The Benson & Hedges International Open was a men's professional golf tournament which was played in England. It was founded in 1971 and for its first five years it was called the Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf. It was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, a cigarette company. It was part of the European Tour's annual schedule from the tour's first season in 1972 until the tournament ceased in 2003, following the introduction of a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sporting events by the British government. The prize fund for the final edition of the tournament was €1,596,861, which was mid-range for a European Tour event at the time.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | England |
| Established | 1971 |
| Course(s) | The Belfry (Brabazon Course) |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,119 yd (6,510 m) |
| Tour(s) | European Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | £1,100,000 |
| Month played | May |
| Final year | 2003 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 266 Vicente Fernández (1975) |
| To par | −18 Vicente Fernández (1975) −18 Sam Torrance (1984) |
| Final champion | |
 Paul Casey | |
| Location map | |
  The Belfry Location in England  The Belfry Location in Warwickshire | |
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Venue | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson & Hedges International Open | ||||||||
| 2003 | 277 | −11 | 4 strokes | The Belfry | [1] | |||
| 2002 | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | The Belfry | [2] | |||
| 2001 | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | The Belfry | [3] | |||
| 2000 | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | The Belfry | [4][5] | |||
| 1999 | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | The Oxfordshire | ||||
| 1998 | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | The Oxfordshire | ||||
| 1997 | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | The Oxfordshire | ||||
| 1996 | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke | The Oxfordshire | ||||
| 1995 | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1994 | 281 | −7 | 3 strokes | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1993 | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1992 | 287 | −1 | Playoff | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1991 | 286 | −2 | 2 strokes | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1990 | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | St Mellion International | ||||
| 1989 | 272 | −12 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1988 | 271 | −17 | Playoff | Fulford | ||||
| 1987 | 275 | −13 | 2 strokes | Fulford | ||||
| 1986 | 274 | −14 | Playoff | Fulford | ||||
| 1985 | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1984 | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1983 | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1982 | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1981 | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1980 | 272 | −16 | 2 strokes | Fulford | ||||
| 1979 | 272 | −8 | 2 strokes | St. Mellion International | ||||
| 1978 | 274 | −10 | Playoff | Fulford | ||||
| 1977 | 280 | −4 | 3 strokes | Fulford | ||||
| 1976 | 272 | −12 | 2 strokes | Fulford | ||||
| Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf | ||||||||
| 1975 | 266 | −18 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1974 | 276 | −8 | Playoff | Fulford | ||||
| 1973 | 276 | −8 | 2 strokes | Fulford | [6] | |||
| 1972 | 281 | −3 | 1 stroke | Fulford | ||||
| 1971 | 279 | −5 | Playoff | Fulford | [7] | |||
References
edit- ^ "Casey wins at The Belfry". BBC Sport. 11 May 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Cabrera reigns at The Belfry". BBC Sport. 12 May 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Stenson proves big at The Belfry". BBC Sport. 13 May 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "Belfry leader disqualified". BBC Sport. 14 May 2000. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ Garrod, Mark (14 May 2000). "Olazabal cashes in on Harrington horror". The Independent. Retrieved 1 February 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Baker's first major win". The Glasgow Herald. 20 August 1973. p. 5.
- ^ "Jacklin upholds his reputation". The Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1971. p. 5.