A COURSE RECORD 66 during the second round of the inaugural Handa New Zealand Senior Masters has helped Victorian Mike Harwood continue his winning ways on the over 50’s professional golf circuits.

The reigning European Seniors Tour Rookie of the Year followed up his win in Tasmania earlier in the month with an emphatic 10 under par (206) victory after three rounds of New Zealand’s newest and richest seniors golf tournament.

The event, with a prize purse of NZ$150,000 is part of the PGA Legends Tour and brings the best of Australian and New Zealand senior golfers to the Kiwi mainland.

Unfortunately for the hosts at the Millbrook Country Club, it was a clean sweep by the Aussies with fellow Victorian Michael Clayton finishing strongly with a final round 69 to take second place with a six under par total of 210.

Queenslander Wayne Grady was third a shot further back after a final round 72 with his three birdies offset by three bogeys.

The leading Kiwi was Simon Owen, who finished tied for fourth with New South Welshman Noel Ratcliffe.

New Zealand golfing institution Sir Bob Charles finished in 12th equal placing after a final round of 74.

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.

DAVID MERRIMAN has run down overnight leader Rodger Davis to win the $20,000 Bing Lee NSW PGA Seniors Championship by a stroke.

The New South Welshman finished the 36 hole event at the Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney at one under par.

Third place went to 2009 PGA Legends Order of Merit Winner and Australian Seniors Open Champion Michael Harwood, who finished one over.

Strong winds restricted scoring in the final round with Merriman using all of his European Seniors Tour experience to add the 2009 Bing Lee NSW Seniors Championship to his already impressive resume.

Merriman’s round of even par 70 was the second best of the day with Sydneysider Chris Fox the only player to break par.

Fox recorded a one-under 69 to finish the tournament at four over par and tied 6th.
Merriman, a former Australian PGA Seniors Champion, thought he’d blown his chances of victory after bogeying the short par three eighteenth however Davis could only manage three pars in closing to fall one shot short of the winnings score.

Oatlands Golf Club President Richard Peet praised the tournament success and continued support from major sponsors Bing Lee and Samsung.

PETER SENIOR has streeted the field to claim the 2009 Fiducian Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Byron Bay Golf Club.

Senior finished the 54 hole tournament at nine-under par and eight shots ahead of Michael Harwood and Larry Canning.

It was his first major senior Australian golf title and will be a big boost as he heads to the lucrative US Champions Tour in the new year.

Senior has had a major impact since turning 50 in July, recording two seconds and a fourth at his first three outings on the European Senior Tour, being beaten by Michael Harwood in a playoff for the Australian Senior Open title in Perth, and winning the Champions Tour’s National Qualifying Tournament at TPC Scottsdale in the US.

Senior’s Byron Bay win was set up with a superb nine under par second round on Saturday.

His round of 63 was a flawless display of shot making, hitting all the par fives in two shots, and recording a total of nine birdies.

First round leader Michael Harwood was still well in contention on Saturday evening, with a five under par round of 67 under his belt to sit at seven-under par and two shots back from Senior.

From the start of the final day it always seemed to be a race in two, with Michael Harwood the only player within seven shots of the lead. Senior quickly extended his lead to six shots as Harwood dropped four shots in the first nine holes.

Senior’s final round of even par was never going to be headed on a day where strong wind and rain inhibited scoring.

“All in all I played pretty well. From tee to green it was pretty good,” Senior said.

“Towards the end of today the fairways got water-logged, and we were actually pretty lucky to get finished,” he said.

In the difficult conditions, Senior’s 72 was the second best of the day, only to be outdone by equal second place getter Larry Canning (71).

The Fiducian Australian PGA Seniors Championship was the final event of the year and while Michael Harwood did not take the spoils at Byron Bay, he was a runaway winner of the Australian Seniors Order of Merit and also was awarded Rookie of the Year honours at the presentation dinner.

In their first few months opposing each other on the senior golf circuit, Senior and Harwood seem to be building a real arch rivalry.

As Harwood said after winning the Australian Open playoff in October: “It’s great to win an Aussie Senior Open title, but even better to beat Peter Senior cause he is an unbelievable player.”

