Sydney golfer Stefan Albinski has started the senior amateur golf season with a bang with a magnificent come from behind win in the 2008 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship.

Albinski, the current Australian Senior Amateur Champion, fired a final round 67 to make up for a wayward start of a nine over 80.

He improved every day with a 73, 72 and then the final 67 for a one stroke victory over defending champion and fellow New South Welshman Brian Sams.

Albinski was in sizzling form in the final round and with two holes to play was six under par. As fellow competitor Denis Dale says on the AUSOOM website, Albinski “showed he was human’” with a bogey, bogey finish.

Sams recorded a par, birdie finish to narrow the gap to just one stroke.

Albinski won the Australian Senior Amateur Championship at his first attempt at the title in Perth earlier this year and swept all before him during his initial forays on the over 55 Australian senior amateur circuit in the 2007-2008 season just past.

Taking the Victorian Senior Amateur at the Rosebud Golf Course means he has won at his last four starts in Order of Merit events.

Sams put in an admirable performance to fall just short of his goal of making it three Victorian Senior Championships in a row.

Dale says these two are clearly the current standout players in Australian senior amateur golf.
Third place in the tournament went to Victorian Chris Tatt who also broke par in the final round with a one under 70. Fourth place was shared by Victorians Phil Wood and Greg Welsh with ACT golfer Tony Gover and NSW player Denis Dale in a tie for sixth.

The Victorian Senior Amateur Championship is the only Australian 72-hole Championship for amateur golfers aged 55 and over.

It continues to go from strength to strength with a near capacity field of 154 players competing in this year’s event from 91 clubs, including 32 Interstate clubs. The Championship will head to the Wimmera in 2009 when the event will be hosted by the Nhill and Horsham Golf Clubs from Monday October 26th to Thursday October 29th , 2009.

 THE PGA of Australia has released a new look “Summer of Golf” schedule for 2009 and a “refreshed” PGA Tour of Australasia  brand that includes the consolidation of its major events with the support cast from its secondary Von Nida Tour.

The 2009 “Summer of Golf” will see the  staging of seven events in six weeks, including the expansion of the Down Under Nationwide Tour swing to three events with the addition of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open, the return of the Johnnie Walker Classic to Perth, and the Victorian Open and Victorian PGA Championship launching new naming sponsors.

The serious Australian summer golf season begins soon with the Victorian Government-backed $1.5 million Australian Masters at Huntingdale from November 27 to December 3.
It continues with the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum from December 4 to 7 and then the $1.6 million Australian Open at Royal Sydney from December 11 to 14.

The new look summer PGA Tour of Australasia Tour will kick off on January 29 at Spring Valley Golf Club for the revitalised Subaru Victorian Open, before heading back to Sanctuary Lakes Resort for the Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship.

From there the Australasian Tour heads back across the continent for the prestigious tri sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic.  From February 19 - 22 Perth will host the event at The Vines for the second time. It was last held in Perth in 2006 where American Kevin Stadler eagled the final hole to win by two shots from Aussie Nick O’Hern.

The Johnnie Walker Classic, boasting a prize purse of US$2.5million, attracts some of the best names in world golf, and in 2009 will be headlined by the return of the Great White Shark, Greg Norman, to lead a stellar Australian contingent against some of the world’s best including England’s Lee Westwood and Paul Casey.

The Tour then moves back across to the East Coast for the first of the swing of three Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned events, the Moonah Classic, which will return after a memorable debut in 2008.

A week later the Tour travels across the Tasman to the beautiful Clearwater Resort in Christchurch for the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship.

In a further coup for the Australasian Tour, the Michael Hill New Zealand Open was announced as the third Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned event Down Under, joining the Moonah Classic and the HSBC NZ PGA Championship. A new date for the NZ Open sees it move from December to February allowing players to compete in three Nationwide Tour events to start the year. 

2009 PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA SUMMER SCHEDULE

Jan 26 – Feb 1, Subaru Victorian Open,  Spring Valley Golf Club, VIC, $110,000

Feb 2 - 8, Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship, Sanctuary Lakes Resort, Sanctuary Lakes, VIC, $110,000

Feb 10 IFQ for THE OPEN Championship, Kingston Heath GC, Melbourne, Victoria

Feb 16 - 22, Johnnie Walker Classic, The Vines Golf Club, Perth, WA, US$2.5 million.

