Australian Senior Golfer

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

AUSTRALIA’S richest event for senior golfers, the $300,000 Handa Australian Senior Open will move to Perth for the first time this October.

After two years at Concord Golf Club in Sydney, the prestigious event is expected to attract a field of 100 “Legends” of international golf – including senior newbie Peter Senior – to Royal Perth Golf Club in South Perth from 23-25 October.

Senior qualified when he turned 50 recently and he will be joined in the 54 hole event by an impressive line-up including Wayne Grady, Peter Fowler, Rodger Davis, Terry Gale, Michael Clayton, Michael Harwood, Brian Jones and Ossie Moore.

Sponsor and founder, Japanese businessman and philanthropist Haruhisa Handa, said he was thrilled to have the event played in Perth, in addition to the Handa Open and Handa Junior Masters tournament held at The Vines earlier this May.

“It was a perfect fit to bring the Senior Open event to Perth, giving golf fans access to the two highest profile senior events on the Australian golfing calendar,” Dr Handa said.

“I am passionate about nurturing senior golf both in Australia and internationally where it has not always enjoyed the opportunity it deserves.”

“I am committed to ensuring that both of these senior events have a long and prosperous future showcasing the talents of some of the greatest male and female golfers ever to play the game.”

Dr Handa is also a generous supporter and avid campaigner for Blind Golf globally and locally in Australia. Along with the two senior events, Dr Handa will also once again sponsor the Australian Blind Golf Championship in Perth to be played before the Handa Australia Cup on 28-29 October.

A first for Peter Senior

This year’s Handa Australian Senior Open will mark Peter Senior’s first official outing in the Legends Tour.

“Peter’s form is particularly good and I know he’s looking forward to taking on two-time Australian Senior Open Champion Wayne Grady on Australian soil,” said Tournament Chairman Wayne Smith.

“It will also mark Peter Fowler’s Australian ‘Senior’ debut after joining the Legend ranks in June this year.”

The Handa Australian Senior Open will be followed by a Pro-Am on Monday, 26 October.

Peter’s Debut Australian Senior Open Championship 

Harwood takes the candy in classic finish

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN professional golfer Garry Merrick has won the 2009 John Deere Queensland Senior Open by three shots over Rodger Davis (NSW), after carding a one over par round (72) to finish on a total of four under par for the 54 hole event.
Merrick was able to hold off his rivals over the final round with the solid shot making that had given him an overnight three shot lead.
It was not all smooth sailing for Merrick over the opening holes, “I hit the ball probably the best I had all week today, however the putts just did not drop.”

It was not until the 15th hole Merrick finally made a 30 foot putt for birdie, that gave him the confidence to then go on and make two solid par saving putts on holes 16 and 17.

Down the last Merrick played the hole in regulation par to take out the Championship.
Both Davis and Roger Stephenson (WA) playing with Merrick in the final group, cut the lead down to one throughout the final round, however Davis made bogies on holes 7 and 8 to fall three back. Stephenson pushed Merrick all the way up to the final two holes, but finished with a double bogey, bogey, to finish in outright third.
The leading amateur, finishing in an impressive tie for fourth place was John Small (Killara, NSW) who had rounds of 72,71 and 72 in his first QLD Senior Open Event.

Corben wins first Australian Senior Ranking event
NSW senior Greg Corben recorded his first ever win in an Australian Senior Ranking event with a convincing three stroke victory in the 55 and over amateur section.

Corben handled the windy conditions and very fast greens better than most to record a final round 75 following opening rounds of 75 and 73 and a 54 hole total of 223.
Defending champion Grahame MacDonald matched Corben’s final round to claim equal second place with rounds of 73-78-75 = 226. Tying for second was another Queenslander Ken Glasson with scores of 76-73-77 = 226.

Round 2 Report: A golf tip that worked!

JUST proving it does sometimes happen, South Australian professional golfer Garry Merrick has attributed a putting tip he saw on a television golf show to the seven birdies that have put him in the outright lead ahead of the final round of the John Deere Queensland Senior Open at Nudgee Golf Club.

Merrick fired a three under par 68 but unfortunately said he won’t be sharing the tip anytime soon. His final tally was kept in check by four bogies.

“I played well, but had too many silly bogies, luckily the seven birdies saved my score.” he said after his round.

Merrick said he saw the tip on a golf show and “it just felt right when I gave it a go four months ago, and I have putted well since.”

“This is one tip I won’t be sharing with my fellow professional competitors.”

It is obviously not the golf tip the rest of us are following.

Merrick’s 36 hole total of five under par gives him a two shot lead over local Queensland teaching professional John Tolhurst and tournament favourite Rodger Davis from NSW.