Final Scores Top 10

Player Name Position Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 TOTAL

1 Peter A Senior QLD 1 72 63 72 207

2 Larry Canning NSW T 2 75 70 71 216

3 Michael Harwood VIC T 2 70 67 79 216

4 Michael A Ferguson QLD 4 77 68 72 217

5 Hugh F. Dolan QLD 5 76 67 75 218

6 David G Merriman NSW T 6 73 72 74 219

7 Garth Domigan NZ T 6 70 72 77 219

8 Brett A. Officer QLD 8 76 72 73 221

9 John T. Clifford NSW T 9 79 69 75 223

10 Craig Owen NZ T 9 73 72 78 223

MICHAEL HARWOOD is continuing his dream debut seniors year and is joint leader of the Fiducian Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Byron Bay Golf Club after the first round.

Harwood and New Zealander Garth Domigan were sitting at two under par after rounds of 70 on an opening day when strong, hot winds firmed the greens and tested a field containing the cream of Australian senior golf.

Harwood and Domigan were the only players to record under-par rounds on the challenging and picturesque northern NSW coastal course.

Harwood is striving to quinella the Australian Senior “majors”, having already won the Handa Australian Senior Open at Royal Perth in October.

Harwood has had a stellar year since turning 50, claiming the European Seniors Tour Rookie of the Year honours after finishing 9th on the Money List.

He won the season ending OKI Castellon Senior Tour Championship in Spain by 3 strokes, his first professional tournament win in 18 years.

In his rookie year on the Australian Legends Tour, Harwood has amassed over $75,000 in prize money, nearly double that of his nearest competitor.

Domigan is hoping to build on his performance last year in the PGA Seniors Championship when he was tied for the lead heading into the final round.

His disappointing final round of 83 saw him drift into eighth position.

Peter Senior is sitting in third position two shots behind the leaders after blowing a promising start.

He jumped out of the blocks early starting his round with two consecutive birdies but could not capitalise, giving the two shots back with bogeys at 3 and 7.

2007 Australian PGA Senior Champion David Merriman made a solid start to the tournament with a one over par 73 while defending champion Noel Ratcliffe struggled with a 77.

Round two of the 54 hole event continues on Saturday with tee times from 6:30am.

Round One Leaderboard

THE race for the 2009 PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit honours has come down to the wire, with the winner to be decided at the season’s final event, the Fiducian Legends Australian PGA Seniors Championship next month.

To be held at the Byron Bay Golf Club from December 18-20, the PGA of Australia’s flagship senior’s event once again boasts a stellar field headlined by defending champion Noel Ratcliffe and the evergreen Peter Senior who created history earlier this week when he became the first Australian to take honours at the US Champions Tour Qualifying School, thus earning a tour card for 2010.

Ratcliffe, who claimed the Championship in 2001 & 2008 is one of five players in the $80,000 field who could take out the Order of Merit honours in 2009.

Garry Merrick leads money list

South Australian Garry Merrick currently leads the Money List with $29,242 but with a $14,500 first prize purse on offer Queenslander’s Rodger Davis ($21,781.99), Allan Cooper ($19,387.47), Mike Ferguson ($17,051.46) and New South Welshman Ratcliffe ($16,680) are all within reach to take the Order of Merit crown come December 20.

Ratcliffe claimed the Legends Australian PGA Seniors Championship title last year by an impressive six shots after finishing on four under par ahead of a group of four players including Stuart Reese and former winners David Merriman (2007), John Clifford (2003) and Terry Gale (1997).

The 64 year old Sydneysider continued his good form into 2009 taking out the Tahiti Legends Pro-Am in March before heading to the European Seniors Tour where he has established himself for the past 12 season with eight titles to his name.

He finished 42nd on the European Seniors Tour Money List in 2009 after playing nine events and finishing strongly with a T10 at the Casa Serena Open in September.

Ratcliffe returned home to play in October and has since picked up five top ten finishes in ten events on the Legends Tour including victory at the Araluen Golf Resorts Legends Pro-am and a tie for first place at the Rosnay Legends Pro-Am in Sydney earlier this month.

“My form has been fairly solid this year and the pleasing aspect is that it is much the same as it was heading into last year’s event,” said Ratcliffe.

“I am driving the ball well which is what you need to do at Byron Bay Golf Club – you need to be long and straight off the tee or you can get yourself into trouble. My putting has been on the up the last few weeks as well and with the generally small slopey greens at Byron, it’s important to get the ball under the hole and control it or it can be very difficult. I remember it well as last year David Merriman and I were the only players to shoot under par in the final round.”