Feb 23 – Mar 1 , Moonah Classic, Moonah Links Golf Club, Fingal, VIC, US$700,000

March 2 - 7, HSBC NZ PGA Championship, Clearwater Resort & Golf Club, Christchurch, New Zealand, US$600,000

March 8 - 14, Michael Hill NZ Open, The Hills Golf Club, Queenstown, New Zealand, US$600,000

Peter Senior has wound back the clock to win the Handa Australia Cup in Perth, Mathew Goggin has fired a seven-under par 63 to finish in third place at the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, Gavin Coles fired a three-under par 68 to finish in a tie for third place at the Miccosukee Championships in Miami, Florida and David Gleeson clinched a three shot victory at the Macau Open to break his six year drought. See the full Aussies in Action world roundup.

Peter Senior winds back the clock in Perth

Peter Senior has wound back the clock to claim the $20,000 winner’s cheque in the Handa Australia Cup at Nedlands Golf Club.
Senior held a three shot overnight lead after a 7 under par 65 and was never threatened during the final round posting a 4 under 68 to claim the title by 4 shots over Victorian junior Nathan Holman. The third player in the final group Jan Stephenson finished a further 2 shots back in third, but claimed the $10,000 winners cheque for senior ladies. With a large crowd following the final group Senior showed that he can still compete at the highest level. Senior now heads to The Cut Golf Club to compete in the Von Nida Tour’s Oceanique WA PGA Championship and will start as one of the favourites.
Stewart Ginn claimed fourth spot on 3 under par. Handa Australia Cup host and tournament organiser Wayne Smith received a late call up when Garry Merrick withdrew due to injury and made the most of his chance finishing in a tie for fifth on one under par 143.
Tournament drawcard Ian Baker-Finch fired a respectable second round 70 to finish in a tie for seventh alongside Rodger Davis and Michael Harwood on even par.
The Handa Australia Cup is a unique event in that it brings together some of the games past champions (both male and female) and provides the opportunity for a select group of juniors the experience of a lifetime.
The senior men now head to Concord Golf Club to compete in the $300,000 Handa Open.

Mathew Goggin fires a 63 to finish third in Arizona

Fourth Round of the Frys.com Open, Arizona
-18: Cameron Beckman 69 66 64 63 (won playoff), Kevin Sutherland 67 66 63 66
-17: Matthew Goggin (Australia) 69 63 68 63
-14: J.J Henry 65 69 68 64, Arron Oberholser 65 64 71 66, Mike Weir 66 68 69 63
-13: Steve Allan (Australia) 67 63 68 69, Paul Goydos 70 62 66 69, Pat Perez 71 66 67 63, Michael Sim (Australia) 72 63 68 64
-12: Woody Austin 69 65 65 69, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 67 70 66 65, Davis Love III 69 67 67 65, George McNeill 68 63 66 71, Brenden Pappas 69 69 64 66, Bob Tway 69 67 64 68
-11: Steve Elkington (Australia) 66 67 68 68, Billy Mayfair 69 64 68 68, Sean O’Hair 68 65 69 67
Also:
-10: Peter Lonard (Australia) 69 70 64 67, Rod Pampling (Australia) 70 68 65 67
-3: Mark Hensby (Australia) 69 66 70 72
-2: Nick Flanagan (Australia) 71 67 69 71

Coles third on Nationwide

Gavin Coles fired a three-under par 68 to finish in a tie for third place at the Miccosukee Championships in Miami, Florida.
Coles finished at 10-under alongside Bryce Molder and Josh Broadway, two shots behind D.A. Points and Matt Bettencourt who need a playoff to decide the winner.
Points birdied the first sudden death playoff hole to win the Nationwide Tour event at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
It was a strong performance by the Aussie contingent with Scott Gardiner finishing at eight-under in a tie for sixth place and Marc Leishman a further two strokes back in a tie for 11th.
Andrew Bonhomme also put in a good showing to finish at four-under in a tie for 20th, while Steven Dartnall was another shot back in a tie for 30th.
Aron Price and Won Joon Lee were not at their best, finishing the tournament at even-par in 45th place, and current No.2 on the money list Jarrod Lyle will be disappointed with his four days after he finished in a tie for 52nd.

