The Scottish Amateur Golf Championship was first played at St Andrews in 1922. Organised by the Scottish Golf Union, the competition is 'closed' to golfers who are Scottish born, with Scottish parentage, or have lived permanently in Scotland for the past five years.
The first competition was held at The Old Course at St Andrews, where John Wilson beat Edward Blackwell at the 19th hole in what must have been a very close match.
John Wilson was a teacher from Prestwick who was a keen amateur golfer and won the Arrol cup on six occasions. In 1931, he won the Amateur Golf Championship for a second time when played at his home course, where he defeated Andrew Jamieson by 2 & 1.
He was selected for the Walker Cup team in 1923 and represented Scotland against England in 1922, 23, 24, 26 and against Ireland in 1932. In 1921 and 1923, he won the Hillhouse Cup , an amateur competition open to members of local Ayrshire clubs.
It is a common occurrence for amateurs who go on to win a prestigious competition such as the Scottish Amateur Golf Championship, not only at the inaugural competition but also a few years later with representation in other prestigious competitions to turn professional.
John Wilson affectionately known as 'The Monkton Dominie' was torn between his scholastic and family lives and his love of the game at Prestwick chose the amateur way.
Cast in gold and decorated with a view of the R&A St Andrews and ‘Scottish Amateur Golf Championship’ around the border, both of the medals going up for auction this September in the Jewellery Silver & Watches Sale are offered in their boxes of issue with a group photograph showing John Wilson at St Andrews.