NSW senior golfer Brian Sams has conquered rivals on one of the world’s top rated desert golf courses to win the 2008 Northern Territory Senior Amateur Championship.
In a classic final round, Sams finished one stroke ahead of the joint runners up, John Beaumont from South Australia and Peter Terrace from Queensland.
The three round Senior Order of Merit event was held at the Peter Thomson designed Alice Springs Golf Course. Set in the foothills of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, the course is rated in the top ten of the world’s desert courses and blends its unique charms with some subtle severity.
The desert win puts the well regarded Sams at number four on the Australian Senior Order of Merit. Leading the AUSOOM is Rick Oliver from NSW, with Denis Dale (NSW) second and Ross Percy (VIC) third.
For this year’s championship, a total of 31 interstate golfers – including the top six ranked players in the AUSOOM -travelled from across the country to compete against local players.
Organisers say the growth of the NT Senior tournament also highlights the ongoing and successful growth of the Australian Senior Order of Merit competition.
(Photo courtesy of AUSOOM with thanks to Graeme Altmann and Kerrie MacDonald )