Gleeson breaks drought

Australia’s David Gleeson has fired a final round of 69 to clinch a three-shot victory at the Macau Open.
Gleeson started the final day with a two-stroke advantage, but bogeyed the first hole to drop back into a tie for the lead with Kao Bo-song.
But from that point on the veteran carded five birdies and two bogeys to finish the 72 holes at 18-under-par and clinch his first title in over six years.
“I told my caddie (Sanker Ganesan) at the start of the tournament that I wanted to win this week by as many shots as possible. I also told myself that if I don’t go for it, I won’t have a chance so I’m happy that I went for it this week,” Gleeson said.
“I reached the little goals that I had set all day which proved to be the key. On the 18th hole, I just had to avoid the water and I knew I had it once the ball landed on the green.”
“I remember the time with my coach (Ken Berndt) who asked me how I am going to react after finishing a hole well. I replied that I wasn’t sure. I was more worried about what my friends would do to me in celebration and that’s exactly what happened today.”
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang produced a 66 to claim second place at 15-under, while Kao finished in outright third a further shot back.
Adam Blyth was the next best placed of the Australians in a tie for sixth at 12-under, while compatriots Unho Park and Tony Carolan finished equal 13th at nine-under.
Final results from Macau Open: (par 71)
-18: David Gleeson (Australia) 64 64 69 69
-15: Lin Wen tang 65 68 70 66
-14: Kao Bo song 66 68 65 71
-13: Mars Pucay 67 70 69 65, Yasin Ali 69 64 70 68
-12 Lu Wei chih 68 70 69 65, Somkiat Srisanga 69 68 69 66, Adam Blyth (Australia) 68 65 71 68
-11: Wisut Artjanawat 65 69 68 71, Steven Tiley 70 67 65 71
-10: Wu Ashun 70 68 69 67, Chan Yih shin 69 67 67 71
-9: Danny Chia 67 68 72 68, Chris Rodgers 72 65 70 68, Unho Park (Australia) 67 72 68 68, Tony Carolan (Australia) 67 69 67 72
-8: Zhang Lian wei 72 67 68 69, Wang Ter chang 66 69 69 72
-7: Udorn Duangdecha 65 72 73 67, Neven Basic (Australia) 70 67 70 70, Lin Wen hong 65 69 72 71

No luck for Parry in Japan

Azuma Yano fired a closing 67 to claim the Bridgestone Open by four shots on Sunday.
Yano carded six birdies against a solitary bogey to clinch the title on 21 under par ahead of Takao Nogami.
Nogami tried to make a fight of it, sinking five birdies and an eagle in his second consecutive six-under 66 but his 17-under score ultimately fell well short.
Shigeki Maruyama finished third on 15 under following a four-under-par round of 68.
Craig Parry and Scott Laycock were the best of the Aussies in a tie for 32nd place at five-under par.

(Source material courtesy of PGA of Australia)

Victorian golfer Ross Percy has recorded the lowest ever score in an Australian Senior Order of Merit round to win the 2008 South Australian Seniors Championship.

Percy’s final round four under par 64 secured his first ever Order of Merit victory.

It was a very popular win for the much travelled Victorian. Percy had an undistinguished start to the 54 hole tournament at the Murray Bridge Golf Course and was five over par after the first five holes

However, he consolidated and reversed the trend on the final day with a start of 3-3-3-3 to be two under par.

Percy finished with 74-66-64 for a total of 204 and even with the card.

Percy will now play in the Victorian Seniors before heading to Malaysia as part of an Australian Seniors team competing in the 2008 Asia Pacific Senior Championship.

Fellow Victorian Pat Giles finished second seven shots behind Percy in his best performance in an Order of Merit event. Giles held the 36 hole lead with opening rounds of 72 and 66 and gave Percy a good battle. Queenslander Peter Terrace compiled three consistent rounds of 70-71-71 for third place.

NSW player Brian Baker won the 54 hole nett event. Baker plays off a handicap of 8 and is a regular competitor in senior events across Australia. His gross scores of 74-74 and a fantastic closing 70 gave him a well deserved victory and the handicap trophy.

Leading Scores:
204   Ross Percy 74-66-64
211   Pat Giles 72-66-73
212   Peter Terrace 70-71-71
215   Peter Bywaters 68-71-76 Bill Wellington 72-70-73
216   Brian Sams 70-70-76, Graham Bowen 72-69-75
217 Alan Evans 68-73-76
218 Brian Baker 74-74-70, Tony Hyde 74-73-71, Alexander Small 77-71-70

(Source report courtesy of AUSOOM. Full details here)

Victorian golfer Richard Froebel has won the Australian Veteran Golfers Union National Championship in Adelaide.

It was two years on the trot for Froebel, from Cranbourne Golf Club, who also won the event in Darwin last year.

Some 250 golfers from around the country took part in the week long event, with the 54 championship holes played at thee of Adelaide’s premier courses, The Vines of Reynella, Blackwood Golf Club and Tea Tree Gully Golf Club.

Tournament Director and President of host organisation the South Australian Veteran Golfers Association, Jeff McAllister, said there were entrants from 200 clubs around Australia.

