IN perfect conditions at Royal Fremantle Golf Club, Sylvia Donohoe has claimed her sixth Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

Donohoe defeated Lynne Townsend on the 18th hole in the final day matchplay format, confirming her domination of Australian senior amateur women’s golf

Watched by many of their fellow competitors, the match was all square through 9 holes.

Donohoe, from Narooma on NSW’s south coast, was 2 up after the 13th and led 1up playing the 18th hole.

Townsend found trouble on the 18th and a two putt was enough for Donohoe to secure victory.

With her faithful caddie Pat on the bag, it was revenge for Donohoe after Townsend defeated her in the semi-finals of the NSW Women’s Senior Amateur earlier in the year.

In the Flight Matches, Sue Jones from Queensland defeated Kaye Hanson from WA in the New Age Division.

The local pressure was too much for Hanson, with Jones recording a comfortable 6&5 victory.

The Veterans Flight was the tightest of the contests, going to the 20th with Marion Clothier from Victoria claiming victory over Lu Proud from Tasmania.

In the Super Senior Flight, Margaret Leary from Tasmania defeated Diane Greenhill from Victoria 3&2. It was Margaret’s third Age Title, after she won the Veterans Flight in 2004 and 2006.

(Original Material courtesy of Golf Australia)

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)

Jeffrey Mann over at the Perfect Golf Swing Review website has published a new “review paper” that he believes may be of particular interest to inflexible senior golfers.

As we have reported before, Jeff is a retired doctor who for the past several years has devoted himself to analysing and detailing all aspects of the golf swing.

As we’ve also said before, and as Jeff readily warns, his material is very detailed and is not for the faint hearted. If you are looking for a quick golf swing fix this definitely isn’t the place.

If however, you are interested in thoroughly understanding or continuing to explore the modern golf swing (or maybe you’re an “expert” and would beg to differ on some aspects) this is a destination where you can spend hours going through the material.

One of the great things about Perfect Golf Swing Review is that Jeff has trawled the internet (and the golf libraries) to come up with relevant YouTube videos, clips and link to help explain each concept.

Jeff’s (relatively) new paper is titled “Left Arm Swinging, Right Arm Swinging and Hitting.”

Jeff has detailed the difference between “Swingers” (Tiger Woods and the majority of pros) and “Hitters” (Kenny Perry) before but in this detailed review he also looks at “Right Arm Swinging” which, he says, may be beneficial for some senior golfers to consider.

Jeff says the right arm swinging method may be very suitable to older

inflexible golfers or flexible golfers who swing better when using their dominant right hand as their major power source.

“I believe that right arm swinging is particularly suitable for golfers who cannot pivot well due to a lack of torso/spinal flexibility and who cannot easily keep their left arm straight throughout the backswing and downswing,” Jeff writes.

“I believe that a well executed pivot action is essential for a left arm swinger, but less critical for a right arm swinger, who doesn’t use a pivot-drive action to power the swing.”

So older golfers with a stiff spine, or as Jeff describes it, little “hula hula” fleixibility may find this swing perfect.

Perfect Golf Swing Review Right Arm Swinging Paper

CHANNEL TEN’S new ONE HD weekly golf show The Pro Shop premiered last night and with a range of interviews and features wasn’t half bad.

Forum and other comments suggest viewers will take kindly to the Australian produced free to air golf show and after the first effort one would think it can only further improve.

Hosted by Ten sports commentator Andrew Maher and former Australasian, Asian and European PGA player Grant Dodd, the first show was filmed at the pro shop at the revamped The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, venue for the 2010 Australian Open.

The show started with a wrap up of the week’s golf news with highlights from the major events and a special “ONE Moment in Golf” segment featuring a famous tournament winning six iron by Craig Parry.

There were interviews with Australian great and Lakes member Peter O’Malley, newly turned “senior” Peter Senior talking about his career and his upcoming tilt at a US Champions Tour card, and Nikki Garrett, who also hopes to be back on the US ladies circuit.

Maher watched Dodd play some of the new holes on the Michael Clayton renovated Lakes course; jockey Damien Oliver showed his golfing prowess and also demonstrated one option to use when someone objects to your mobile phone use on course (the actual wording was beeped); and golf coach Glenn Whittle gave a quick golf tip (align your club face to the target, not your feet).

All in all it was well worth watching and definitely a big improvement on having no free to air golf show on Australian television.

Maher, better know as an AFL commentator, pointed out a couple of times he is a 13 handicapper. He seems to have a genuine regard for the game and is personable enough. Dodd was quite likeable, professional with the interviews and obviously knows his stuff.

The Golf Pro will air weekly on Tuesdays at 8.30 pm (repeated Wednesday’s 6.30 am) and the first season will extend through to the end of the US Masters in Augusta (why quit there?).

If you can’t get ONE or the other new digital channels it is well worth spending the entry level hundred odd dollars required for a new set top box that will make it all possible. (Or go the whole hog with a new big screen HD TV).

ONE’s new golf coverage is just starting to kick in with the four rounds of the Singapore Open starting this Thursday from 4pm (AEST).

The flagship Asian event will feature a top quality field including Crazy Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott.

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.

