The Roehampton Invitation Tournament was a British golf tournament played each April at the Roehampton Club from 1920 to 1935. From 1922 the tournament was played over three days. There was 36 holes of stroke play on the first day with the leading 16 players qualifying for a knock-out contest on the following two days. Except in 1920 the total prize money was £200. A challenge cup was awarded to the winner to remain the absolute property of any player who won the tournament on two occasions, not necessarily consecutive. Three players won the cup outright: Abe Mitchell (1926 and 1927), Mark Seymour (1930 and 1932) and Archie Compston (1929 and 1935). The tournament was cancelled in 1936 because of "the crowded state of the fixture list".
History
The first tournament was played on 28 April 1920 and was a 36-hole stroke play competition with total prize money of £150. The winner was George Duncan who won the £45 first prize and the silver challenge cup.
The second tournament was played on 13 and 14 April 1921. There was 36-holes of stroke play on the first day with the leading four players involved in a knock-out competition on the second day. The total prize money was £200. James Ockenden led after the first day on 139 with Frank Ball, Fred Leach and J.H. Taylor on 143. The winner was J.H. Taylor who beat James Ockenden in the final.
The third tournament extended to a third day and was played on 19–21 April 1922. As in 1921, there was 36-holes of stroke play on the first day but now the leading 16 players qualified for a knock-out competition on the second and third days. Percy Alliss led the stroke play on 144, with players scoring 151 and better qualifying. James Ockenden completed the last 9 holes of his first round in 30 strokes. Ockenden beat George Duncan in the final.
The fourth tournament was played on 11–13 April 1923. The total prize money was again £200. Abe Mitchell and Ted Ray led on 140 with those scoring 144 and less also qualifying. Willie Ritchie got the final place by winning a four-player 9-hole playoff of those scoring 145, scoring 36. The veteran Sandy Herd beat Fred Jewell in the final.
The fifth tournament was played on 9–12 April 1924. Sandy Herd and Abe Mitchell led on 139 with those scoring 144 and less also qualifying. Six players scored 145 and with only five places for them, they drew lots and Charles Johns was the unlucky player. There was a fall of snow before the knock-out stage started and although a few matches started, play was soon abandoned for the day. Conditions were little better on the following day but the two rounds were completed. Conditions were again cold and wet on the final day with the players drinking cups of hot coffee at the turn. Ted Ray beat Rowland Jones in the final.
The sixth tournament was played on 1–3 April 1925. Despite the earlier start the weather was much better than in 1924. Abe Mitchell led the qualification for the third successive year with two rounds of 67 on the short Roehampton course, four stroke ahead of the rest of the field. Three players scored 146 and played off for the final place. Mitchell lost in the semi-final to Aubrey Boomer, the eventual winner. Poor putting put him four down after seven holes. He recovered and had a putt of less than three yards at the last to tie the match, but missed and Boomer won the match.
The seventh tournament was played on 14–16 April 1926. James Ockenden and George Gadd led the qualification on 137, Gadd scoring 66 in the morning round. Six players had a 6-hole playoff for the final place, Len Holland winning with a score of 22. Abe Mitchell and George Duncan won their semi-finals comfortably with Mitchell winning the eagerly-anticipated final.
The eighth tournament was played on 6–8 April 1927, soon after the announcement of the Ryder Cup team. Ernest Whitcombe led the qualification on 137. George Duncan equalled the course record with 66 in the afternoon. Sandy Herd got the final place, winning a 6-hole playoff against Rowland Jones. Ryder Cup captain Abe Mitchell beat Ernest Whitcombe in the final. Mitchell was six up after nine holes but Whitcombe score 7 threes and a four at the next eight holes before losing 3&1. Mitchell was the first person to win the tournament twice and so won the cup outright.
The ninth tournament was played on 18–20 April 1928. Arthur Havers led the qualification on 138. Six players tied on 145 played a 6-hole playoff to determine the final qualifier, won by Tom Walton with 22. Abe Mitchell won for the third successive year, beating Fred Robson in the final.