Some two hundred male golfers and 44 ladies took part in the event, which began with a registration and welcome function on Sunday October 12 and finishing with a Presentation Dinner on the Friday night which was attended by 350 guests. South Australian Governor Admiral Kevin Scarce was special guest and presented the main trophies.

“Everyone who was at the dinner came up and said what a wonderful tournament it was and really enjoyed it and that was very heartening,” McAllister said.

A tremendous amount of organisation goes into such an event and apart from a few minor hassles with some mini bus hire arrangements and some concerns about golf cart hire pricing at a venue it all went well.

McAllister estimated he did around 600 kilometres during the week going from course to course and to the other venues.

“Everyone enjoyed the courses, a couple of them said they were a bit tough the way they played but all in all they said it was a great experience,” McAllister said.

“With the Adelaide event done and dusted the attention will now shift to the 2009 AVGU National Championship in Cairns.

AVGU National Veteran Championship Results Adelaide 2008

54 Hole Gross Winner and Champion for 2008 – The Jack Barkell Trophy

Richard FROEBEL 237 Gross  Cranbourne Golf Club, Vic

54 Hole Net Winner for 2008  - The Vic KENDALL Trophy

Michael ASPROS 212 Net  Bonnie Doon Golf Club, NSW

54 Hole Runner Up Gross

Barry FOSS 240 Gross  Buninyong Golf Club, Vic

54 hole Net Winner A Grade

Mike LITIS 227, Royal Perth C/B 

54 hole Runner Up A Grade

Peter LANGHAM  227, The Grange, SA

54 Hole Gross Winner B Grade

Joe ALEXANDER  271 Nedlands Golf Club, WA

54 Hole Gross Runner Up B Grade

Rod PROBERT  273  Blackwood Golf Club, SA

54 Hole Net Winner B Grade

Rod Peters 225, Queanbeyan Golf Club, NSW

54 Hole Net Runner Up B Grade

Alan Booth 231, Gunghalin Lakes Golf Club, ACT

54 Hole Gross Winner C Grade

Rod NUNN  272  Balgowlah Golf Club, NSW

54 Hole Gross Runner Up C Grade

Harold LOVELOCK 275 Redland Bay Golf Club, QLD

54 Hole Net Winner C Grade

Trevor BISSETT 220  Coffs Harbour Golf Club, NSW

54 Hole Net Runner Up C Grade

Reg PEARCE  221  Pinjarra Golf Club, WA

LADIES

36 Hole Winner A Grade Ladies

Marion THOMAS 76 Points  Horton Park Golf Club, QLD

36 Hole Runner Up A Grade Ladies

Sandi PROBERT 72 Points Blackwood Golf Club,  SA

36 Hole Winner B Grade Ladies

Marjorie CARTER 75 Points WA Golf Club, WA

36 Hole Runner Up B Grade Ladies

Susan SADLER 71 Points, Bonnie Doon Golf Club, NSW

(Results Courtesy of SA Veteran Golfers Association)

NATIONWIDE TOUR: LEISHMAN CLAIMS MAIDEN WIN IN A CANTER

Marc Leishman became the sixth Aussie winner on the Nationwide Tour on the weekend, claiming the WNB Golf Classic in Texas by a whopping 11 shots and rocketing into the Top 25.
Twenty four year old Leishman, from Warrnambool in Victoria, smashed the field with rounds of 67, 66, 66 and 68 to finish on 21 under par, 11 shots ahead of American Keoke Cotner. He equaled the Nationwide Tour’s largest margin of victory of 11 shots held by Chris Smith(1997 Omaha Classic).
The win was all the more impressive considering the challenging windy conditions that plagued the field for the entire four day event.
Leishman led the event for the final three rounds after finishing the first day just one shot behind the leaders. Despite intensely windy conditions he posted a bogey-free 6-under 66 to lead at 11-under on day two to extend his lead to three and followed it with a matching 66 to be five shots ahead of the field on 17-under heading into the final round. The lanky Aussie drew on his childhood experience of playing the windy coastal courses well and never looked back.
He leapt up the Money List from 56th to 19th place with his win and with just three events to go this season is well set to claim his 2009 US Tour card after picking up $US94,500 to bring his seasons earnings to $US197,926. He now joins Jarrod Lyle (2), Greg Chalmers (3) and Aron Price (15) in the all important Top 25 on the Money List.
Overall, the WNB Golf Classic produced great results for the Aussie contingent with five players finishing in the top ten.
Sydney’s Aron Price finished the event in third place on nine under par, picking up his third top ten result this year. Winner of the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship in April, Price claimed his second best result this season on the weekend and moved from 20th to 15th on the Money List.
Perth’s Greg Chalmers continued his outstandingly consistent season on the Nationwide Tour finishing one shot behind Price In fourth place and claiming his tenth top ten finish. Chalmers was T24 overnight but came home with a final round 68 to claim his top five finish. Also a winner this season, Chalmers claimed the Henrico County Open in April and has continued to remain steady in the top ten with his results. He moved from sixth to third place on the Money List behind Jarrod Lyle (2) and American Brendon de Jonge.
Sydney’s Won Joon Lee finished in the four way tie for fourth with Chalmers and Americans Spencer Levin and Darron Stiles to continue with his recent purple patch. Lee has finished T7, T2 and T4 in his last seven outings and has moved to 52nd on the Money List, well on his way to an invite to The Tour Championship next month where the Top 60 players will compete.
New father Cameron Percy was the fifth Aussie to finish in the top 10. Playing in the final group with Leishman Percy, who was back in Australia for the birth of his second child two weeks ago,  has moved up four places to 56 on the Money List and has his sights set on a spot at the Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch as well.

