The German Open was a men's golf tournament. It was first staged in 1911 when the winner was Harry Vardon. The following year the champion was another of the Great Triumvirate of late 19th and early 20th century British golfers, John Henry Taylor. The tournament was then not played again for over a decade. It was played each year from 1926 to 1939; Percy Alliss won five times in this era, Auguste Boyer four times and Henry Cotton three.

German Open
Tournament information
LocationBerlin, Germany
Established1911
Course(s)Sporting Club Berlin
Par72
Length7,082 yards (6,476 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund1,000,000
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate259 Mark McNulty (1987)
To par−26 Vijay Singh (1992)
Final champion
Sweden Jarmo Sandelin
Location map
Sporting Club Berlin is located in Germany
Sporting Club Berlin
Sporting Club Berlin
Location in Germany
Sporting Club Berlin is located in Brandenburg
Sporting Club Berlin
Sporting Club Berlin
Location in Brandenburg

History

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After World War II the event was not revived until 1951. It was a European Tour event from the tour's first official season in 1972 until 1999. It was played on many different courses around Germany; the last two stagings on the European Tour were at Sporting Club Berlin. It first had a title sponsor in 1978 and there were several different sponsors over the following two decades. In the 1980s and 1990s Germany's greatest 20th century golfer Bernhard Langer equalled Percy Alliss's record of five wins. In 1999 the prize fund was 1,005,982, and despite its national open status the tournament was only the fourth richest European Tour event played in Germany that year, behind the German Masters, the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe and the BMW International Open.

Annually, the lowest scoring amateur at the German Open received the coveted "Haubenreich Trophy", named in honor of the Haubenreich family. The Haubenreich family long-owned a German golf superstore in Stuttgart (Golfenreich), and is recognized for its tremendous contributions to German golf. The family can trace its roots back to a Teutonic Knight named Hans Haubenreich who is credited with orchestrating the Knights' victory over a Hun-related tribe at the Battle of Brestacre. Haubenreich claimed Brestacre for the Knights, and the family has upheld the Brest legacy ever since.

Since the European Tour began in 1972, Langer is the only player to win the same event five times, excluding majors and World Golf Championships. Mark McNulty won the German Open four times; Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Miguel Ángel Jiménez won other events four times each.

