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1920 Open Championship

1920 Open Championship
Dates 30 June – 1 July 1920
Location Deal, Kent, England
Course(s) Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Field 82 players
Cut none
Prize fund £200
Winner's share £75
Scotland George Duncan
303
«1914
1921»

The 1920 Open Championship was the 55th Open Championship, held 30 June to 1 July at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal, Kent, England. George Duncan erased a 13-stroke deficit after 36 holes to win his only major title, two strokes ahead of runner-up Sandy Herd, the 1902 champion.

Royal Cinque Ports had been planned as the location of the 1915 Open Championship but in early 1915 it was decided that there would be no Championships during the remainder of World War I but that the next Open Championship after the war would be held at Royal Cinque Ports. Although the war was over it was decided that there would be no Championship in 1919. During the war six of the greens were involved in a scheme to build a rifle range which raised fears about the state of the course but in late 1919 it was decided that there would be no difficulty in getting the course ready for the 1920 Championship.

Qualification for the professionals took place on 23 and 24 June at Burhill and Saint George's Hill. The leading 72 players and ties qualified. Three players tied on 159 and there were 74 professional qualifiers. The amateurs qualified separately playing 36 holes on 23 June at Sandwich. Eight places were allotted to the amateurs with Cyril Tolley, the Amateur Champion being given an automatic entry. Prize money was increased to £200. The winner also received a gold medal valued at £25.

Herd and Ted Ray, the 1912 winner, shared the first round lead after each opened with 72 on Wednesday morning. Both faltered in the afternoon's second round while Abe Mitchell shot a 73 for a 147 to open up a six-stroke lead over Herd and Jim Barnes after 36 holes. Ray was eight back, Len Holland 11 behind, while Duncan was 13 back after consecutive rounds of 80 for 160. Duncan played himself back into contention with a 71 in the third round on Thursday morning. Mitchell began that round with three bogeys, made a seven at the 5th hole, and finished with an 84. After 54 holes, Holland was at 229 and led by one over Herd and Barnes, with Mitchell and Duncan two back. Duncan carded a final round of 72 to finish at 303 total. Holland and Barnes both shot 79 for a 308 and 309, respectively. Mitchell rebounded with a 76 which left him at 307. Only Herd could match Duncan's score, but he found trouble on the 16th and settled for a 305, two strokes back of Duncan.


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