Fulford Golf Club have invited all 18 past Benson and Hedges International Open champions to be honorary members of the club to mark winning their titles at Fulford.

Also honoured by Fulford is Bernhard Langer, who has been invited because of his big contribution to golf in addition to his notoriety for hitting his third shot out of the ash tree next to the 17th green at Fulford in August 1981. The picture of this unusual scene was published all round the world.

Fulford hosted the B&H International Open from 1971, when Tony Jacklin was champion, to 1989, when Gordon Brand junior won, with the exception 1979 when it was moved to St Mellion, Cornwall, and Maurice Bembridge was champion.

The 18 Fulford champions invited are: 1971 Tony Jacklin, 1972 Jack Newton, 1973 Vince Baker, 1974 Phillipe Toussaint, 1975 Vicente Fernandez, 1976 Gary Marsh, 1977 Antonio Garrido, 1978 Lee Trevino, 1980 Gary Marsh, 1981 Tom Weiskopf, 1982 Greg Norman, 1983 John Bland, 1984 Sam Torrance, 1985 Sandy Lyle, 1986 Mark James, 1987 Noel Ratcliffe, 1988 Peter Baker, 1989 Gordon Brand junior.

Torrance drew applause from the audience at The Belfrey this week when B&H hosted a dinner to mark the 33rd and last championship following the government's legislation on cigarette advertising.

The former Ryder Cup captain, one of three speakers at the function, said: "We had 18 wonderful years at Fulford. What on earth were they thinking of going to St Mellion."

This year's final championship started at The Belfrey today. Previous hosts were The Oxfordshire, who, along with Fulford, St Mellion and The Belfry, were all invited to send two representatives to this week's farewell dinner.

Updated: 12:32 Thursday, May 08, 2003