PORT MACQUARIE local Brian Sams has won the 2010 NSW Senior Amateur Championship with three rounds of consistent golf at his home club.

The long time Port Macquarie Golf Club member finished with a 54 hole total of 218, just five over par.

With the extra expectation, local knowledge isn’t always what it is cracked up to be and Sams did a great job to claim what is his second NSW title, having won the event in 2005.

The strong final round challenges expected from defending champion Bill Banks and winner of last week’s Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championships Stefan Albinski didn’t really eventuate.

Instead, Tura Beach’s Russell Rogers continued his recent good form to take second place 4 strokes behind Sams on 222.

Third place was shared by previous Australian Senior Champion Rick Oliver and fellow NSW player Roy Vandersluis who has now finished in the top five in his last three Australian Senior Ranking events.

Considering the heavy rain earlier in the week, it was a very successful tournament for the Port Macquarie Golf Club, currently celebrating its centenary year.

Walking Stick Trophy
In the Walking Stick Trophy teams event, NSW proved far too strong to win comfortably from Queensland and the Combined States Team, with Victoria 4th.

Leading Scores:
218 Brian Sams 73 70 75
222 Russell Rogers 74 75 73
223 Rick Oliver 79 71 73, Roy Vandersluis 77 74 72
224 Noel Wood 74 75 75
225 Alan Bullas 76 75 74
226 Stefan Albinski 75 74 77, Grahame Macdonald 78 71 77
      Peter King 74 76 76, Ian Read 77 75 74
227 Bill Banks 74 76 77, Terry Jones 75 75 77
      Cliff Chidlow 76 75 75, Denis Dale 81 73 73
      David Limbach 78 77 72

Full 2010 NSW Senior Amateur Golf Championship Results (NSW Golf Association)

NEW ZEALAND has continued its recent domination over Australia in senior amateur golf with a convincing win in the 2010 Trans Tasman Senior championship.

The Kiwis won the Presidents Cup style event by 18 points to 6, dominated both days of the tournament, played February 15-16 at the Clearwater Resort in Christchurch, New Zealand.

After holding a convincing overnight lead of 8 ½ to 3 ½ following the foursomes and fourball matches, the Aussies knew they were up against the wall, needing to take nine of the 12 single matches on the final day for an outright win.

The Australian team, led by New South Welshman Denis Dale, tried hard but in the end were no match for a home team that always seemed to have an answer when it came to the crunch.

The Kiwis won the singles matches 9 ½ to 2 ½ .

Overall, there were 17 matches over the two days that went to the 17th and 18th holes and the Kiwis won all but five of these.

Australia won the first two Trans Tasman events in 2007 and 2008 and with a win in 2009 and the latest result the Kiwis have now made the overall result all square.

The Australian team will have the chance to restore some lost pride when the next match is played at Sanctuary Cove Golf Club in 2011.

EUROPEAN Seniors Tour Rookie of the Year Michael Harwood has gone back to where his golfing resurrection began and has taken the Finance Brokers of Tasmania Seniors Open for the second year running in Hobart.

Harwood carded a two under par 69 to finish one shot ahead of New South Welshman Peter Criss in the 36 hole event at the Kingston Beach Golf Club on the weekend.

“After 15 years of not playing competitive golf, last year this tournament kick-started my seniors career and gave me a lot of confidence about the year ahead. I hope this win has the same effect in 2010,” Harwood said in his presentation speech.

The Victorian will now focus on his upcoming European Tour Seniors events in Brunei, Thailand and South Africa.

It was also back to back wins for the Senior Open Amateur winner, Tasmanian star senior Michael Leedham, who also happened to be Harwood’s final round playing partner in the jointly conducted event.

Leedham finished with a final round 72 for a tournament total of 147, three strokes ahead of second placegetter Ross Bockman (NSW).

Three NSW senior amateur golfers tied for third - Greg Stanford, Bob Angus and Denis Dale.

The amateur actually beat the pro on the back nine, with Leedham playing it at three under while Harwood was one over.

But Harwood’s four birdies on the front more than evened that score.

AUSTRALIA’S Stefan Albinski has won the individual 2009 Senior Amateur Championship of the Asia Pacific in Sabah, Malaysia but the Australian team in the Asia Pacific Seniors Championship has been beaten by New Zealand.

The Aussies were defending champions but couldn’t overcome a Kiwi outfit that has had the wood on them in a number of individual and team events throughout the year.

The Kiwis took a two stroke lead into the final round of the 54 hole championship at the Karambunai Golf Course and proved too strong for their cross Tasman arch rivals, eventually extending the winning margin to 8 shots.

