Senior Amateur News roundup

2013 NSW Super Senior Pennant winners – The Lakes GC. Left to right: Bart Doff, Roy Vandersluis, Bruce Johnson, Bernie Moase, Jeff Coxon, Vince Clark, Murray Westwood, Geoff Everett.

NSW SUPER SENIORS
The Lakes Golf Club wins again

The Lakes Golf Club has won the 2013 NSW Super Senior Pennant. In an exciting final they defeated the Newcastle Golf Club team by 5 matches to 2. As is always the case in match play finals it is important to win the early games and The Lakes did that winning three of the first four with two of those victories decided on the final hole.

The Lakes were the defending champions and once again fielded a very strong team. Their top two players, Roy Vandersluis and Vince Clark, had represented Australia in the 2012 Trans-Tasman match against New Zealand and they proved too strong for their Newcastle opponents Owen Beldham and Darrel Morris.

In winning the title The Lakes now holds the outright record for the most Super Senior Pennant wins with a total of four pennants. Newcastle GC and Belmont GC are next with three wins each.

1. Roy Vandersluis defeated Owen Beldham 5&3

2. Vince Clark defeated Darrel Morris 3&1

3. Bart Dorf lost to Ron Walker 3&2

4 Bruce Johnson defeated John Cameron 2&1

5. Geoff Everett defeated Ross Wilson 1up

6. Jeff Coxon lost to Kevin Ashley 3&2

7. Bernie Moase defeated Les Brien 1 up

Res. Murray Westwood defeated Mike Bevan 1 up

Established for golfers over the age of 65 the NSW Super Seniors Pennant competition began in 2002. With continued growth every year the 2013 competition now include 52 clubs competing in 9 divisions. The 2014 competition is scheduled to start in the second half of February with the finals to be played in early May. New clubs are always welcome. More information is available on the Super Senior Pennant website: superseniorpennant.com.

VICTORIA

Paddle Pop Lion claims first senior title

Freddy Barton, whose long hair has earned him the nickname of the “Paddle Pop Lion”, was justifiably very proud and excited in claiming his first ever senior title with victory in the 2013 Shepparton Senior Amateur Tournament. Barton (Eastwood GC) followed his opening round of 78 with a closing 75 and his total of 153 was just enough to hold off Alan Bullas (Commonwealth) and John Keller (Hill Top) by a single stroke.

Lynton Spencer from Rossdale Golf Club was the winner of the 18-hole 2013 Heathcote Senior Amateur with a fine score of 76 on the Par 71 layout. In perfect golfing conditions and on a magnificently presented course Spencer played excellent golf in also recording his first win in a Golf Victoria event.

Guy Krall (Yarra Yarra) was the popular winner of the 2013 Tocumwal Senior Amateur. After opening with 74 Krall played well in round two for a score of 78 and a winning total of 152. In a tight finish Krall held his nerve over the closing holes to claim the title by one shot from Goonawarra member Pat Giles (76-77=153). Overnight leaders Freddy Barton and Alan Buckley could not maintain the form that saw them open with rounds of 73.

In the year-long competition for the Doug Bachli Trophy Chirnside Park senior Ray Walker has gained on leader Michael Jackson (Yarra Yarra) and is now close enough to challenge for the top position. Recent good form has seen Guy Krall (Yarra Yarra) move into third place.

Consistently good golf has seen Freddy Barton take the lead in the handicap section. He leads from Eddie Kloprogge (Eastwood) and Ignatius Duivenvoorden (Yarram).

Attention now moves to August’s much anticipated “Sandbelt Week” with senior events held at the Yarra Yarra, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Royal Melbourne and Metropolitan golf clubs all in one week of sensational golf.

Recent Results:

Heathcote Senior Amateur – 18 holes

Winner: Lynton Spencer (Rossdale) 76
Handicap: Eddie Kloprogge (Creekside) 64net

Shepparton Senior Amateur – 36 holes

Winner: Freddy Barton (Eastwood) 78-75 = 153
Handicap: Robert Lee (Sandhurst) 73-65 = 138

Tocumwal Senior Amateur – 36 holes

Winner: Guy Krall (Yarra Yarra) 74-78 = 152
Handicap: Adam Charleston (Lonsdale) 70-67 = 137

Further information and full points tables for both the Doug Bachli Senior Order of Merit and the Golf Victoria Senior Handicap Trophy are available on the Golf Victoria website www.golfvic.org.au .

NSW
Senior golf expands to the country

The 2013 NSW Senior Order of Merit competition has 43 events scheduled with the majority held in and around Sydney. However, in an ongoing effort to expand across the state, this year has seen 19 events scheduled for non-metropolitan courses.

Already tournaments have been held on some wonderful regional and country courses – Belmont, Wollongong, Howlong, Gungahlin Lakes, Bowral, Manildra, Duntry League, Ocean Shores, Coffs Harbour and Bonville. Upcoming events to be held outside Sydney include

August 3-4                    Seaside Classic at Port Macquarie GC
August 18-19                Mollymook GC Seniors
August 26                     Newcastle GC Seniors
September 23               Camden GC Seniors
October 10                   Windsor GC Seniors
October 14                   Toronto GC Seniors
October 15                   Charlestown GC Seniors
October 16                   Waratah GC Seniors
November 12-14           ACT Seniors Championship at Gold Creek, Gungahlin Lakes and Federal GCs

The 2013 Oatlands Seniors produced a thrilling three way play-off between three of the state’s best senior golfers. After rounds of 75 on the tough par 70 Oatlands course Denis Day (Penrith), Ross Bockman (Long Reef) and Greg Stanford (Mona Vale) were involved in the play-off. After a hooked drive off the first hole onto the adjoining seventeenth fairway Day produced the shot of the day hitting high over tall trees to join Stanford and Bockman on the green. Day then proceeded to hole the putt for his birdie and the title.

The 2013 Pymble Seniors again tested a good field with a challenging setup featuring fast and true greens. Victory went to Bayview senior Dale Tapper with a good round of five over par 77. In recording his breakthrough win Tapper defeated the always consistent Greg Stanford (Mona Vale) on a count back. Bexley senior Tom Yates won the Over 65 category.

Long Reef’s Ross Bockman continues to hold a commanding lead in the year-long Senior Order of Merit competition. With a total of 1885 points he leads by almost 400 points from a large group all fighting it out for second and third place. Currently Vince Clark (The Lakes) holds down second place ahead of Denis Dale (Twin Creeks). Clark also leads Dale in the Over 65 competition.