Age and Leader purse

The event ran from 1923 to 1930 with the same format each year. On the first day there was a 36-hole stroke-play qualifying stage. The leading 8 then played match-play. The 18-hole quarter and semi-finals were played on the second day, with the 36-hole final on the third day.[1] Generally the qualifying and match-play stages were played on different courses.

The first event was held in September 1923. The qualifying day was held at Riversdale Golf Club with the match-play being at Yarra Yarra Golf Club, starting two days later.[2] Arthur Le Fevre met Allan Maiden in the final, although the two had only finished seventh and fifth in the qualifying. Maiden was 3 up after the morning round but Le Fevre was 4 up after 11 holes of the afternoon round, eventually winning 2&1. Maiden had been hit by a tram on the way to the final, suffering bruises and abrasions.[3] The second event was in March 1924. Arthur Le Fevre led the qualifying at Elsternwick Golf Club by 7 strokes, after rounds of 71 and 68.[4] However, Billy Iles and Harold Power reached the final at Commonwealth, Iles winning 9&8.[5]

The 1925 qualifying was held Victoria Golf Club, Rowley Banks leading with a score of 147.[6] Arthur Le Fevre met Banks in the final at Metropolitan, Le Fevre winning 3&2.[7] 1926 qualifying was held at Metropolitan with the match-play at Commonwealth. Don Thomson led qualifying with a score of 151.[8] Thomson beat Reg Jupp 7&5 in the final.[9] 1927 qualifying was at Sandridge Golf Club with the match-play at Yarra Yarra. Thomson again led the qualifying, with a score of 148.[10] The final was a repeat of 1926, with Thomson meeting Jupp. Thomson was 7 up at lunch and still 6 up with 7 holes to play. Jupp then won 3 holes in a row and the match was eventually won by Thomson, 2&1.[11]

Reg Jupp led the 1928 qualifying at Commonwealth with a score of 168.[12] The match-play was at Royal Melbourne, and the local professional, Arthur Le Fevre beat John Young 5&4 in the final, for his third victory in the event.[13] Qualifying was at Woodlands in 1929, Young leading on 148.[14] Jupp met Arthur Spence in the final at Victoria Golf Club. The match was all square at lunch, but Jupp won 4&3 in the afternoon.[15] In 1930 all three days were played at Royal Melbourne. Ted Naismith, an assistant at the home club, led the qualifying on 150.[16] Naismith met Don Thomson in the final. Thomas was 4 up after 10 holes but Naismith later levelled the match with 7 holes to play. Thomson led by one hole with two to play, but Naismith won the last two holes to win the match.[17]