Played across Merimbula Golf Club (par 71) and Tura Beach (par 73) over two days, Lonard, Wall and Boulton finished the 36 holes at even par, Wall, Boulton and Mike Harwood the only players to play Tura Beach in even par.

For Wall, the difficulty of the challenge brought him into the frame for his first PGA Legends Tour win in more than a year.

“If a pair of 5-unders wins the tournament, I’m not really going to be a chance,” said Wall.

“I’m kind of steady, good control of distances on the iron shots, and that’s important around here.

“When it gets tough and par’s a good score, then that lifts my chances.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED

A brilliant round of 5-under 66 gave Peter Jones a three-stroke lead after Round 1 at Merimbula but, like many, he would fall foul to the test of Tura Beach.

One-under on arrival at Tura Beach, Lonard made two bogeys in his first six holes but responded with late birdies at 13 and 16 in a round of 1-over 74 to finish square after 36.

Boulton and Wall both shot even-par 71 at Merimbula but endured some ups and downs on their way to even-par 73s at Tura Beach.

Boulton was hot out of the blocks with three birdies in his first seven holes but a run of four bogeys and two birdies across six holes late in his round brought him back to the pack.

He maintained a one-stroke advantage but a dropped shot at his penultimate hole – the par 4 first – would drop him back to even par.

Wall also had three birdies in his six holes – along with a lone bogey – but would have to conjure something late to join Boulton and Lonard on top.

A double-bogey at the par-4 seventh left Wall with work to do and he answered with a closing birdie at the par-4 12th.

WHAT THE WINNERS SAID

“It was good to begin with,” said Mark Boulton.

“I seemed to find greens and make putts and then, towards the afternoon, the greens firmed up and found them a bit harder to hold. That made it a bit difficult, but in the end, got over the line with just enough numbers.

“I’ve said it many times, but to be in amongst the fraternity with some of these real legends that played for many years and been everywhere, it’s an absolute privilege to be a part of.”

“Played the par 5s well,” said Guy Wall.

“Didn’t reach them all, but you’ve just got to lay back to a yardage sometimes and relied on my wedge game.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1        Mark Boulton               71-73—144
T1        Peter Lonard                70-74—144
T1        Guy Wall                      71-73—144
T4        Andre Stolz                  70-75—145
T4        Brad Burns                   71-74—145
T6        Michael Harwood        73-73—146
T6        Grahame Stinson         72-74—146

NEXT UP

The South Coast swing continues on Friday with the 36-hole Mollymook NSW Senior Masters at Mollymook Golf Club’s Hilltop Course to be followed by the ACT Senior PGA Championship starting Tuesday at Fairbairn Golf Club.

Back at the course where he played his first ever round of golf, Lonard shot 2-under 69, a score that was matched by Scott Barr, David McKenzie and first-time winner Ken Druce.

Winner of the 1999 Victorian Open in a more than decade-long career playing on Tour, Druce now specialises in golf-specific fitness training along with his role as a Teaching Professional at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

The 52-year-old was thrilled to earn his maiden PGA Legends Tour win amongst such distinguished company.

“I haven’t won anything for about 20 years. It’s nice to be tied with that sort of calibre of player, too,” said Druce.

For Lonard, it was another happy memory to add to a long list at Shelly Beach.

“I actually played my first game of golf of my life here,” said Lonard.

“My grandparents lived up here, so I loved the area, loved the whole vibe of the course and the clubhouse.

“I suppose you play better when you’re in a happy place.”

The top nine on the leaderboard were separated by just two shots, the quartet of winners finishing a couple clear of David Van Raalte (71), David Diaz (71), Nigel Lane (71) and Mike Harwood (71).

HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
Out in the morning groups, Druce was the first to post 69.

It was a strong start too, picking up two birdies in his opening four holes after starting his round from the par-5 15th.

Druce was 4-under on his round after further birdies at five and nine but dropped shots late at holes 12 and 13 to set the mark for the afternoon groups.

Lonard was even par through 13 holes of his round before picking up birdies at 14 and 15 to sign for 2-under.

McKenzie needed to birdie his final hole – the par-4 12th – to also finish at 2-under while Barr had just the one bogey at the par-4 second, birdies at 15, eight and nine enough to join the logjam at 2-under.

WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
“You’ve got to drive it really straight and hit a lot of good shots,” said Lonard.

“The wind was up a little bit today – nor-easter I think it was – so the course was quite a good test.

“Of course, it was in magnificent condition. The greens were fantastic and it was good fun.”

“I got to 4-under quite early and dropped a few coming home on a couple of tough holes,” said Druce.

“Overall I was very happy.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1        Ken Druce                    69
T1        Peter Lonard                69
T1        Scott Barr                     69
T1        David McKenzie           69
T5        David Van Raalte          71
T5        David Diaz                   71
T5        Nigel Lane                    71
T5        Michael Harwood        71

STORY: TONY WEBECK | PGA

McKenzie, Stinson stand tall at Magenta Shores Legends

One of the most spectacular golf courses in the country gave the field of PGA Legends Tour players everything they could handle on Thursday, Stinson and McKenzie conjuring something special to each post 2-under 69 to finish two strokes clear.

Grant Kenny, Chris Taylor, Terry Price and Scott Barr all shot even-par 71 to share third spot but it was Stinson and McKenzie who stood tallest.

Brilliant approach shots at 16 and 17 and a two-putt birdie on 18 elevated McKenzie to the top of the leaderboard while Stinson made his mark early with an eagle at his very first hole.

“I started on the eighth and I hit driver, 6-iron and had 90 metres for my third and I holed it,” said Stinson, who also made eagle at the par-5 second.

“I thought, This is going to be a good day.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED

McKenzie and Magenta Shores wrestled for the opening seven holes as the Champions Tour veteran peeled off seven straight pars to start.

His first birdie came at the par-5 eighth yet he gave it back immediately with a bogey on nine.

On the back of four consecutive pars McKenzie dropped to 1-over with a bogey on 14 only to catch fire late with three birdies in succession from the 16th hole.

Two-under after his first hole, Stinson also found birdies hard to come by.

Bogeys at nine and 14 saw Stinson fall back to even par through eight holes but he was back in red figures with a birdie at the par-4 16th.

His eagle on two was erased by bogeys on one and three but a closing birdie on the par-3 seventh clinched a second win inside a week.

WHAT THE WINNERS SAID

“It’s a big boys golf course. This one, you can’t hide anywhere,” said McKenzie.

“You’ve got to hit a lot of good golf shots and you have to have a bit of luck too.

“I just was hanging in there, but then I hit it into tap-in distance on both 16 and 17. Then hit it on 18 in two and two-putted.

“Three really nice holes and the rest just kept it in play without doing anything silly.”

“At the moment it’s going really good,” said Stinson.

“I’m playing good. I’m putting well even though I missed a little three-footer on the little temporary par 3.

“This is a tough golf course. I normally let the arms a bit loose and get into the driver but I just noodled it around here today just to keep it in play.

“I missed the first fairway and had to take bogey but other than that, it was pretty solid.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1        David McKenzie           69
T1        Grahame Stinson         69
T3        Grant Kenny                 71
T3        Chris Taylor                  71
T3        Terry Price                    71
T3        Scott Barr                     71