Peter Senior a threat

Ratcliffe will face some stiff competition from his fellow contenders, none the least from one of Australia’s most well loved players Peter Senior.  The popular Queenslander who has plied his trade around the world for the past 20 years claiming 18 tournaments in Australia, three events in Japan and four more titles on the European Tour has revelled on the Senior Tour’s in 2009 and comes into the event hot on the heels of his three stroke victory in the US.

Since turning 50 in July, Senior played three events on the European Senior Tour with three top four results, including twice runner-up placing’s and finished 14th on the final Order of Merit. He is third on the all time PGA Tour of Australasia Career Money List and will play in next week’s Australian Open followed by the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola before he finishes his season in Byron Bay.

“I am really looking forward to playing the event this year as it will be my first Legends Australian PGA Seniors Championship and my first time playing at the Byron Bay Golf Club,” said Senior. “I’ve been playing really well on the Senior’s circuit so it would be great to finish the year off on a high note.”

Rodger Davis, David Merriman, Mike Ferguson, Graham Bannister among the contenders

Other chances include former British PGA Champion Rodger Davis, former Australian PGA Seniors Championship winners David Merriman (2007) and Mike Ferguson 2002 & 2004) and New South Welshman Graham Bannister who most recently finished tied for third place at the European Seniors Qualifying School Final to secure playing privileges on the 2010 European Seniors Tour. 

The 2009 Fiducian Legends Australian PGA Seniors Championship to be staged over 54-holes (no cut) will carry prizemoney totalling $80,000.

THINGS are looking healthy for the flagship Australian seniors event, the Australian PGA Seniors Championship, with the announcement of a new naming rights sponsor deal.

Financial services company The Fiducian Group will inject over $100,000 into the tournament over three years.

The Australian PGA Seniors Championship, the season ending event on the Australian Legends Tour, will be held this year at Byron Bay Golf Club from December 18 – 20.

Players taking part in the event this year include defending champion Noel Ratcliffe, former British PGA Champion Rodger Davis, past champion Mike Ferguson, former Australian Open champion Peter “Chook” Fowler and the latest addition to the US Champions Tour, Peter Senior.

Christine Howard, Fiducian Marketing & Communications Manager said: “We believe our senior golfers in Australia are often overlooked and should be given more recognition for the legends they are.”

“We are very proud to be associated with this fantastic event and hope our sponsorship will help to further the recognition of these senior professionals.”

Max Garske, CEO of the PGA of Australia said the organisation was delighted to be partnering with a company excited about the future of senior golf in Australia.

“This relationship with Fiducian signals the start of a new partnership with the Legends Tour and fits perfectly with both the PGA and Fiducian’s core values – trust and integrity, which makes it the perfect fit,” Garske said.

“Our senior players are wonderful ambassadors for the game of golf in Australia and we look forward to working with Fiducian and our Senior members to promote the sport at the Senior level.”

The 2009 Fiducian Legends Australian PGA Seniors Championship to be staged over 54-holes (no cut) will carry prizemoney totalling $80,000.

There is speculation this could be the last year the event is staged on the NSW north coast, with a move to Sydney mooted.

PETER SENIOR has capped his dramatic entry to the world’s over 50 professional golf scene by winning a spot on next year’s lucrative US Champions Tour.

The Australian golfing great left nothing to chance on the weekend by shooting a five under par 66 to win the 25th Champions Tour’s National Qualifying Tournament at TPC Scottsdale.

Needing to be in the top five to gain full exemption for the 2010 Champions Tour season, Senior carded five birdies in his last nine holes in Arizona to beat the field by three strokes.

“Getting in here has been an unbelievable thing.” Senior said. “I can now set my schedule and I’m excited about playing on the Champions Tour next year.”

Senior is the first Australian to win the hotly contested four round tournament. It paves the way for a place on a tour that this year conducted 25 official ”Charles Schwab Cup” events offering a total of $48.9 million in prize money.

The Champions Tour continues to develop and increase in popularity since it began in 1980 as the PGA Seniors Tour, starting with just four events in its initial year.

The average purse in 2009 of $1.96 million for the 25 events was the highest ever.

Senior turned 50 on July 31, stating attaining a US Champions Tour card was a major goal.

He has since played three events on the European Senior Tour and with two seconds and a fourth finished 14th on the final Order of Merit.

Senior has also recently played his first Australian Legends Tour events, being beaten by Mike Harwood in a playoff for the Australian Senior Open title.

The four other players to gain 2010 Champions Tour exemptions  were Joe Ozaki (Japan), Steve Haskins (USA), Ronnie Black (USA) and Jim Roy (USA).

