Vancouver Parks Board Championship
In 1937 Jock McKinnon arrived from Forfar, Scotland to assume the head professional position at the Capilano G&CC. He came after just winning the Scottish Assistants Championship at Royal Aberdeen GC. He immediaitely began a campaign to introduce more local tournaments into the Vancouver area. He strongly advocated more competition would improve the skill level for the local amateurs. In 1939 the Vancouver Parks Board followed his suggestion and introduced the Parks Board Handicap Championship. Even though the focus of the event was on middle handicap players a gross champion was chosen. After the War this event became one of the tournaments for choosing the local representatives to the BC Men’s Willingdon Cup Team. Other events used to select the team were the Vancouver City Championship, the BC Amateur Championship and the New Westminster Championship.
YEAR LOW GROSS RUNNER-UP HANDICAP
1939 Frank Willey Jack Eliis Hugh O’Callaghan
1940 Bill Cross Hugh Morrison Tom Goode
1941 Dave Dixon H. Morrison Harry Berry
1942 Frank Oben Frank Willey Jim Robertson Frank Oben
1943 H. Morrison J. Ellis H Morrison
1944 Dave Ford H. Morrison D Ford
1945 J. Robertson Lyle Hurschman Jeff Cross
1946 Tom Molyneaux L. Hurschman Malcolm Tapp Pat Hardy
1947 Walt McAlpine J Robertson Jack Lovett
1948 Percy Clogg Walt McElroy Brian Humphrey
1949 Bill Mawhinney J. Ellis Bert Daykin
1950 B Mawhinney Ted Johnson
1951 J Ellis L Hurschman Ron Willey
1952 P Clogg Lyle Crawford Ted Taylor
1953 Bob Kidd J Ellis Jack Groina
1954 Jim Gibson L Crawford Herb Bertram
1955 Brian Copp L Crawford, B. Ticehurst L. Morgan Fred Zinn
1956 B Ticehurst John Russell A Heide
1957 B Ticehurst J Russell Don Ross
1958 J Russell Doug Bajus D Guest
1959 B Ticehurst J Russell Tom Whittle
1960 B Ticehurst J Russell Len Morgan A Omelus
1961 J Russell Mike Kuzak M. Kuzak
1962 L Morgan J Russell, B Ticehurst Andy Bathgate M. Kuzak
1963 Bud Bird Dennis Beaupre Jim Sutherland
1964 J Russell John Morgan Tom Rippon
1965 Bob Mitchell J Russell Damon Holt
1966 NO TOURNAMENT DUE TO CIVIC STRIKE
1967 B Ticehurst Ed Dembroski
1968 Al Greenstreet Bob McCuster J Russell
1969 B Ticehurst Art Donaldson Ron Fratkin
1970 Ross Ellison Ed Dombroski
1971 B Ticehurst B Mitchell
1972 NO TOURNAMENT DUE TO CIVIC STRIKE
1973 B Mitchell Paul Bergen
1974 Neill Crofton P. Bergen
In 1939 The Vancouver Daily Province introduced another championship THE VANCOUVER DAILY PUBLINX that focused on the public golfers. This event operated separate from the Parks Board tournament in 1939,1940, 1941. It then ceased operation during the War, but resumed in 1945 as part of the Parks Board event. The Province Publinx trophy was awarded to the lowest gross score for a public golfer assuming the player did not win the overall low gross title. If the player won the overall low gross the 2nd low gross for a public course golfer won the trophy.
DATE CHAMPION
1939 Norm Wilkinson
1940 Dave Dixon
1941 Walt McAlpine
1944 Dave Ford
1945 Lyle Hurschman
1946 Lyle Hurschman
The Province newspaper then ceased sponsorship in the event. In 1960 The Vancouver Daily Province reconvened the VANCOUVER PUBLINX TOURNAMENT. This event still operates today.