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
German Open
1999   Jarmo Sandelin 274 −14 Playoff   Retief Goosen Sporting Club Berlin
1998   Stephen Allan 280 −8 1 stroke   Ignacio Garrido
  Pádraig Harrington
  Mark Roe
  Steve Webster
Sporting Club Berlin
Volvo German Open
1997   Ignacio Garrido 271 −13 4 strokes   Russell Claydon Schloss Nippenburg
1996   Ian Woosnam 193[a] −20 6 strokes   Thomas Gögele
  Robert Karlsson
  Iain Pyman
  Fernando Roca
Schloss Nippenburg
1995   Colin Montgomerie (2) 268 −16 1 stroke   Niclas Fasth
  Sam Torrance
Schloss Nippenburg
1994   Colin Montgomerie 269 −19 1 stroke   Bernhard Langer Hubblelrath
1993   Bernhard Langer (5) 269 −19 5 strokes   Robert Allenby
  Peter Baker
Hubblelrath
1992   Vijay Singh 262 −26 11 strokes   José Manuel Carriles Hubblelrath
1991   Mark McNulty (4) 272 −15 Playoff   Paul Broadhurst Hubblelrath
1990   Mark McNulty (3) 270 −18 3 strokes   Craig Parry Hubblelrath
German Open
1989   Craig Parry 266 −18 Playoff   Mark James Frankfurter
1988   Seve Ballesteros (2) 263 −21 5 strokes   Gordon Brand Jnr Frankfurter
1987   Mark McNulty (2) 259 −25 3 strokes   Antonio Garrido Frankfurter
1986   Bernhard Langer (4) 273 −15 Playoff   Rodger Davis Hubblelrath
Lufthansa German Open
1985   Bernhard Langer (3) 183[a] −27 7 strokes   Michael McLean
  Mark McNulty
Club zur Vahr
1984   Wayne Grady 268 −16 1 stroke   Jerry Anderson Frankfurter
1983   Corey Pavin 275 −13 3 strokes   Seve Ballesteros
  Tony Johnstone
Cologne
1982   Bernhard Langer (2) 279 −9 Playoff   Bill Longmuir Stuttgarter GC Solitude
German Open
1981   Bernhard Langer 272 −12 1 stroke   Tony Jacklin Hamburger
Braun German Open
1980   Mark McNulty 280 −8 1 stroke   Tony Charnley
  Neil Coles
Wannsee Berlin
1979   Tony Jacklin 277 −7 2 strokes   Antonio Garrido
  Lanny Wadkins
Frankfurter
1978   Seve Ballesteros 268 −20 2 strokes   Neil Coles Cologne
German Open
1977   Tienie Britz 275 −13 2 strokes   Hugh Baiocchi Dusseldorf
1976   Simon Hobday 266 −18 1 stroke   Antonio Garrido Frankfurter
1975   Maurice Bembridge 285 +5 7 strokes   Lon Hinkle
  Bob Shearer
Club zur Vahr
1974   Simon Owen 276 −12 Playoff   Peter Oosterhuis Krefelder
1973   Francisco Abreu 276 −12 2 strokes   Dale Hayes Hubblelrath
1972   Graham Marsh 271 −13 4 strokes   Brian Huggett Frankfurter
1971   Neil Coles 279 −17 4 strokes   Peter Thomson Club zur Vahr [1]
1970   Jean Garaïalde (2) 276 13 strokes   Valentín Barrios
  Ettore Della Torre
Krefelder [2]
1969   Jean Garaïalde 275 3 strokes   Cobie Legrange Frankfurter [3]
1968   Barry Franklin 285 2 strokes   Bob Shaw Cologne [4]
1967   Donald Swaelens 273 2 strokes   Barry Franklin Krefelder [5]
1966   Bob Stanton 274 5 strokes   Ross Newdick Frankfurter [6]
1965   Harold Henning 274 8 strokes   Ramón Sota Hamburger [7]
1964   Roberto De Vicenzo 275 1 stroke   Harold Henning
  Ramón Sota
Krefelder [8]
1963   Brian Huggett 278 1 stroke   Peter Alliss Cologne [9]
1962   Bobby Verwey 276 2 strokes   Brian Huggett Hamburger [10]
1961   Bernard Hunt 272 3 strokes   John Jacobs Krefelder [11]
1960   Peter Thomson 281 2 strokes   Roberto De Vicenzo
  Jean Garaïalde
Cologne [12]
1959   Ken Bousfield (2) 271 2 strokes   Dai Rees Hamburger [13]
1958   Fidel de Luca 275 2 strokes   Bernard Hunt Krefelder [14]
1957   Harry Weetman 279 2 strokes   Gary Player
  Peter Thomson
Cologne [15]
1956   Flory Van Donck (2) 277 Playoff   Eric Brown Frankfurter [16][17]
1955   Ken Bousfield 279 2 strokes   Syd Scott Hamburger [18]
1954   Bobby Locke 279 Playoff   Dai Rees Krefelder [19][20]
1953   Flory Van Donck 271 5 strokes   Norman Von Nida Frankfurter [21]
1952   Antonio Cerdá (2) 283 1 stroke   Aldo Casera Hamburger
1951   Antonio Cerdá 286 4 strokes   Harry Karlsson Hamburger
1940–50: No tournament
1939   Henry Cotton (3) 280 11 strokes   Georg Bessner Bad Ems [22]
1938   Henry Cotton (2) 285 15 strokes   Arthur Lees Frankfurter [23]
1937   Henry Cotton 274 17 strokes   Auguste Boyer Bad Ems [24]
1936   Auguste Boyer (4) 291 1 stroke   Henry Cotton Wannsee Berlin [25]
1935   Auguste Boyer (3) 280 2 strokes   Henry Cotton Bad Ems [26]
1934   Alf Padgham 285 6 strokes   Percy Alliss Bad Ems [27]
1933   Percy Alliss (5) 284 6 strokes   Henry Cotton Bad Ems [28]
1932   Auguste Boyer (2) 282 1 stroke   Percy Alliss Bad Ems [29]
1931   René Golias 298 2 strokes   Marcel Dallemagne Wannsee Berlin [30]
1930   Auguste Boyer 266 3 strokes   Percy Alliss
  Henry Cotton
Baden-Baden [31]
1929   Percy Alliss (4) 285 2 strokes   Horton Smith Wannsee Berlin [32]
1928   Percy Alliss (3) 280 10 strokes   Ernest Whitcombe Wannsee Berlin [33]
1927   Percy Alliss (2) 288 10 strokes   Arthur Havers
  Tony Torrance (a)
Wannsee Berlin [34]
1926   Percy Alliss 284 8 strokes   Aubrey Boomer Wannsee Berlin [35]

