Johnnie Walker Australian Classic

The Johnnie Walker Australian Classic was a golf tournament held in Australia from 1988 to 1992.^[1] It was first played as the Bicentennial Classic to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary. From 1989 it was sponsored by United Distillers, using their Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky brand, and officially titled as the Johnnie Walker Australian Classic, and then the Johnnie Walker Classic from 1991.^[2]

Johnnie Walker Australian Classic

Tournament information
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Established	1988
Course(s)	Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Par	72
Tour(s)	PGA Tour of Australasia
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	A$700,000
Month played	December
Final year	1992
Tournament record score
Aggregate	271 Rodger Davis (1988) 271 Fred Couples (1988)
To par	−17 as above
Final champion
Robert Allenby
Location map
Royal Melbourne GC Location in Australia Show map of Australia Royal Melbourne GC Location in Victoria Show map of Victoria

It was held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne, except in 1991 when it was played at The Lakes Golf Club. Prize money was A$1,500,000 in 1988, A$1,000,000 from 1989 to 1991, and A$700,000 in 1992. The tournament was played for the final time in 1992 as a result of United Distillers ending their sponsorship in April 1993.^[3]

After the tournament was cancelled in 1993, the Johnnie Walker Asian Classic dropped the word "Asian" and took on the Johnnie Walker Classic title.

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share (A$)	Venue	Ref.
Johnnie Walker Australian Classic
1992	Robert Allenby	275	−13	5 strokes	Peter Senior	126,000	Royal Melbourne	[4]
1991	Peter Senior (2)	282	−10	1 stroke	Rodger Davis Frank Nobilo	180,000	The Lakes	[5]
1990	Greg Turner	276	−8	4 strokes	Rodger Davis	180,000	Royal Melbourne	[6]
1989	Peter Senior	276	−12	5 strokes	Greg Norman	180,000	Royal Melbourne	[7]
Bicentennial Classic
1988	Rodger Davis	271	−17	Playoff[lower-alpha 1]	Fred Couples	500,000	Royal Melbourne	[8][9]

Notes

1. Davis won with eagle on second extra hole

References

1. 2006 Media Guide. PGA Tour of Australasia. p. 167.
2. "Whisky time for classic golf title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 July 1989. p. 19. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
3. "Major Australian tournament loses sponsor". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 April 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
4. "Rookie stuns stars with five-shot win". The Canberra Times. Vol. 67, no. 21, 057. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 December 1992. p. 26. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Davis fumbles run to allow Senior in by one stroke". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 694. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 December 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Baker-Finch in the wilderness, Turner out". The Canberra Times. Vol. 65, no. 20, 331. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 December 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "No more 'yips' for Midas-touch Senior '". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 19, 787. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 December 1989. p. 22. Retrieved 1 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Davis takes big money". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 418. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 December 1988. p. 28. Retrieved 2 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Times Sport Sports results and details". Canberra Times. 5 December 1988. Retrieved 6 November 2021.