Leading Aussie on the Money List Jarrod Lyle finished on two under with David McKenzie in a tie for 35th with New Zealand’s Grant Waite T53 on three over.

ASIAN TOUR: SECOND AND THIRD FOR BECK AND BLYTH

The Aussie pair of Darren Beck and Adam Blyth have finished second and third respectively at the Hero Honda Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club.
Thirty year old Beck from NSW was denied the title by one shot from winner Liang Wen-chong.

Liang, who was the 2007 Asian Tour’s Order of Merit winner, nailed a two-under-par 70 final round for a one stroke triumph over rookie Beck who rattled off seven birdies in a faultless final round 65. Blyth finished a further stroke back after a even par 72. 

Despite missing out on his maiden victory Beck was delighted with his performance over the week.
“I’m surprised to have done well but it’s because I’ve been focusing on my mental game in the past few weeks”, said Beck. “I felt confident and not nervous which has been my main problem before.”

Beck moved from 124^th to 30^th on the Money List.

Liang had led since a stunning opening round of 60 and was three-under at the turn, only for a bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the 15th to see him trail Beck by a shot approaching the last two holes.
But having birdied the 17th, Liang produced a superb chip on the 18th to set-up a winning three-foot birdie putt.

Adam Blyth finished at 13 under, two shots behind Beck whilst countryman Marcus Both finished alongside Asian Tour Order of Merit leader New Zealander Mark Brown in equal 10th on seven-under.
Unho Park completed the tournament a stroke further back in a share of 16th spot while Gavin Flint and Kiwi Stephen Scahill were tied in 21st position on five-under.
Home favourite Jeev Milkha Singh claimed fourth following a 69.

JAPAN GOLF TOUR: JONES SIXTH IN JAPAN

Aussie Brendan Jones has stormed home with a final round that included eight birdies and an eagle to finish three shots behind winner Makoto Inoue at the Canon Open at Totsuka Country Club.

Jones finished in a tie for sixth on 10-under following a scorching eight-under-par round on the fourth day which included a hole in one at the par three 5^th. He collected $AU 99,183 and moved to 13^th on the Money List.
Fellow Aussie Steve Conran finished in a share of 13th place with Kiwi David Smail on eight-under,  while Craig Parry finished two shots further back in a tie for 25th spot. Paul Sheehan was one under and T49 with Chris Campbell even par and T56.
A stunning seven-under-par final round of 65 saw Inoue move up the leader board to scoop the title.

Starting the day in 14th position, Inoue collected seven birdies over his first 13 holes finishing with a final round 65 and an overall score of 13-under-par - a stroke ahead of four players.

US PGA TOUR: CAREER HIGH BEST AS WILKINSON FINISHES RUNNER UP

Kiwi Tim Wilkinson narrowly missed out on his maiden PGA Tour title finishing in a career-best equal-second place at the Texas Open in San Antonio.
The 30 year old lefty from Palmerston North started the day three behind overnight leader South African Rory Sabbatini and held the lead twice on the back nine, most notably after his eagle three at the 14^th. He then shared the lead with eventual winner and 2007 US Masters Champion Zach Johnson and Charlie Wi.  He did little wrong, but some near miss putts on his final few holes relegated him to second with Wi as Johnson birdied the 14^th and 18^th to claim the win by two shots.
A rookie on the US TOUR Wilkinson had a great tournament with rounds of 67, 69, 63 and 64 to pick up his best result after his previous best, a third place at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans along with a tie for sixth at the Puerto Rico Open.
His finish in the Texas event has seen him move up from 112th to 84^th on the PGA Tour money list and almost certainly assure him of his playing card for 2009. He picked up US$336,000 and with just one month remaining on the schedule he has now won US$1.12m overall.