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)

THE “Tiger Woods” Australian Masters will be broadcast into 380 million homes worldwide after it was announced today the 2009 event will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The JBWere Masters, which will be will be held at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from November 12 – 15, will be broadcast in Australia on the Nine Network and on FOX SPORTS on each of the four tournament days.

The co-sanctioning by the European Tour will afford the event a huge international television platform and will further highlight a tournament basking in the international spotlight because of the appearance of the World No 1.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted to continue our association with the PGA Tour of Australasia by co-sanctioning the JBWere Masters at another superb venue in Kingston Heath.”

“With the tournament taking place just one week before the culmination of the season-long Race to Dubai, the JBWere Masters affords our Members a final opportunity to secure a place among the top 60 players who will contest the Dubai World Championship the following week.

“Additionally, the competition to claim a place in the top 115 and exempt status for 2010 on The European Tour is likely to be equally tight fought, so there is much to play for in Australia next month.”

David Rollo, Vice President Director of Golf, IMG Australia commented, “We are hugely appreciative of the support of the two Tours and look forward to continuing our partnership.  Kingston Heath is one of the finest golf courses in the world and with over 100,000 fans in attendance over the four days, it should provide a great environment that all the players will enjoy.”

Max Garske, CEO, PGA of Australia, stated: “We have enjoyed a long a prosperous relationship with the European Tour, with so many of our members graduating and developing their games further throughout Europe by virtue of the opportunities that these co-sanctioned events provide.  We are delighted to extend this relationship again to the JBWere Masters, and hope it again marks the birthplace of an aspiring Australian golfer’s career.”

Others lining up for the Masters with Woods include Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Michael Campbell, Mat Goggin, Nathan Green, Richard Green, Marc Leishman, James Nitties, Craig Parry, John Senden, Adam Scott, Michael Sim and defending champion Rod Pampling. 

The 2010 Australian Veteran Golfers National Championship will be played in the beautiful Port Macquarie Hastings region on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

The event will be held from November 7 to 12 at three courses organisers boast the CSIRO says are in an area with the best climatic conditions in Australia.

The tree courses, Port Macquarie Golf Club, Camden Haven Golf Club and Wauchope Country Club, are located within a region that is a tourist Mecca offering pristine beaches, a lush hinterland, vast national parks and many local attractions.

The national championship, conducted under the auspices of the Australian Veteran Golfers Union, rotates state by state each year and has been growing in popularity annually.

The tournament in Cairns in 2009 was a big success and with the large veteran golfer community in NSW already strongly established, the Port Macquarie event is highly likely to be a sell out – and likely to do so quite quickly.

The tournament includes a 54 Hole Stroke Championship in three grades for men and a 54 hole stableford event for women in two divisions.

There are also single competitions conducted as part of the events and a Medley fourball stableford on the Monday.

The week begins with registration and a welcome function on the Sunday and concludes with the final rounds and a Presentation and Farewell Dinner at the Westport Club on the Friday evening.

Organisers say highlights of the 2010 Championships include

• Lady golfers and their playing male golfing partners will always play on the same course at the same time
• To maximise limited hire cart and buggy availability there will be morning and afternoon shotgun starts
• The three courses are only 30 minutes apart by road
• The program for ladies includes a 54 hole event
• Catering facilities will be available on each course during and after play
• Welcome and Presentation Function at the Westport Club are close to the Port Macquarie CBD and in easy reach of the majority of accommodation places
• There are a wide range of accommodation types and venues available

Entry Forms will be available on the NSWVGA website or you can email Tournament Director Neil Beecroft on neilb2008(at)live.com.au

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

IRREPRESSIBLE golfer John Daly has done a Lazarus and the dual Major winner is now back on the cards for the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship in December

The big-hitting crowd favourite withdrew from both championships in September citing a flare-up of an old rib injury but now says he’s recovered much sooner than expected.

“My recovery from stem cell surgery has been closely monitored by my doctor and I have been cleared to begin playing competitively in two weeks. As such, I have added The Viking Classic to my 2009 US schedule plus have accepted invitations to play in the 2009 Australian Open and 2009 Australian PGA Championship,” Daly said.

“I regret the confusion the injury process has caused but I’m relieved things have begun moving in the right direction. I look forward to returning to Australia and am grateful the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship have provided me with the opportunity to play in these premier events.”

Daly hit the front pages with a camera throwing incident at Royal Syndey last year and whatever happens is sure to garner lots of public attention.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said golf fans would appreciate John’s presence.

“It is fantastic to see him back for a second consecutive year and I wish him well as he continues his recovery,” Pitt said.

Allenby turns back on Open

Daly’s return strengthens already outstanding fields in both championships.  But that won’t include Robert Allenby, who has made good threats to boycott the Open.

He’ll play in the “Tiger Woods” Masters in Melbourne but then wing it to a lucrative tournament in South Africa.

In Sydney at the NSW Golf Club, Daly will play alongside Presidents Cup Captain Greg Norman and his star team performer Tim C;ark, who is the tournament’s defending champion. 

A week later at the newly re-designed Hyatt Regency Coolum course, Daly will be joined by Fijian Major winner Vijay Singh, returning to Australia for the first time since 1998, and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy for the Australian PGA Championship.

Both the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship will form the Australian swing of the new One Asia Series.