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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donohoe wins Women’s Senior Medal

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

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

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

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)

DEFENDING CHAMPION Stefan Albinski has staged one of his now classic come from behind performances to take the 2009 Queensland Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

Albinski, from the Mona Vale club in Sydney, made it back to back wins with a final round three over par 75 in very difficult conditions at the Oxley Golf Club.

Albinski finished on 225 and nine over for the 54 hole championship, three strokes clear of 2007 winner Brian Sams (Port Maquarie).

Overnight leaders Chris Coats (76-73-80) and Colin Hallam (72-77-80), both Queenslanders, tied for third place on 229.

Albinski trailed after his opening rounds of 76 and 74 and was two shots behind Hallam with just 6 holes remaining in the final round.

Playing with his customary final round determination, Albinski managed a game changing chip in from off the green on 13 and clutched up and downs on the final three holes to clinch the title.

After birdying the 17th, second place getter Brian Sams had been the clubhouse leader with a final round 75, while Hallam came to grief on the long par three 13th. It was a three stroke turnaround when Albinski holed from off the green.
Hallam’s effort was enough for him to take win 55-59 Years division. The 60-64 years category was won by Asquith member Denis Dale, who came back from a disappointing opening round 82 with two 74’s for a 230 total.

Kevin Ashley from the Newcastle Golf Club finished on top in 65-69 Years finishing with a fine round of 77. The 70-74 age category was won by Geoff Everett (The Lakes) who finished with 80, making it four age championships for Everett in this event.
Dale’s final round 74 and an even better 73 from Noel Wood helped the New South Wales team win both the Walking Stick Challenge and the Invitational Teams Event, overtaking Queensland in the final round after trailing in both events for the opening two days.

 1.    225    ALBINSKI Stefan (NSW)   76-74-75
 2.    228    SAMS Brian (NSW)   78-75-75
 3.    229    COATS Chris (QLD)   76-73-80
 3.    229    HALLAM Colin (QLD)   72-77-80
 5.    230    DALE Denis (NSW)   82-74-74
 5.    230    BULLAS Alan (VIC)   75-79-76
 5.    230    PERCY Ross (VIC)   76-77-77
 5.    230    MAHER Michael (QLD)   75-78-77
 5.    230    READ Ian (QLD)   78-74-78
10.    231    WOOD Noel (NSW)   80-78-73
10.    231    POKAI Michael (QLD)   77-75-79

AUSTRALIA’S leading senior amateur golfer, Stefan Albinski, has again shown his class in a come from behind win to take the 2009 Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championship.

After starting with a seven over par 78, Albinski snatched the title from a string of hopefuls with two final sub par rounds (69-70).

Keen observers are already likening the Sydney golfer to Tiger Woods, in that he seems to be able to pull out whatever it takes to win a title.

On the final hole at the Mowbray Golf Course when a birdie three was needed to clinch victory, Albinski played his second shot from under the trees to six inches from the hole.

With his putter running hot, the Mona Vale golfer averaged a birdie every three holes in the final two rounds.

Albinski, 55, has now played in seven Senior Ranking events for five victories and two fourth place finishes. He is a hot favourite to take out the NSW Senior Championship beginning next week and he can also start preparing a place on the mantle for his second Australian Senior Amateur Championship title. This event takes place on Bribie Island in May.
Tied for second two shots behind Albinski were Brian Sams (72-76-71), Grahame MacDonald (74-70-75) and Michael Leedham (73-72-74).

Sams again played well in the final round but a couple of early missed putts took their toll.  Sams has finished second to Albinksi in several senior tournaments in recent times and is still looking for a chink in the armour.

MacDonald was very pleased with his best performance in a senior event and Leedham, who has won this event four times in a row, will no doubt be back next year at the same venue more determined than ever.

Fifth placegetter, South Australian John Beaumont (71-73-78) led the tournament after the first two rounds and was well in contention for most of the final day until a string of late bogies ruined his chances. Beaumont is one to watch for the future.

New South Wales regulars Tony Kennings (75-75-73). and Jack Parker (74-73-77) finished in 6th and 7th places. Kennings started the final round with a bogey and two double bogies but showed his grit and determination playing the final 13 holes in three under par.
Parker had his best tournament for some time. Two strokes further back in seventh place was South Australia’s Tony Mazzone (79-72-75), who bounced back after his early setback.
The Top 10 was rounded out with a five way tie between Greg Corben (NSW) (74-78-76), Pat Giles (VIC) (73-74-81), Denis Dale (NSW)(77-72-79), Lindsay Elliot (SA)(75-77-76) and Ian Read (QLD)(77-72-79).

ENTRIES are now open for the 2009 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship to be played at the picturesque Bribie Island Golf Club in Queensland.

The championship has been played since 1981 and has become one of Australia’s great men’s senior events.

The event, to be played from May 12 to 14 over 54 holes of stroke play, is open to golfers aged 55 plus with a handicap limit of 6.4.

NSW golfer Stefan Albinski (pictured) won the event at Royal Perth last year in his initial senior year and is again expected to make a very strong showing.

There will be a host of other talented golfers in the maximum field of 144 who will be pushing him all the way, including joint 2007 winners Denis Dale and Rick Oliver.

Entries close on April 14.

DETAILS:
What: 2009 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship
When: 12-14 May 2009
Where: Bribie Island Golf Club, QLD
Club website: Bribie Island Golf Club
Location: Links Court, Woorim, Bribie Island, QLD 4507
Championship Format: 54 Holes Stroke Play
Handicap Limit: 6.4
Entry Fee: $150.00 (on-line); $170.00 (via fax, e-mail, mail or in person)
Entry Close: 14 April 2009
Golf Australia Details and Entry Form

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 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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