Both players shared identical opening rounds of 71 and 69 to be two under par.

Davis said later: “I am hitting a lot of greens, but unfortunately I am just not hitting them close enough to the pin”.
In the over 50 amateur ranks, John Small (Killara, NSW) continued with the good form which won him the Nudgee Masters earlier in the week.

Small’s second round score of 71, was enough to give him a one shot lead over the nearest amateurs. His two round total of one over par has him in a tie for fifth place for the overall championship.
Royal Queensland’s Michael Maher has taken the 36 hole lead in the over 55 group, which covers those eligible for Australian Senior Amateur Ranking points (formerly the Australian Senior Order of Merit).

Maher matched his opening 73 with another 73 and takes a one shot lead over round one leader Tony Gover (ACT) who has returned rounds of 72 and 75.

Merrick Wins Queensland Senior Title

For full score see the Golf Queensland website here.

RODGER DAVIS will be looking to capture his third Queensland Senior Open title when the Queensland PGA Legends Tour kicks off on Wednesday July 22 at the Nudgee Golf Club.

Davis, winner of more than 21 titles world wide, won the event in  2006 and 2007 but his quest for a hat trick was cut short by an injury last year.

Other Australian golf legends taking part include Brian Jones (QLD) and Ossie Moore (QLD).

In addition, leading players from the Australian PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit including Garry Merrick (SA), Allan Cooper (QLD), and 2008 Australian Masters Invitational Champion, Queenslander Michael Ferguson, will also be vying for the lion’s share of the $25,000 open purse at Nudgee.
The John Deere Queensland Senior Open is the opening event of the five week QLD PGA Legends Tour. Following the Open the professionals will travel to the Gold Coast to compete in the inaugural Surfers Paradise Legends Pro Am.

Next on the tour will be the popular Darling Downs Pro Ams, before heading back to a mixture of Brisbane and Gold Coast events in the last two weeks.

The QLD PGA Legends Tour will conclude at the QLD Senior PGA Championship at Redland Bay Golf Club on the 22nd August. In all, the tour will stretch over 13 events for approximately $137,000 in prize money.
Queensland PGA Executive Officer Ian Hepburn said: “In 2008 the QLD Legends Tour grew by a staggering 30% in number of professional entries.”

“Complementing this statistic is the full fields of amateur players that each golf club on the tour is able to achieve,” he said.

“Some of these Senior Professionals have over fifty years of experience in the game, and after some great shot making on the course, will regale their playing partners with their experiences over the years later in the club house.”

AUSTRALIAN senior pro golfers Mike Harwood and David Merriman have received late invitations to the 70th US Senior PGA Championship being played at the Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland Ohio this week.

They will join fellow Australians Greg Norman and 1990 US PGA champion Wayne Grady in a field including defending champion, American Jay Haas.

The championship, for golfers aged 50 and over, features 25 major champions, 13 Ryder Cup captains and 10 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

According to Peter Stone in the Sun Herald, Harwood and Merriman were on there way home for a three week break from the European Seniors Tour when they checked their mobile phones during a brief stopover in Hong Kong.

They discovered text messages informing them of the invitations.

According to Stone the PGA of America has no set criteria for its invitations, and neither Harwood nor Merriman knows why they were invited.

Stone says in Harwood’s case, it is possible he made the list because he is in his first year as a senior and did win the British PGA title in 1990.

Merriman, a former Sydney cub pro who did not become a touring professional until he joined the seniors in 2007, flew out yesterday for the US.

“I’m just so excited,” Merriman is reported as saying about playing his first tournament in the US. “It’s awesome, I’m absolutely over the moon. It’s dream come true.

“I’m told each player gets a Mercedes for the week and that we’re treated like kings. I would never have believed it.”

Harwood currently leads the Australian PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit.

WAYNE GRADY has won the inaugural South Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Adelaide Shores Golf Club on the first play off hole after a final round 68.

Grady beat South Australian Garry Merrick in the play off after both golfers finished four below par after 36 holes.

Third was Victoria’s David Good on three under. Four golfers tied for fourth at two under, Hugh Dolan (QLD), Michael Harwood (VIC), Roger Stephens (SA) and John Clifford (NSW).

Rodger Davis finished a stroke away at one under.

Past USPGA Champion Grady entered the Legends Tour event as a hot favourite and was four behind Merrick after the opening round.

Merrick scored a 68 on the first day and Grady turned the tables in the final round to force a playoff. Proceeds from the $20,000 event will go to the Victorian Bushfire Fund.

WAYNE GRADY will be a hot favourite when he heads a star studded line up competing in the inaugural South Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Adelaide Shores next week.

