QUEENSLAND senior golfer Peter King has snatched the 2011 NSW Senior Amateur Championship with an eagle on a dramatic second play off hole at the Bermagui Golf Club.
King had started the final round four strokes clear of a group of challengers but drifted a little to allow tour veteran Denis Dale (NSW) to fight back and force the tournament into extra time.
The first play off hole was the long and difficult 1st at Bermagui and the players halved this with a bogey each.
The second extra hole was the par five 18th with King the longest of what were two excellent tee shots.
Dale had to lay up but then wedged close to the tee for a very good birdie opportunity.
A tenacious King took on the challenge and hit a superb fairway wood over water and bunkers to find the green.
What was quite a large crowd erupted when King calmly holed his long putt for an eagle three and the title.
Third place was shared by a trio of players one stroke back from the winning three round total of 225.
These were Leonay golfer Laurie Cupples (75-78-73), who had his best senior event to date, the ever consistent Roy Vandersluis (75-76-75) who had an uncharacteristic and costly double bogey on fourteen that denied him his first senior title; and Steve Hall (74-80-72), who played excellent golf and signalled that his current 10 handicap is in great danger.
Leading amateur Stefan Albinski (72-79-78) made his expected final round charge and had caught the leaders in typical style but then leaked six strokes over the final nine to stop him claiming one of the few senior amateur titles the New South Welshman has not won.
Previous winner Bill Banks (ACT) (81-74-74) recovered well from a poor opening round to take the title of NSW Country Senior champion.
Rick Oliver (72-83-75) had something of a shocker in the second round but came back to tie for eighth with Nick Dunn (76-76-78).
The NSW Senior Championship is now the major state title with a higher ranking than any other event apart from the Australian Senior Championship.
This was again reflected by the large field of very talented senior amateurs competing on a course that continues to win wide praise.
2011 NSW Senior Amateur Championship Leading Scores
1 225 Peter King 75 – 72 – 78 QLD
2 225 Denis Dale 75 – 77 – 73 NSW
3 226 Roy Vandersluis 75 – 76 – 75 NSW
3 226 Laurie Cupples 75 – 78 – 73 NSW
3 226 Stephen Hall 74 – 80 – 72 NSW
6 229 Stefan Albinski 72 – 79 – 78 NSW
6 229 Bill Banks 81 – 74 – 74 ACT
8 229 Nick Dunn 76 – 76 – 78 NSW
8 230 Rick Oliver 72 – 83 – 75 NSW
10 230 Tony Gover 71 – 81 – 79 ACT
10 231 Terry Small 76 – 77 – 78 NSW
10 231 Rod Dale 76 – 78 – 77 QLD
10 231 Bryan Kelly 78 – 76 – 77 ACT
10 231 John Beaumont 77 – 78 – 76 SA
10 231 Joe Marumo 77 – 79 – 75 ACT
10 231 Peter Richardson 78 – 78 – 75 NSW
10 231 Brian Sams 80 – 77 – 74 NSW