“With another four events after this it is nice not having to worry about it,” said Wilkinson.

For Johnson it was his fourth PGA Tour career title and his best result by far in 2008. He closed with a six-under 64 for a four-round total of 19-under 261, including the best round of the day on Saturday in an eight-under 62. Previous to the weekend he had just one top-10 finish to be 125th on the money list.
Wilkinson, Wi and American Mark Wilson tied for second, while Sabbatini faded away with a 72, including two double bogeys, to finish in equal eighth.
Wi’s 61 was matched as the lowest round on Sunday by Aussie veteran Steve Elkington as he made a meteoric rise from tied for 72nd overnight to complete the week in equal 28th.
Fellow Australian Steve Allan was the best of his country’s contingent as his closing 64 lifted him to a tie for 19th at nine-under while Nathan Green, who led after the first round, was tied 30th with Mark Hensby, Nick O’Hern was equal 36th and Matt Jones shared 64th place.

EUROPEAN TOUR: TAMPION BEST OF AUSTRALASIANS

Andrew Tampion has finished the best of the Australasians at the Madrid Masters won by three shots by South African Charl Schwartzel.

Tampion, winner of the 2008 Challenge Tour of Ireland on the Challenge Tour started the final round in a share of fourth place but shot two-over to finish 11 off the pace in a share of 13th. He finished at eight under par overall.

Twenty four year old Schwartzel claimed the title after a flawless five-under-par 66 in the final round which saw him finish on 19 under, three shots clear of his nearest rival Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez with Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal a further shot back in third place.

Aussie Marcus Fraser - the equal leader after the opening round - was two strokes back from Tampion at six-under. New Zealand’s Steven Alker finished T29 on five under, followed by Peter O’Malley on one under. Peter Fowler was the only other Aussie to make the cut finishing T67 on six over.

AUSTRALASIAN RESULTS:

US PGA TOUR: VALERO TEXAS OPEN, LACANTERA GC, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

WINNER: ZACH JOHNSON (USA) -19, T2 Tim Wilkinson NZL (-17), T19 Steve Allan (-9), T28 Steve Elkington (-8), T30 Nathan Green, Mark Hensby(-7), T36 Nick O’Hern (-6), T64 Matthew Jones (-1), MC: Matthew Goggin, Nick Flanagan, Gavin Coles, John Senden, Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard, Jason Day, Brett Rumford, Andrew Buckle.

DQ: David Lutterus

EUROPEAN TOUR: MADRID MASTERS, CLUB DE CAMPO VILLA DE MADRID, SPAIN

WINNER: CHARL SCHWARTZEL (RSA) -19T13 Andrew Tampion (-8), T21 Marcus Fraser (-), T29 Steve Alker NZL (-5), T53 Peter O’Malley (-1), T67 Peter Fowler (+6).  MC: Gareth Paddison NZL, Matthew Millar, Terry Pilkadaris.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: WNB GOLF CLASSIC, MIDLAND CC, MIDLAND, TEXAS

WINNER: MARC LEISHMAN (AUSTRALIA) -21, 3 Aron Price (-9), T4 Greg Chalmers, Won Joon Lee (-8), T8 Cameron Percy (-7), T35 Jarrod Lyle, David McKenzie (-2), T53 Grant Waite NZL (+3). ,MC: Scott Gardiner, Ewan Porter, Paul Gow, Wade Ormsby, Dean Larsson, Brad Iles, Steven Bowditch, Andrew Bonhomme, Kim Felton.

ASIAN TOUR: HERO HONDA INDIAN OPEN, DELHI GOLF CLUB, NEW DELHI, INDIA

WINNER: LIANG WEN-CHONG (CHINA) -16, 2 Darren Beck (-15), 3 Adam Blyth (-13), T10 Mark Brown NZL, Marcus Both (-7), T16 Unho Park (-6), T21 Stephen Scahill NZL, Gavin Flint (-5), T29 Andrew Dodt (-3), T34 Mahal Pearce NZL (-2), T41 Rick Kulacz (-1), T45 Brad Kennedy (E), T49 Ashley Hall, Mitchell Brown (+1), T63 David Bransdon (+4), T68 Jason King, Scott Barr (+6)

MC: Adam Groom, Richard Moir, Kane Webber, Neven Basic, Michael Wright, Henry Epstein, Richard Lee NZL, David Gleeson