Baden-Baden Open Championship of Germany

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In 1911 the Baden-Baden golf club organised a 72-hole tournament which they called the "Open Championship of Germany". The German Golf Association, of which Baden-Baden was a member, objected to the use of name.[36] Owing to the disagreement the Baden-Baden club withdrew from the German Golf Association.[37] The Championship was played on 18 and 19 August with total prize money of £250.[37] Harry Vardon, with rounds of 69 and 67, had a 6 stroke lead after the first day. Further rounds of 71 and 72 gave him a score of 279 and a 9 stroke victory.[37] Vardon's total was reckoned to be the lowest in a 72-hole competition. All the players agreed that the event was to be considered "the Open Championship of Germany".[38]

The event was staged again, on 20 and 21 August 1912, with prize money doubled to 10,000 marks (£500). The German Golf Association again objected to the use of the title but the prize money attracted most of the leading British professionals. In the first round Charles Mayo broke Vardon's course record with a 65 but J.H. Taylor led at the end of the day on 133.[39] On the final day Taylor had rounds of 73 and 73 but was caught by Ted Ray. Ray had lost two balls in his first round of 75 but three excellent rounds brought him into the joint lead.[40] A nine-hole playoff was arranged in the evening which Taylor won with an incredible score of 28 compared to Ray's 34.[40] The prize money was the largest ever given for a tournament in Europe.[40]

Winners

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Year Winner Score Margin of
victory
Runner-up Winner's
share (£)
Venue Ref.
1912   John Henry Taylor 279 Playoff   Ted Ray 130 Baden-Baden [40]
1911   Harry Vardon 279 9 strokes   Sandy Herd 100 Baden-Baden [37]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References

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  1. ^ "Gallacher third after 75". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1971. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Garaialde wins West German Open". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1970. p. 4.
  3. ^ "German Open Championships". The Times. 28 July 1969. p. 7.
  4. ^ "German Open Championships". The Times. 29 July 1968. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Swaelens wins German Open". The Glasgow Herald. 31 July 1967. p. 5.
  6. ^ "German Open Champion". The Glasgow Herald. 25 July 1966. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Henning wins West German Open". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1965. p. 4.
  8. ^ "Vicenzo's victory". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1964. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Huggett's victory by a stroke". The Glasgow Herald. 12 August 1963. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Verwey German Open Champion". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1962. p. 4.
  11. ^ "Hunt wins German Open". The Glasgow Herald. 14 August 1961. p. 4.
  12. ^ "German win for Thomson". The Glasgow Herald. 25 July 1960. p. 3.
  13. ^ "German Open for Bousfield". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1959. p. 7.
  14. ^ "German Open won by F. De Luca". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1958. p. 7.
  15. ^ "Weetman wins German Open title". The Glasgow Herald. 22 July 1957. p. 3.
  16. ^ "Brown and Van Donck tie". The Glasgow Herald. 21 August 1956. p. 2.
  17. ^ "German title for Van Donck". The Glasgow Herald. 22 August 1956. p. 9.
  18. ^ "Bousfield's German win". The Glasgow Herald. 8 August 1955. p. 6.
  19. ^ "Rees and Locke tie". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1954. p. 9.
  20. ^ "Locke wins German Open title". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1954. p. 2.
  21. ^ "German Open Championship". The Times. 19 August 1953. p. 9.
  22. ^ "Cotton retains German title". The Glasgow Herald. 21 August 1939. p. 4.
  23. ^ "Cotton retains German "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 22 August 1938. p. 6.
  24. ^ "Another title for Cotton". The Glasgow Herald. 16 August 1937. p. 6.
  25. ^ "Cotton fails in German "Open" bid". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1936. p. 4.
  26. ^ "French winner of German "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 19 August 1935. p. 4.
  27. ^ "German Open golf championship". The Times. 20 August 1934. p. 12.
  28. ^ "Alliss wins German Open Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 August 1933. p. 17.
  29. ^ "Frenchman wins German "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 15 August 1932. p. 16.
  30. ^ "German Open Championship". The Times. 29 June 1931. p. 6.
  31. ^ "German Golf Championships". The Times. 18 August 1930. p. 6.
  32. ^ "The German Open Championships". The Times. 27 May 1929. p. 5.
  33. ^ "Percy Alliss wins German Open Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 August 1928. p. 17.
  34. ^ "An All-British affair". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1927. p. 18.
  35. ^ "German Open Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1926. p. 7.
  36. ^ "Professional competitions at Baden Baden". The Times. 28 July 1911. p. 13.
  37. ^ a b c d "Open Championship of Baden Baden". The Times. 21 August 1911. p. 13.
  38. ^ "Baden Baden Club – Open Championship of Germany". The Times. 24 August 1911. p. 9.
  39. ^ "Golf – Open Championship of Germany". The Times. 21 August 1912. p. 9.
  40. ^ a b c d "Golf – Open Championship of Germany – Victory of J.H. Taylor". The Times. 22 August 1912. p. 9.
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