A number of the Australian team battled through some illness and heat related disorders thoughout the week but no one was making excuses.

This included Albinksi, who arrived from Hong Kong – where he had added the Hong Kong Seniors title to his growing championship belt – with tummy troubles.

In the final round, Albinski led the Austra;ians with a 74 followed by Greg Corben (77), Denis Dale (78) Ross Percy and Grahame MacDonald (79) and Brian Sams (81). The New Zealanders again carded consistent scores with three 75s (Rodney Barltrop, Ian Donaldson and Eric Brodie) followed by Martin Webber (77) John Sanders (78) and Murray Martin (82).

The Australians, after winning last year, were left ruing a disappointing team result. With the exception of Albinski and a good opening round from Grahame MacDonald the scores were not up to the ability of the players selected.

Denis Dale, writing on the AUSOOM website, said although the greens were tricky and some players struggled physically it was the same for all teams.

“Simply put, this was not the Australian team’s year. Well done New Zealand,” Dale wrote.

In the prestigious individual title section, Albinski beat New Zealand’s Martin Webber by one stroke.
After teeing off in the final round two strokes behind, Albinski played even par golf and had a two stroke lead entering the back nine.

However, a double bogey at 14 followed by a bogey on 15 saw his lead erased and the two rivals were all square playing seventeen.
Showing the class that has helped Albinski to a number of senior titles, he lifted both his game and his concentration and reached the long par 5 in two great shots to take the lead with a birdie.

When both players parred the tricky eighteenth the individual championship belonged to second successive year.
Next year the Asia Pacific Seniors Championship will be held in Thailand in the last week of November. All who make the team will have a chance to reclaim the team trophy and perhaps watch Stefan Albinski make it three in a row.

Leading Teams:
1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. The Philippines
4. Hong Kong
5. India
6. Taiwan
7. Malaysia

Leading Individuals (not all scores listed):
222 Stefan Albinski 72-76-74 (AUS)
223 Martin Webber 74-72-77 (NZ) 226 Eric Brodie 78-73-75 (NZ)
232 Rodney Barltrop 79-78-75 (NZ)
233 Grahame MacDonald 74-80-79 (AUS)
233 Greg Corben 80-76-77 (AUS)
235 Ian Donaldson 82-78-75 (NZ)
236 Brian Sams 79-76-81 (AUS)
236 Iggy Clavecilla 82-74-80 (Phil)
238 Murray Martin 79-77-82 (NZ)
238 Ross Percy 79-80-79 (AUS)

THOSE pesky New Zealanders won the Senior Men’s Amateur Trans Tasman golf championship for the first time this year and here’s hoping the new 12 man Australian team just announced will turn the tables in 2010.

The 2010 Trans Tasman Sanctuary Cove Trophy will be played at the Clearwater Resort, Christchurch, New Zealand on February 15 – 16.

The annual event consists of foursomes, fourball and singles match play in a format similar to the Ryder and President’s Cups.

Australia rightfully won the first two Trans Tasman events in 2007 and 2008 until a disaster in May this year.

The Kiwis trounced the Aussies over two days at the Sanctuary Cove Golf Club.

The Kiwis won the singles matches 9-3 and including the Fourball and Foursome events the overall result was 16 to 8.

The strong Australian team hoping to restore order to the universe next year will be:

Stefan Albinski NSW   Bill Banks ACT
John Beaumont SA     Chris Coats QLD
Greg Corben NSW      Denis Dale NSW
Tony Gover ACT        Grahame MacDonald QLD
Ross Percy VIC          Ian Read QLD
Brian Sams NSW        Chris Tatt VIC
Phillip Billings (Non playing Captain)

The first of two selection trials for the New Zealand team has been completed and six  members of their team determined.

Murray Martin        Frank Borren     Ian Donaldson
Ron Olivecrona     Arthur Parkin     Rodney Barltrop

Rodney Barltrop further dented Australian pride this year by winning the Australian Senior Amateur Championship title on Bribie Island.

It really is time for the rightful order to be restored.

QUEENSLANDER Peter King has finished with three birdies in the final half dozen holes to blitz the field and win the 2009 ACT Seniors Championship.

King defeated Denis Dale (NSW) and the overnight leader Roy Vandersluis (NSW) by 3 shots with a final round 72 at the Royal Canberra Golf Club.

It was King’s first ever victory in an Australian Amateur Senior Ranking event.
The first two days of the tournament were played at Murrumbidgee Golf Club and Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club.