JAPAN TOUR: CANON OPEN, TOTSUKA CC, KANAGAWA

WINNER: MAKATO INOUE (JAPAN) -13. T6 Brendan Jones (-13), T13 David Smail NZL, Steve Conran (-8), T25 Craig Parry (-6), T49 Paul Sheehan (-1), T56 Chris Campbell (E), MC: Wayne Perske, Eddie Lee NZL, Scott Laycock

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR: LAKE GARDA ITALIAN SENIORS OPEN, PALAZZO ARZAGA HOTEL, SPA & GOLF RESORT, LAKE GARDA, ITALY
WINNER: PETER MITCHELL (ENGLAND) -13, 6 Jim Lapsley NZL (-8), 7 David Merriman (-7), T35 Simon Owen NZL (+1), T57 David Good (+6), Tom Linskey (+28)

CHAMPIONS TOUR: CONSTELLATION ENERGY SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP, BALTIMORE COUNTRY CLUB, TIMONIUM, MARYLAND

WINNER: D.A WEIBRING (USA) -9,  T65 Wayne Grady (+10).

Original Source: PGA of Australia

Hole 1 (par 4): Halved
Hole 2 (Par 3): Denis had a par to go 1up
Hole 3 (par 4): Halved
Hole 4 (par 3): Halved
Hole 5 (par 5): Denis had a birdie to go 2up
Hole 6 (par 4): Halved
Hole 7 (par 4): Halved
Hole 8 (par 3): Denis had a par to go 3up
Hole 9 (par 4): Denis had a par to go 4up

Hole 10 (par 4): Halved in birdies
Hole 11 (par 4): Denis had a par to go 5up
Hole 12 (par 4): Rick had a par to close the gap and go 4 down
Hole 13 (par 3): Denis had a par to go 5up
Hole 14 (par 5): Denis had a par to win 6&4

Photos courtesy Golf Australia

For full results visit www.ausoom.com

The strong six man Australian team chosen to compete in the 2008 Asia-Pacific Senior Golf Championship in Malaysia in November is hoping to go one better after previous national teams finished second in the last two championships.

The Australian team includes Rick Oliver (NSW), Denis Dale (NSW), Ross Percy (VIC), Brian Sams (NSW), Nigel Goodall (WA) and Stefan Albinski (NSW).

Oliver and Dale are current winner and runner-up respectively of the recently completed Australian Senior Order of Merit and the rest of the team have been in winning form at various events throughout the year.

In his first year of eligibility for AUSOOM events (Aged 55+), Sydney’s Stefan Albinski has had a major impact and is the current Australian Senior Amateur Golf Championship winner.

Albinski also won the 2008 Queensland Senior Amateur Championship and the North Sydney Seniors Championship in June and recently tested his skills in trying conditions at the 2008 British Senior Open Amateur Championship.

The Asia Pacific Senior Golf Championship will be played over 54 holes at the Karambunai Golf Resort, Sabah, Malaysia from November 11-13, 2008.

See: Australian Wins Asia Pacific Senior Golf Championship

Men’s Senior Match Play returns to Barwon Heads Golf Club

The Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship will return to the challenging Barwon Heads Golf Club for the 64 player match play event to be held from the 5 - 10 October 2008.

The top 64 ranked players on the Men’s Senior Order of Merit (who enter) will be drawn to play for the title of Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Champion.

Golf Australia says with the guarantee of six rounds (defeated players continue playing all week) of golf at the picturesque Barwon Heads layout and the relaxed feel of the seaside location, the Championship will be a highlight of the Australian Seniors golfing calendar.

Entries for this event close on Monday September 8. For details see the AUSOOM website or for a list of current entries and entry form see the Golf Australia listing here.

State Senior Golf Championships

Also coming up soon on the senior amateur golfing calendar is the 2008 South Australian Seniors Championship to be played at Murray Bridge Golf Club from October 22-24 and the 2008 Victorian Seniors Championship at Rosebud Golf Club from October 27-30.

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NSW golfer Rick Oliver has won the Australian Senior Order of Merit with an exceptional year of consistent golf.

Oliver posted an amazing record of 11 Top 10 finishes from 12 starts and takes the 2007-2008 title despite not winning an individual event.

He also finished tied for 11th in the Australian Seniors and was placed in the Top 5 in six events.

Runner-up in the AUSOOM was Denis Dale (NSW), who won the competition in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Dale also had a consistent year without winning a title finishing in the Top 10 in seven of the 10 events contested.

Third place went to Victorian Ross Percy. Percy contested eleven events and was placed in the Top 10 in six, including a fourth place in the 2008 Australian Seniors Championship.

