Senior wins Australian Masters

Peter Senior has shown that age is no barrier winning the UNIQLO Masters at Huntingdale Golf Club.

24 years after he first won the Gold Jacket and 20 years after he last slipped on the iconic blazer, Peter Senior has once again emerged victorious winning by two shots with a tournament total 8-under 276.

Playing solid golf all week, Senior entered the final day tied third alongside Michael Sim, John Senden and Matthew Guyatt.

Right from his first tee shot Senior looked the man to beat, opening his final round with back-to-back birdies.

A couple of early bogeys on the 4^th and 5^th didn’t sway the Queenslander, holding his nerve he reignited the pace with two back-to-back birdies on the 6^th and 7^th.

With three holes to play Senior held a three shot lead, however a birdie from Andrew Evans on the 16 and a dropped shot from Senior on 17 saw the pair tied as he teed off on 18.

Finding the greenside bunker on the 18^th, Senior played a beautiful bunker shot and got up and down for par.

A nervous wait ensued for Senior as he watched on to see Evans, 27 years his junior, bogey his final two holes.

With this win, Senior has completed the Triple Crown of victories in his 50’s. He won the 2010 Australian PGA Championship aged 51 and the Emirates Australian Open two years later.

“To win this tournament, the Aussie Open a few years ago and the PGA a couple of years before that, all of them over 50 years of age, I think that’s a big thing for me,” Senior said.

At 56 years of age Senior also becomes the oldest winner of the Australian Masters surpassing Gene Littler who won as a 50 year old in 1980.

“Nearly every hole on the back nine everyone was cheering me, even my poor shots.  It was just great.  I have not had that sort of following for a very, very long time.  It sort of encouraged me,” he said.

“It’s just amazing.  I’m still blown over winning this tournament.  The guys played pretty well.”

While Senior rejoiced, it was heartbreak for Andrew Evans who bogeyed his final two holes to fall out of contention.

A tied runner-up finish is still a great result for Evans who pre-qualified for his place in the UNIQLO Masters.

“It’s awesome, I’m curious to know how much money I’ll make, to know if I hold onto my card because I finished 54^th or 55^th at Q-School. Which means your money counts but you don’t get any status in tournaments. Top-60 get their card next year. I’m thinking more about that than money in my bank account,” Evans said.

Joining Evans, tied second on 6-under 278 was leading Amateur Bryson DeChambeau and John Senden.

Adam Scott ended his UNIQLO Masters campaign outright fifth on 4-under the card.

Rounding out the top-10, a shot further back, were Richard Green, Brett Rumford, Alistair Presnell, Matthew Guyatt, Michael Sim and Matthew Millar.

The PGA Tour of Australasia will now head to The Australian Golf Club in Sydney for the Emirates Australian Open from 26-29 November.

  Bryson DeChambeau, australian masters