team's score.
There were two teams that both won this tournament twice: Neil Coles/Bernard Hunt, and Eamonn Darcy/Christy O'Connor Jr. The first was a partnership of two of the British PGA circuit's all-time greats; the second was a partnership of two Irish golfers. Coles/Hunt also tied for second in 1975.
The tournament scoring records of 255 and 33-under par were set by Darcy/O'Connor Jr. in 1978, the final year the tournament was played. The largest margin of victory was five strokes by Coles/Hunt in 1973. That was the last non-senior victory of Hunt's career.
Winners of the Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball Tournament
1969 — Maurice Bembridge/Angel Gallardo, 2631970 — Neil Coles/Bernard Hunt, 257
1971 — Not played
1972 — Malcolm Gregson/Brian Huggett, 264
1973 — Neil Coles/Bernard Hunt, 265
1974 — Peter Butler/Clive Clark, 267 (def. Craig Defoy/Derek Small annd Vince Hood/Hugh Jackson in playoff)
1975 — Jack Newton/John O'Leary, 256
1976 — Eamonn Darcy/Christy O'Connor Jr., 260 (def. Maurice Bembridge/Norman Wood in playoff)
1977 — Not played
1978 — Eamonn Darcy/Christy O'Connor Jr., 255
Also known as: The tournament launched as "Sumrie Better-Ball," named after the title sponsor, Sumrie Clothes. From 1974 through the end, it was known as the "Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball" after changing locations to Bournemouth, England.
Golf courses: Its first two years the Sumrie Better-Ball took place at Pannal Golf Club in North Yorkshire, England. In 1972-73, it was played at Blairgowrie in Scotland. In 1974 the tournament moved to Queens Park Golf Club in Bournemeth, England, and remained there through the end.