New South Wales senior Tony Gresham won the Senior Order of Merit Medal for golfers aged 65 years and older. Gresham finished ahead of the West Australian pair of Alex Cleave and Mal Roberts.

Players will receive their medals as part of the presentations for the 2008 Australian Senior Matchplay Championships to be held at Barwon Heads from September 21-26.

The Men’s Senior Order of Merit is open to golfers aged 55 plus and runs annually from August 1, through to July 31 the following year.

Top 10 players on the Order of Merit

1. Rick Oliver   NSW   1426 points

2. Denis Dale   NSW   1241 points

3. Ross Percy   VIC   1212 points

4. Brian Sams   NSW   1104 points

5. Nigel Goodall   WA   1090 points

6. Stefan Albinski   NSW   1010

7. Grahame MacDonald   QLD   961

8. John Beaumont   SA   936

9. Ross Bockman   NSW   780

10. Tony Gresham   NSW   742

For full details see the Australian Senior Order of Merit website at www.ausoom.com

On a miserable cold and wet day at Nudgee Golf Club, Queensland professional Neil Wall has taken out the 2008 Queensland Senior Open in a dramatic playoff against Kiwi Stuart Reese.

Due to the poor weather, the third and final round was cancelled, reducing the Championship to 36 holes.
Playing the par three, 9th hole in the sudden death playoff, Wall left himself about 10 metres from the hole, while the Kiwi Reese hit a superb shot to approximately four metres.

After taking relief from casual water, Wall was left with a difficult putt across the green. The putt never left its track and subsequently found the bottom of the hole. When Reese missed his shorter putt, Wall was declared the Champion.

With unseasonal rain which drenched the course overnight and all morning, officials were forced to suspend play when two of the greens became unplayable at approximately 11:00am. When it became obvious that the round couldn’t be completed, Wall and Reese who were tied after 36 holes were forced out to decide the Championship. It was an exciting finish to an otherwise bleak day at Nudgee.

The leading amateur, finishing in equal 10th position was Nudgee member Grahame MacDonald who carded rounds of 73 (+2) and 74 (+3) for a five over par (+5) total. He was just one in front of fellow Nudgee member Kevin Yeo.

The Queensland Senior Open marks the start of the PGA’s Senior Tour which will continue over the next 5 weeks, with 15 events and $164,000 on offer for the professionals. The Senior Open also kicked off the PGA’s Living Choice Senior Series with the next event being the Living Choice Pro Am held at Twin Waters on Tuesday 29th July.

Amateur Age Division Winners

The following amateur age division winners were awarded:
Winner - 50-54 Years: Alan Davies (Nudgee) - 74.75 - 149
Runner Up: Robert Watson (Virginia) - 76.74 - 150
Winner - 55-59 Years: Kevin Yeo (Nudgee) - 74.74 - 148
Runner Up: Ross Percy (Cobram Barooga) - 75.74 - 149
Winner - 60-64 Years: Ian Read (Indooroopilly) - 73.79 - 152
Runner Up: Ron Woodward (Woodford) 77.76 - 153 OCB
Winner - 65-69 Years: Norm Way (Gailes) - 76.73 - 149
Runner Up: Patrick Giles (Goonawarra) - 81.80 - 161
Winner - 70 Years & Over: Geoff Everett (The Lakes) 76.75 - 151
Overall Nett Winner: Mark Bell (Proserpine) 66.69 - 135
Overall Nett Runner up: Alan Wong (Oxley) - 68.71 – 139

Australian Senior Order of Merit

 For the amateurs in the field, the event signalled the end of the 2007/ 2008 Australian Senior Amateur Order of Merit.  

 TOP 10 POSITIONS - SENIOR AMATEUR 55+
 1    147   MACDONALD Grahame (Nudgee)   (QLD)   73-74   
 2    148   YEO Kevin (Nudgee)   (QLD)   74-74   
 3    149   PERCY Ross (Cobram Barooga)   (VIC)   75-74   
 3    149   WAY Norm (Gailes)   (QLD)   76-73   
 5    151   EVERETT Geoff (The Lakes)   (NSW)   76-75   
 6    152   MAHER Michael (Royal Queensland)   (QLD)    78-74   
 6    152   READ Ian (Indooroopilly)   (QLD)   73-79   
 8    153   BROWN Lindsay (Keperra)   (QLD)   78-75   
 8    153   BURKE Geoff (Keperra)   (QLD)   74-79   
 8    153   MORRISON Dave (Coolangatta Tweed)   (QLD)   74-79