The first South Australian Professional Championship was held in 1927 and was a 72-hole stroke-play event.

[1] McMahon won in 1928, 1929 and 1930, and as a three-time winner he permanently kept the trophy that had been presented in 1927.

In 1951, in the semifinals, while playing against Murray Crafter, competitor Willie Harvey had a heart attack on the 11th hole and died.

[14] However, they ultimately decided that the tournament would proceed though the finals would be delayed about a week.

Thompson objected and the matter was not fully resolved until just before the 1953 event, confirming Crafter as the winner.