KOOTENAY CHAMPIONSHIP 1928 – 1942
NELSON DISTRICT OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 1943 –
In 1928 the golfers of the Nelson Golf & Country Club decided to begin their first Labour Day tournament to attract tourists to the local tourist camp. Research indicates this event has been held continuously from 1928 – today. Hence this is possibly the oldest continuous regional golf tournament in the West Kootenays. The list of champions is impressive. John Johnston, 1959 Canadian Amateur Champion, won this event in 1952 with a borrowed set of clubs. He played because he and his wife were visiting her parents. Bill Wakeham, 1957 Canadian Junior Champion, 1968 and 1969 BC Open winner, and many times Canadian Tour winner, won the event in 1958 and 1960.. Herbert Clark, a sixteen year old junior, won the event in 1929. He could be the youngest person to accomplish the feat. A local film crew recorded the 1930 finals for the championship on 16mm film.
From 1928 – 1945 the Men’s champion had his named engraved on the Leith Cup. The Ken McBride Memorial Shield replaced the Leith Cup in 1945.The woman’s champion had her name engraved on the Gosnell Cup from 1928 – 1936. The Kootenay Brewery Cup replaced the Gosnell Cup in 1937.
DATE MEN’S CHAMPION WOMEN’S CHAMPION
1928 TR Wilson Miss M. Blackwood
1929 H. Clark Miss D. Schwengers
1930 B Townshend Mrs. R. Pollard
1931 G. Shaw Mrs. B. Townshend
1932 G. Shaw Mrs. HH Lakes
1933 W. Meagher Mrs. HH Lakes
1934 RJ Bourque Mrs. B. Townshend
1935 D. Stack Mrs. HH Lakes
1936 J. Allan Miss Ellen Hughes
1937 C. Carlson Mrs. B. Townshend
1938 C. Carlson Mrs. B. Townshend
1939 J. Allan Mrs. B. Townshend
1940 K. McBride Mrs. B Townshend
1941 J. Allan Mrs. B. Townshend
1942 H. Donaldson Miss C. Hickman
1943 Reg Stone Miss C. Hickman
1944 Reg Stone Mrs. WA Fergie
1945 Roy Stone Mrs. B. Townshend
1946 Roy Stone Mrs. B. Townshend
1947 H. Donaldson Mrs. Reg Stone
1948 A. Donaldson Mrs. B. Townshend
1949 A. Donaldson Mrs. B Townshend
1950 DS McGibney Mrs. B Townshend
1951 C. Swanson Mary Juriloff
1952 J. Johnston Mary Juriloff
1953 J. Leschuk Mary Juriloff
1954 J. Allan Joan Russell
1955 A. Donaldson Joan Sutcliffe
1956 A. Sherwood Helen Townshend
1957 D. Campbell Mrs. B. Townshend
1958 B. Wakeham Betty Wicken
1959 A. Sherwood Gwen Miller
1960 B. Wakeham Betty Duckworth
1961 A. Sherwood Gwen Miller
1962 B. Wakeham Gwen Miller
1963 A. Sherwood Isabel Morris
1964 E. Clem Isabel Morris
1965 E. Clem Beanie Berzina
1966 E. Clem Marge Hamilton
1967 R. West Marge Hamilton
1968 G. Lineker Marge Hamilton
1969 B. Clarkson Marge Hamilton
The BC Golf Museum would like to update this list of champions from 1970 – 2016. We would also like to locate the original Leith Cup and Gosnell Cup. Please contact us at e-mail: office@bcgolfhouse.com.