1940: Host pro Bill Swing edged out his assistant, Arnold Browning, by two strokes to capture the West Virginia Open at Guyan Country Club in Huntington. Swing finished with a 293 total for the two-day, 72-hole tournament while Browning had 295. Browning took a four-stroke lead into the final round but his putting faltered and he carded a 78. Despite a hard rain, Swing shot a 33 on the front nine and wound up making five birdies for a final round 72. “”That 33 on the outward nine of the afternoon round was the baby that told the tale,” Swing said. Swing earned $140 and Browning got $100. Larry Wiechman of Logan was tied for the lead after two rounds and finished in a tie for third with Johnny Javins. Perry Taylor of Huntington downed Steve Jupinko of Moundsville in a playoff for low amateur after both posted 309 totals. Leaders by rounds: first, Javins 69, by three; second, Swing, Browning and Wiechman, 144s; third, Browning 217, by one.
Bill Swing, Huntington 73-71-77-72–293
Arnold Browning, Huntington 72-72-73-78–295
Larry Wiechman, Logan 74-70-74-78–296
Johnny Javins, Charleston 69-77-77-73–296
Jules Blanton, Parkersburg 76-72-75-74–297
Clem Wiechman, Logan 75-76-74-72–297
Marvin Lamp, Parkersburg 77-74-73-76–300
Horace Brand, Clarksburg 77-75-76-78–306
Joe Reposkey, Clarksburg 75-73-85-75–308
Russell Fankhauser, Parkersburg 75-75-74-84–308
1941: Clem Wiechman of Logan fired a 67 in the final round on the par-70 Old White course in White Sulphur Springs to overcome a six-stroke lead by Johnny Javins of Charleston. Wiechman finished three strokes in front with a 287 total for 72 holes as he won the West Virginia Open for the second time. Wiechman made five birdies in his hot 33-34–67 final round and averaged better than 250 yards on his tee shots. Javins’ putter deserted him in the final round as he faltered to a 76 and a 290 total for second place. Pro Joe Kuhn of Gauley Bridge got off to a fast start with an opening 69 and wound up in sixth place. Young Ray “”The Red” Vaughan of Lewisburg opened with an 82 but recovered to tie for fourth place and take low amateur honors. Leaders by rounds: first, Kuhn 69, by one; second, Kuhn and Javins, 141s; third, Javins 214, by six.
Clem Wiechman, Logan 71-77-72-67–287
Johnny Javins, Charleston 70-71-73-76–290
I. C. Schorr, Bluefield 75-71-77-71–294
Jules Blanton, Parkersburg 75-75-72-77–299
a-Ray Vaughan, Lewisburg 82-70-75-72–299
Joe Kuhn, Gauley Bridge 69-72-82-77–300
Bill Swing, Huntington 72-79-75-75–301
Marvin Lamp, Parkersburg 73-72-79-77–301
1942: Veteran Clem Wiechman took advantage of a last round collapse by amateur Andy Bradley of Charleston to capture his second straight West Virginia Open title and third overall. Brawley. playing at his home Meadow Brook club, held a six-stroke lead going into the final 18 holes but predicted that he wouldn’t last. He limped home with an 84 on the rain-drenched course. Wiechman shot a 76 in the final round to nab the title by one stroke with a 300 total. He received $100. Ray Vaughan, Jr., of Lewisburg, who had recently turned pro, took second with a 74-301 score while Brawley settled for third with 302. “”I didn’t win the Open; Brawley lost it,” Wiechmansaid. Brawley, seeking to become the first amateur to win the Open, began to falter on the 12th hole of the final round when he drove two balls out of bounds for a triple bogey seven. Brawley suffered another seven on the final hole when he needed a par five to tie. Another Meadow Brook amateur, Roy Blizzard, finished fourth. Private Benny Varda, a former Spencer pro on leave from the Army, was 10th. Leaders by rounds: first, Brawley and Blizzard, 70s; second, Brawley 144, by one; third, Brawley 218, by six.
