Looking Back: Agfa-Gevaert Tournament

The Agfa-Gevaert Tournament was a professional golf tournament played in England for close to 10 years in the 1960s and 1970s. It was part of the British and European circuit that preceded the formation of today's European Tour.

First played: 1963

Last played: 1971

Two golfers were two-time winners of this title, Bernhard Hunt and Angel Miguel. Hunt won the inaugural event in 1963 (by three over Brian Huggett), and won again in 1970 (by two over Tommy Horton). Miguel won in 1964 (by one over Peter Thomson) and 1966 (by two over Hedley Muscroft).

The 72-hole tournament scoring record was set by Jimmy Hitchcock in 1965 with a score of 267. Hitchcock also achieved the tournament's largest margin of victory that year, winning by six strokes over runner-up David Snell.

Brian Barnes' win in 1969 was his second pro victory but his first on the British PGA circuit. Barnes also finished runner-up to Peter Oosterhuis in 1971, the last year (and one year before the Euro Tour debut) this tournament was played. And that was Oosterhuis' first win on the European pro circuit.

Winners of the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament

1963 — Bernard Hunt, 273
1964 — Angel Miguel, 268
1965 — Jimmy Hitchcock, 267
1966 — Angel Miguel, 275
1967 — Peter Alliss, 270
1968 — Clive Clark, 288
1969 — Brian Barnes, 277
1970 — Bernard Hunt, 277
1971 — Peter Oosterhuis, 276

The title sponsor, Agfa-Gevaert, specialized at the time in photographic equipment — cameras and film. It was the title sponsor every year the tournament was played, although the event name alternated between specific products and the company name.

The tournament debuted under the name Gevacolor Tournament and used that name in 1963 and 1964. It became the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament in 1965-67, and was again for its final playing in 1971. In 1968-70, the tournament name was Agfacolor Film Tournament.

This event was played each year on the same golf course: Stoke Poges Golf Club in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England.