Wayne Grady, the only other Australian in the field, withdrew after the third round.

VICTORIAN Michael Harwood has capped off his return this year to tour golf with a thrilling win in the $300,000 Handa Australian Senior Open at Royal Perth Golf Club.

Harwood beat overnight leader and tournament favourite Peter Senior and fellow Victorian Michael Clayton in a sudden death play-off to take a title that is the richest in Australian senior golf.

“It’s fantastic to be here and win such an exciting title,” Harwood said.
“After 10 years of selling chocolates and candy in the Pro Shop I didn’t think I’d be back here.”

Harwood was referring to his decade long absence from top professional golf before turning 50 earlier this year and joining the European Seniors Tour.

“This is the best year of my life going back playing and practicing hard again. It’s been difficult sleeping in different beds week in and week out and it’s been tough on my wife Donna to be spending so much time apart again but we’ll get there in the end,” he said.

Harwood was Runner-up in the 1991 British Open, two shots behind Ian Baker-Finch at Royal Birkdale. His best year on the European Tour came in 1990 when won both the Volvo Masters and the PGA Championship. He also ended Greg Norman’s sequence of six victories in the Australian PGA when he won in 1986.

Harwood expressed condolences to fellow Senior Tour rookie Peter Senior, who came unstuck on the back nine.

Senior was making his playing debut in Australia as a “Legend” and Harwood said beating him made the victory sweeter.

“It’s great to win an Aussie Senior Open title, but even better to beat Peter Senior cause he is an unbelievable player. I’m so pleased to beat a champion like you Pete!”

Heading in to the final round, Senior ( 69, 68, 73) led by four shots and quickly extended that to five over playing partners Clayton (71, 70, 69) and Harwood (71, 70, 69) heading into the back nine.

An unfortunate bogey at 11 saw Senior’s round begin to falter and a double bogey at 14 followed by another dropped shot on 15 had the trio all tied on five-under with three holes to play.

After a terrific approach into 16, Senior made birdie to again take the outright lead.

After an errant drive on the last hole, Senior could only manage par and watch as both Harwood and Clayton rolled in birdies to force the championship into a sudden death play-off.

Having found the green safely in regulation on the first play-off hole, both Senior and Clayton narrowly missed their birdie chances.

Harwood calmly drained a six foot birdie putt for the championship and secured the National Senior Open title.

Harwood said he was excited about the growing Australian Legends Tour and looked forward to playing as many Pro-Ams and events as possible next year.

Defending champion Wayne Grady closed with a 72 for a three-round total of one-under (72, 71, 72) but it was New Zealander Garth Domigan who produced the shot of the day with an ace on the par 3 tenth hole.

AUSSIE golfing great Peter Senior is going gangbusters since joining the senior ranks in June and has a good chance of adding the Australian Senior Open Championship to his belt when it gets underway at Royal Perth on Friday.

Senior is 10th on the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit after playing in just three tournaments and looks a shoo in to take the tour’s Rookie of the Year Award.

Turning 50 has proved lucrative for Senior and he has raced to the front of the European rookie money list with $153,000 from a fourth and two seconds.

Back on home soil for his debut Australian Legends Tour appearances, Senior has already notched a first up win, taking out the Jerry and the Tilemakers North Queensland Masters at The Willows Golf Resort in Townsville by four strokes last Friday.

The $300,000 Handa Australian Open is the country’s richest event for senior golfers (for goflers aged 50 plus) and moves to Western Australia for the first time this week after two years at the Concord Golf Club in Sydney.

Senior’s main rival in the 54 hole event will be defending champion Wayne Grady, who is coming off two straight wins at Concord.

But there are plenty of others in the 100 strong field who could have something to say, including the likes of Peter Fowler, Rodger Davis, Terry Gale, Michael Clayton, Michael Harwood, Brian Jones and Ossie Moore.

There is also and international flavour, with American Mac O’Grady (who can break par left or right handed) and Frenchman Marc Farry.

The Handa Senior Open will been will be followed by a number of events in WA, including a Pro-Am on Monday, October 26 .

It will culminate with the Handa Australia Cup on October 30 – 31 at the Nedlands Golf Club.

Peter Senior is defending champion of this innovative event, which features a field of approximately 40 competitors made up of leading senior men, women and the State Junior Champions (boy and girl) from all over Australia.

2009 Handa Australian Senior Open Moves to Perth

 Harwood takes the candy in classic finish