The Final 10:
1    222    Peter KING    QLD    75  -  75  -  72 Windaroo
2    225    Denis DALE    NSW    75  -  76  -  74 Asquith
2    225    Roy VANDERSLUIS    NSW    70  -  76  -  79 The Lakes
4    226    Richard GREVILLE    NSW    77  -  74  -  75 Avondale
5    228    Ross BOCKMAN    NSW    78  -  76  -  74 Long Reef
5    228    Bill BANKS    ACT    76  -  72  -  80 Royal Canberra
7    229    Graham BOWEN    WA    77  -  75  -  77 Mandurah
7    229    Vincent CLARK    NSW    77  -  75  -  77 The Lakes
7    229    Russell ROGERS    NSW    75  -  76  -  78 Tura Beach
10   231    Noel WOOD    NSW    78  -  76  -  77 Antill Park

LEADING senior golfer Stefan Albinski has won the inaugural Australian Senior Amateur Ranking System Gold Medal.

The Sydney golfer cemented his place at the top of Australian senior amateur men’s golf by taking the title, which is a year long competition including 15 events that has replaced the old Australian Senior Order of Merit (AUSOOM) system.

The new system, introduced by Golf Australia last year, includes over six categories of players and determines Australia’s best Men, Women, Boys’, Girls’, Senior Men and Senior Women golfers.

Albinski won six events in the Senior section (over 55), including four state titles and culminating in his victory at the Australian Senior Matchplay Championship last month. That win saw him take the overall title from Queenslander Grahame MacDonald.

Albinski has been dominating senior amateur golf since he qualified and began competing in 2008, winning the Australian Senior Amateur Championship in April that year at his first attempt.

Silver medal winner MacDonald also had a great year, winning the Northern Territory Seniors, placing second in the Australian Seniors Championship and regularly finishing inside the top ten.

His selection in the Australian team for the Asia Pacific Championships in December capped a memorable 12 months.

Third place and the bronze medal went to popular NSW golfer Denis Dale who was also consistent all year with a win in the Grange Seniors and a top ten in every event contested.

Dale had won the gold medal in 2006 and 2007 before being runner up in 2008.

Donohoe wins Women’s Senior Medal

The NSW south coast dominated the women’s senior ranking with the recently crowned Australian Senior Amateur Champion Sylvia Donohoe from Narooma taking the top title.

Lynne Townsend from Wollongong was second while Queenslander Josie Ryan from the Headland club took third.

The Super Senior Section, for players aged 65 years and over, also went to Queenslanders, in Fay Payne and Ian Read.

DENIS DALE has narrowly defeated overnight leader Chris Coates to win the 2009 South Australian Senior Amateur Championship in testing conditions at the Mount Gambier Golf Club.

The popular NSW senior golfer battled it out with long time friend Coats (QLD) to snare the tournament by a single stroke in the 54 hole event after a final two days of strong winds and cool weather.

Teeing off together for the final round Coats held a one stroke lead over Dale with eventual third placegetter Dave Morrison three further back.

Coats was in trouble early and was forced to take an unplayable lie penalty on the first hole.

The top pair were now tied but when Coats hit every green for the rest of the nine and Dale three putted on two occasions Coats had a two stroke lead with the second nine remaining.

Playing some beautiful golf Morrison had narrowed the gap and was only a stroke behind Dale.
The second nine saw the consistently good play continue until Coats bogied 12 and 13 allowing Dale to draw level. A great bunker recovery and a 4 metre putt on 14 gave Coats the lead again.

The turning point came on the par 5 fifteenth. Coats went left and found trouble as did Morrison with both players having to chip out and eventually bogeying the hole.

Dale wedged to very close and holed the downhill putt to claim the lead for the first time. When he parred 16 and the difficult 17th he had a 3 stroke lead.
Both players found the green in regulation on 18 and although Coats holed a long birdie putt Dale still had 3 putts to win. Morrison finally holed a putt and his last round 77 gave him outright third place and his best performance in an Australian Senior ranking event.
Queenslander Peter King continued good recent form and a good closing round of 75 gave him fourth place, a stroke in front of Stefan Albinksi who saved his best round to last with a fine 74.
Final Result:

1    224    Dale Denis    NSW    72  -  76  -  76 Asquith
2    225    Coats Chris    QLD    70  -  77  -  78 Royal Queensland
3    228    Morrison Dave    QLD    75  -  76  -  77 Coolangatta
4    229    King Peter    QLD    75  -  79  -  75 Windaroo
5    230    Albinski Stefan    NSW    77  -  79  -  74 Mona Vale
6    233    Walker Ray    VIC    79  -  79  -  75 Chirnside Park
7    234    Beaumont John    SA    78  -  81  -  75 Mt Gambier
8    235    Giles Pat    VIC    78  -  80  -  77 Coonawarra
8    235    Percy Ross    VIC    75  -  78  -  82 Cobram Barooga
10    236    Aigner Wayne    VIC    82  -  79  -  75 Sandhurst
10    236    Bowen Graham    WA    80  -  77  -  79 Mandurah
10    236    Stephens John    NSW    75  -  82  -  79 Mollymook

(Original source material courtesy of AUSOOM)

FORMER Victorian state player Chris Tatt has won the 2009 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship following the final round played at the Horsham Golf Club on Thursday October 29th.

A member at the Buninyong Golf Club, 59 year old Tatt fired a final day three-over 74 for a 72 hole five over par total of 289 to take the title for the first time.

Tatt won by three strokes from 2001 champion Michael Jackson who also closed with a 74 to finish on 292. Royal Canberra’s Tony Gover returned a final round 73 to finish outright third on 294.

The last round of the 15th Victorian Senior Amateur was played under clear blue skies for a fourth straight day but with a moderate easterly breeze making low scoring difficult.

The Victorian Senior Amateur Handicap Championship, which is played concurrently with the stroke event, saw Neville Wright from the Leongatha Golf Club take the title after a final round nett score of 69 for a four round total of 273.

The ten handicapper won by seven-strokes from Southern’s James Cordery who closed with the joint best nett score of the final day with a 68 to finish on 280 from a handicap of seven.

Played in Western Victoria for the first time, the 2009 Championship attracted a starting field of 100 players from 64 clubs, including 23 Interstate clubs.

The event, which is the only Australian 72-hole Championship for amateur golfers aged 55, will head to Torquay in 2010 when the tournament will be hosted by The Sands from Monday October 18th to Thursday October 21st.

TOP 10:
1    289    Chris Tatt    (Vic)    74 - 70 - 71 - 74
2    292    Michael Jackson    (Vic)    73 - 70 - 75 - 74
3    294    Tony Gover    (ACT)    76 - 71 - 74 - 73
4    299    Bill Banks    (ACT)    71 - 77 - 78 - 73
               Chris Coats    (QLD)    69 - 71 - 79 - 80
6    301    Alan Bullas    (VIC)    79 - 68 - 76 - 78
7    303    Jeff Hasthorpe    (VIC)    74 - 75 - 80 - 74
8    304    Alan Evans    (VIC)    77 - 75 - 78 - 74
               Paul Day    (NSW)    72 - 80 - 75 - 77
10  307    Mike Holloway    (VIC)    75 - 76 - 81 - 75
               Guy Krall    (VIC)    78 - 73 - 81 –

(Original material courtesy of VGA)

HE was taken right down to the wire but gun senior amateur golfer Stefan Albinski proved too tough in the final of the 2009 Australian Senior Matchplay Championship at the Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in Victoria today.

Albinski beat fellow New South Welshman Russell Rogers 1 up after 18 holes and added another prestigious title to a trophy cabinet that is bulging after just a couple of years on the men’s over 55 amateur circuit.

Albinski won the first hole but when Rogers birdied the second to take it back to square it set the tone for the match.

Whenever Albinski managed to get one or two in front, Rogers would claw his way back with some quality golf. After the 16th it was all square.

On 17 Albinski looked to be in trouble when he drove too far right but stopped just a few metres short of potential disaster.

After a nice drive Rogers was on the sloping green for two but his ball somehow stayed above the hole, giving him an almost impossible downhill putt.

Albinski’s second missed the green but he chipped close to the hole for a gimme putt.

Rogers slippery downhill putt rolled a couple of metres past the hole and when he narrowly missed the return he started the 18th 1 down.

After beautiful drives, Albinski found the centre of the green with his second while Rogers missed to the right.

When an outstanding chip by Rogers guaranteed him a par, Albinski coolly putted to within inches to safely level the hole and take the title.

Albinski currently holds the Senior Amateur titles in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria but lost his national title earlier this year.

“It’s fantastic to win the championship,” Albinski said. “The course is in great condition although the wind has made it tough and it’s great to win a national title.”

All in all it was a highly successful event with 32 of Australia’s top senior amateur golfers battling it out from the start of the week.

Defending champion Denis Dale lost a close match against  Queenslander Dave Morrison 2 & 1 during the second round so there was always going to be a new name on the trophy.

(Photos Courtesy Golf Austalia)