Clem Wiechman, Logan 72-73-79-76–300
Ray Vaughan, Jr., Lewisburg 71-78-78-74–301
a-Andy Brawley, Charleston 70-74-74-84–302
a-Roy Blizzard, Charleston 70-75-81-79–305
Pete Byer, White Sulphur Springs 78-76-75-80–309
John DeVries, South Charleston 79-82-74-74–309
a-Jimmy Loar, Charleston 78-77-78-76–309
a-Gay Carper, Charleston 76-74-80-80–310
a-Joe Rugel, Charleston 73-77-81-79–310
Benny Varda, Spencer 74-76-81-80–311
1943: Winning his third straight West Virginia Open and fourth title overall, Logan pro Clem Wiechman finished two strokes ahead of Bluefield amateur D. G. “”Deege” Rangeley in a blistering battle at Black Knight Country Club in Beckley. Wiechman took the lead for keeps on the 70th hole when Rangeley suffered a seven. Wiechman shot rounds of 76, 74, 72 and 78 for a 300 total. Rangeley opened with 70 and 75 rounds to take a five-stroke lead on the first day but could do no better than 78 and 79 on the second day for a 302 total. Wiechman earned $140 and again took possession of the Charles Midelburg and George Weimer trophies while Rangeley received the A. J. Thompson low amateur trophy and a merchanise award. Corporal Pete Petroske, a former Connecticut pro stationed at the Ashford General Hospital at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, was third with a 305 total.
Clem Wiechman, Logan 300
a-D. G. Rangeley, Bluefield 302
Pete Petroske, White Sulphur Springs 305
I. C. Schorr, Bluefield 306
Arnold Browning, Huntington 306
Jules Blanton, Charleston 307
a-Frank Crum, Williamson 307
a-Andy Brawley, Charleston 311
a-Clarence Meadows, Beckley 314
Ray Vaughan, Jr., Lewisburg 314
a-Rene Stone, Charleston 314
(Note: 18-hole scores not available)
1944: Joe Reposkey, a 32-year-old war veteran and Clarksburg Country Club pro, shot four steady rounds of 73, 73, 74 and 73 for a 293 total to nose out Charleston amateur Andy Brawley by a single stroke in the West Virginia Open at Preston Country Club near Kingwood. Brawley fired a final round 71 for a 294 total. Reposkey received $125 in cash for his victory while Brawley got a $25 war bond and a trophy. Reposkey served two years in the Army as an infantryman. Huntington pro Arnold Browning was third at 295 while Sgt. Johnny Javins, a former Charleston pro serving in the Army Air Force, was the first round leader with a 71 and finished fourth at 300. Corporal Pete Petroske was in contention until suffering an 80 on the final round and tying for seventh at 303. Four-time champion Clem Wiechman moved to Elyria, Ohio, and did not defend his title.
Joe Reposkey, Clarksburg 293
a-Andy Brawley, Charleston 294
Arnold Browning, Huntington 295
Johnny Javins, Charleston 300
Pete Byer, White Sulphur Springs 301
a-Jimmy Loar, Charleston 301
Pete Petroske, White Sulphur Springs 303
Jules Blanton, Charleston 303
a-Earl Jones, Charleston 304
I. C. Schorr, Bluefield 304
(Note: 18-hole scores not available)
1945: In a tournament marked by frayed tempers and controversy, Huntington pro Arnold Browning became the champion with a total of 220 for 54 holes over the Greenbrier Valley Country Club course in Lewisburg. Browning carded a 73 in the final round to finish two strokes ahead of Charleston pro Jules Blanton, who had a 75 for 222. The controversy occurred when rain and hail swept the course late in the first round, sending players to shelter and starting a heated discussion in the clubhouse on what to do. After an hour of debate, the state PGA rules committee voted 2-1 that the course was unplayable and all scores were null and void, reducing the Open from 72 to 54 holes. Among those upset were defending champion Joe Reposkey, who continued to play in the storm and shot a low round of 71, and Browning, who had a 72. Reposkey withdrew after shooting a 78 the next day. Browning had another 72 in his official first round and went on to win the title and the $200 top prize. Leaders by rounds: first, Blanton 68, by four; second, Browning and Blanton, 147s.
