1916 PGA Championship Gold Medal Won by Runner-Up Jock Hutchison - Inaugural Championship
"The (Professional Golfers Association of America) has given to it the designation of 'The Annual Championship of the Professional Golfers Association of America for the Rodman Wanamaker Prizes.' This will be the new national organization of golf pros, and the future of that association may depend in large measure upon the success attending this initial competition." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper article announced the groundbreaking golf competition on August 21, 1916. Paralleling The Masters' original Augusta Invitation tournament name, The PGA Championship also was coined with an unrefined/start-up name that was soon to change. The tournament's mission was to both promote the Professional Golfers Association with the offering of 'rich prizes' and a 'record-breaking gallery to see the (finals) match' for the premier competition limited to only members of the inclusive association and its geographical sections. A lesser known, or assumed, prerogative was the promotion of the match play scoring format to top amateur golfers with the opportunity to finally see the 'big pros' play it versus their standard medal play. In 1916 match play was a format less than preferred by Jerome Travers among others of his rank. "...Certain amateurs, including Jerome Travers, have been arguing of late that stroke play should be employed in deciding the amateur championship. Now that the amateur method is to be used by the pros, the value of match play will be enhanced..."
Thirty-two qualifying golfers from the United States contested in 36-hole matches over five days at Siwanoy Country Club, and it played out just as Rodman Wanamaker envisioned. This was until the semi-finals when Jock Hutchison, representing Allegheny CC of Pittsburgh defeated golf luminary of his day Walter Hagen falling to Jock Hutchison 2up in the semi-finals. The opposite side of the match play bracket welcomed the dominant Jim Barnes, a tournament favorite, to the finals with a commanding 6&5 win over Willie Macfarlane to make the very first PGA Championship final Jim Barnes vs. Jock Hutchison.
Proudly presented in this lot is Jack Hutchison's runner-up golf medal from the very first PGA Championship, with its early eagle relief logo design and a rimming of 'The Annual Championship of the Professional Golfers Association of America for the Rodman Wanamaker Prizes.' The verso of this 'rich prize' from Rodman Wanamaker reads 'The Annual Championship - Jack Hutchison Runner Up 1916' encircled in laurels. Interestingly enough the engraver, likely from the states and much more familiar with the name Jack than Jock, misspelled the champion's name on the medal when closely inspected. Historical significance cannot be overlooked, with this medal from the very first edition of the PGA Championship market entrant headlining in a Major way.
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