Grady is  in top form after winning in Japan last week but will face stiff opposition in the Australian PGA Legends Tour event from the likes of Rodger Davis, Bob Shearer, Brian Jones, Mike Ferguson and Randall Vines.
Tournament promoter, PGA Professional Peter Ormsby, secured the participation of Grady, a past US PGA Champion, for the $20,000 event. All proceeds will go to the Victorian Bushfire Fund.
The Adelaide Shores revamped Golf Complex should be in perfect condition for this 36 hole championship, to be held next Thursday and Friday, 30th April – 1st May.

The PGA Championship will be the only PGA title event played in South Australia this year, and will be preceded this weekend with the Onesteel Whyalla PGA Legends $20,000 Pro am.
Jacob’s Creek, long time golf supporter in Australia, will host their $10,000 Legends Pro am at Tanunda on Tuesday 28th and the final event is the Scarpantoni PGA Legends Pro Am at the magnificently groomed Victor Harbor Golf Course on Sunday 3rd May.
SA’s golfing supporters are more than welcome at all courses to watch the competitors on the PGA Legends Tour compete for the win.
With over 40 Professionals and many of SA’s leading businesses supporting these events, Ormsby is expecting to raise in excess of $35,000 for the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Fund, which in turn distributes the funds to Charities. For further information contact the hosting Golf Clubs.
Key dates
Onesteel Whyalla PGA Legends – $20,000 purse – 25-26 April
Jacob’s Creek Tanunda Pro-Am – $10,000 purse – 28 April
Bendigo Bank South Australian PGA Seniors Championship
Adelaide Shores – $20,000 purse – 30th April – 1st May
Scarpantoni Victor Harbor Legends Pro-Am – $10,000 purse – 3 May

VICTORIAN senior professional Michael Clayton has claimed his first senior’s title, the 2009 Victorian Senior Open at The Dunes Golf Links at Rye on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula.

Clayton beat New South Welshman John Clifford by two strokes over the 54 hole event.
The final day began Friday morning under cloudy skies and gusty winds with eight players within five shots of the lead.
The drama started early with overnight leader David Good (VIC) dropping four shots in the opening two holes. This left him at four-under for the tournament, giving Allan Cooper (NSW) the early lead.
Clayton began four shots off the pace and made up some early ground to turn at three-under for the day one shot in front of Cooper. During the closing stages Clayton got to seven under par and looked to have the tournament in the bag until a late fightback by Clifford, who reeled off three birdies in four holes on the back nine, leaving him one shot off the lead.

Clifford’s chances slipped away when his approach to the 17th plugged in the face of a bunker. It took him two strokes to extricate himself.
With stormy conditions, play had to be suspended twice during the course of play before the eventual winner could be announced.
Overnight leader Good signed for 77 finishing tied 3rd with Cooper. Rodger Davis, who commenced the day just two shots off the pace, struggled in the windy conditions and finished 6th.
The Victorian Seniors Open concluded a week of golf at The Dunes Golf Links which included the $70,000 Big Pot Matchplay Series.
It was announced that the Big Pot and Victorian Seniors Open would return to The Dunes Golf Links in 2010.

Round Three – Final Results

ANDREW DAKERS from NSW and Queenslanders Ricki Mangan, Steve Morshuis and Tana Palmer are the newest graduates to the Australian Legends Tour following the Qualifying School held at Camden Lakeside Country Club in NSW.
The Australian PGA Legends Tour Qualifying School teed off with six 50-years plus amateurs chasing four playing tickets for the 2009 season.
The Legends Tour of the PGA of Australia comprises over 50 events covering the eastern seaboard of Australia to New Zealand with the total prize money being $1.2 Million.
The Legends Tour has continued steady growth in recent times with an increase in the number of events and prize money.

Much of this can be attributed to the participation of well known names in Australian golf such as Rodger Davis, Bob Shearer, Mike Harwood, Mike Clayton and Wayne Grady.
It is a requirement that players must be over 50 years of age to compete on the tour.
The PGA says current plans are to increase the total number of events to 60, increase the prize money pool to $1.4 million, a possible event being staged in China and to keep attracting not just local players but also overseas players to ensure a competitive environment.

FINAL SCORES

The final scores from the 2009 Qualifying School Final were:
1. Andrew Dakers (Am) NSW 74 73 74 – 221
2. Ricki Mangan (Am) Qld 75 75 74 – 224
3. Steve Morshuis (Am) Qld 75 77 79 – 231
4. Tana Palmer (Am) Qld 80 71 89 – 240
5. Hyuk Kwon (Am) NSW 83 82 79 – 244
6. Alexander McKay (Am) Vic 81 85 81 247