Arnold Browning, Huntington 72-75-73–220
Jules Blanton, Charleston 68-79-75–222
Clem Wiechman, Charleston 72-77-74–223
Pete Petroske, White Sulphur Springs 75-74-75–224
a-D. G. Rangeley, Bluefield 77-75-77–229
I. C. Schorr, Bluefield 78-76-76–300
Ray Vaughan, Sr., Lewisburg 76-76-80–232
Thurston Baker, Kingwood 80-76-78–234
Dave Cunningham, Oak Hill 81-80-74–235
a-Gay Carper, Charleston 81-79-77–237
1946: Navy veteran Rut Coffey, the pro at Moundsville Country Club, rolled to a 10-stroke victory in the 14th annual Open held at Logan Country Club. Coffey improved every round in shooting 71, 70, 69 and 68 for a 278 total to earn a $250 first place prize. Coffey played the last six holes in a rainstorm but he was unperturbed and birdied two of the six holes. Coffey, 39, spent 31 months in the Navy and was new to the West Virginia golf scene but previously won the 1940 Mid-Atlantic Tournament in Baltimore and was five times the runner-up in the Maryland Open. Charleston amateur Roy Blizzard, 36, finished second with rounds of 71, 73, 71 and 73 for a 288 total and received a golf bag, complete set of clubs and a cup. Pro Pete Byers of White Sulphur Springs made a hole-in-one on the 163-yard seventh hole in the second round and tied for third on rounds of 70, 71, 75 and 74 for 290. Wheeling pro George Hoffer shared third with rounds of 74, 74, 68 and 74 for 290. Leaders by rounds: first Byers 70, by one; second, Coffey and Byers 141s; third, Coffey 210, by five.
Rut Coffey, Moundsville 278
a-Roy Blizzard, Charleston 288
Pete Byer, White Sulphur Springs 290
George Hoffer, Wheeling 290
Ray Vaughan, Jr., Lewisburg 292
Jules Blanton, Charleston 294
Benny Varda, Spencer 294
a-Earl Jones, Charleston 294
a-Billy Stone, Logan 295
Arnold Browning, Huntington 296
Joe Kuhn, Huntington 296
(Note: all 18-hole scores not available)
1947: Pro George Hoffer of Wheeling nosed out defending champion Rut Coffey by a stroke to capture the West Virginia Open on the Old White course at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. It was the first tournament held at the famed resort since pre-war days and attracted a record field of 129 golfers. Hoffer shot a four-under-par 66 in the third round to grab the lead and held on with a 73 in the fourth round to post a 285 total. Hoffer, 32, the golf instructor for the Wheeling Steel Company, earned the $150 top prize out of a total $1,200 purse. Coffey also finished strong with 69 and 71 rounds to take second at 286. Actually, the gallery of more than 150 ignoredHoffer and Coffey on the final day to watch the featured threesome of amateurs Bill Campbell and Ed Tutwiler and pro Arnold Browning. Tutwiler wound up third at 287 after avoiding a two-stroke penalty on the third hole. His tee shot came to rest beyond and to the right of a lone out-of-bounds stake and his contention that there was no second stake for lining up purposes was upheld by the rules committee. Browning and Campbell shared the second round lead but finished in a tie for fourth with 288 totals. Leaders by rounds: first, Browning 67, by two; second, Browning and Campbell, 141s; third, Hoffer 212, by one.
