TOD POWER spends much of his time these days as a greenkeeper but that didn’t stop him beating reigning Australian Masters champion and golfing icon Peter Senior in a Legends Tour Championship playoff on the weekend.
Power had a four stroke lead going into the final round of the 2015 Australian Legends Tour Championship at Byron Bay Golf Club and apart from Senior had had some other well known names in his chasing pack including Rodger Davis, Mike Harwood and Ian Baker-Finch.
Power is a long time professional but is now based at the Tallai Golf Club in the Gold Coast hinterland and shares his time at the club being both club professional and greenkeeper.
With nine holes to go Sunday he still had a four stroke lead but a double bogey on the par three 12th hole followed by a bogey on the 13th combined with both Senior and Davis making birdies on the 14th saw the lead evaporate.
After a final round 2-under 70 Senior made the clubhouse at a tournament total 1-under while Davis birdied the 17th to lead at 2-under. Needing only a par on the last for victory he flew the green and ended up with a double bogey.
That pitted Power, only an irregular player in recent years due to a back injury, against the US Champions Tour battle hardened Senior.
On their first playoff hole both players drove it onto the fairway but it was Power who hit the green in regulation while Senior left himself a tough chip to keep his chances alive.
When Senior failed to get up and down the more than 500 spectators looking on cheered as the underdog two putted to secure the 2015 Championship.
“It is a really surreal feeling at the moment,” Power said afterwards. “Watching Rodger hit it over the back on the last hole and then winning the playoff over one of our game’s greats Peter Senior, is something special.”
“Now just a green keeper at Talai Golf Course, the nerves I felt down the stretch took my back to my younger years and even standing here with this trophy, my heart is still pounding.”
The E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour now heads to the Sunshine Coast this week for the inaugural Sunshine Coast Masters.
The event encapsulates the Noosa Legends Pro-Am (Tuesday), with following rounds at the Peregian Springs and Twin Waters Legends Pro-Ams, culminating in a final round of the Masters at the Twin Waters Golf Club on Friday.
Legends Tour Championship Final Scores
well done todd, about time you won some thing, had it 4 under with 3 to go at singha golf thailand,shot 70, not bad for a 70 year old could a been, congrates bob s
Thanks for the congrats Bob.