George Hoffer, Wheeling 69-77-66-73–285
Rut Coffey, Moundsville 74-72-69-71–286
a-Ed Tutwiler, Mount Hope 75-69-70-73–287
a-Bill Campbell, Huntington 70-71-73-74–288
Arnold Browning, Huntington 67-74-72-75–288
Larry Wiechman, Charleston 74-75-73-71–293
Ralph Igo, Charleston 74-75-74-71–294
Ray Vaughan, Jr., Lewisburg 73-75-72-76–296
D. G. Rangeley, Bluefield 77-77-69-73–296
Clem Wiechman, Logan 72-76-75-75–298
1948: Sam Snead opened with a seven-under-par 63 at Wheeling Country Club and led all the way enroute to a 10-stroke victory and his fourth West Virginia Open title. Snead beat par in every round with 63, 69, 69 and 67 scores for a 268 total — 12 under par — and a 10-stroke margin over defending champion George Hoffer. Snead won $250. He had nine birdies in his opening 63, which tied the Wheeling course record set by Tom Bloch. Snead could have shot 60 if he hadn’t missed a five-foot putt for eagle on the 300-yard first hole and three-putted the 10th and 11th greens. Hoffer fired a 67 in the second round and finished with a 278 total to edge Rut Coffey (280) for the runner-up spot. Ed Tutwiler topped Henry McCoy of Sistersville and Bill Campbell for low amateur honors. Pro Clem Wiechman aced the 162-yard 14th hole with a 4-iron shot in the first round. Pro Robert Hillis of Weirton shot a 68 in the first round but finished with a 295 total. Leaders by rounds; first, Snead 63, by five; second, Snead 132, by five; third, Snead 201, by seven.
Sam Snead, White Sulphur Springs 63-69-69-67–268
George Hoffer, Wheeling 70-67-71-70–278
Rut Coffey, Moundsville 70-70-69-71–280
Denny Blair, Huntington 72-68-70-74–284
a-Ed Tutwiler, Mount Hope 71-73-73-69–286
Jules Blanton, Charleston 70-76-71-69–286
a-Henry McCoy, Sistersville 70-71-75-74–290
a-Bill Campbell, Huntington 73-70-73-76–292
Porter George, White Sulphur Springs 73-74-72-73–292
a-Jack Peck, Logan 77-73-73-71–294
1949: Sam Snead became the first five-time winner of the West Virginia Open with another smashing performance at Spring Valley Country Club in Huntington. The Slammer finished 17 under par with a record 263 total and his victory margin of 18 strokes also set a record. This tournament was practically a repeat of the 1948 Open as Snead once again began with a course-tying record and led every round; Snead, George Hoffer and Rut Coffey finished one-two-three again; and Ed Tutwiler was low amateur. Snead made seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to tie Denny Shute’s course record as a gallery that grew steadily to more than 1,000 looked on. Sam went on to shoot two more 65s and a 68 on the hilly Spring Valley course to break his own 72-hole record for the Open. The gallery gave him a tremendous ovation on the final hole. Hoffer kept the pressure on Snead by posting three subpar rounds of 68, 67 and 68 before fading to 78 in the final round but held onto second at 281. Coffey had a steady 284 score. Tutwiler finished fourth at 287 and was low amateur for the third straight year, finishing two strokes ahead of Bill Campbell. Leaders by rounds: first, Snead 65, by three; second, Snead 130, by five; third, Snead 195, by eight.
Sam Snead, White Sulphur Springs 65-65-65-68–263
George Hoffer, Wheeling 68-67-68-78–281
Rut Coffey, Moundsville 69-73-71-71–284
a-Ed Tutwiler, Mount Hope 72-73-71-71–287
a-Bill Campbell, Huntington 77-72-70-70–289
Denny Blair, Huntington 74-73-78-70–295
Pete Byer, White Sulphur Springs 73-72-76-77–298
Ray Vaughan, Jr., Lewisburg 75-73-74-76–298
Quinton Stewart, Charleston 78-74-70-76–298
Jules Blanton, Charleston 79-73-74-74—300