SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN - BACK

IN ACTION WITH A

BOGEY-FREE 69 IN TURKEY

By STEVEN FRANKLIN

Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Sam Torrance made a classy return to European Seniors Tour action at the Gloria Classic in Turkey today after battling back from a career-threatening injury.

Torrance, No. 1 on the over-50s' Order of Merit in each of the previous two years, is not fully recovered from a serious hand injury but still managed to negotiate the New Course at Gloria Golf Resort, Belek without dropping a shot.

Sam's three-under-par 69, matched by Aberdonian John Chillas, saw the two Scots finish the day in joint sixth place, two shots off the pace.Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe, a former winner of the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, Stewart Ginn of Australia, a Senior Major winner on the US Champions Tour, and Delroy Cambridge of Jamaica share the lead after rounds of 67.

For Torrance it was only his second competitive outing since November last year when he was first struck down by a painful index finger on his right hand.

He missed the opening event of the 2007 European Seniors Tour in Barbados, but after successfully completing 18 holes in Turkey he was feeling much happier about the future.The former Ryder Cup Captain, who picked up his shots at the second, third and 18th holes, said: "My hand is not great but it's on the mend. I was told six weeks ago it was arthritis, then I was told two weeks ago that no way was it arthritis.

"I was put in touch with a guy from New Zealand and he has done a lot of manipulation work from my finger up my forearm, bending it out and stretching it. It's 70 per cent better and in addition he has given me some herbal medication to take.

"I can no longer do my waggle (at address), but these are the things you have to put up with when you are an old man. Three months ago I really wasn't that sure whether I would play again.

"I didn't want to let that out, but now I know I will be able to and I am delighted to be back. I played really solid today and only missed one green."
Chillas was "flying" in the early holes with a string of birdies at the second, third, fourth and fifth. He dropped his first shot at the ninth to be out in 34 and bogeyed the 13th but finished on a high with his fifth birdie of the day at the 18th.

Martin Gray, joint 13th on 70, birdied the ninth, 12th and 18th, shedding a stroke only at the 10th.

Ross Drummond and Bill Longmuir are two of the bunch in joint 22nd place on 71.

Ross deviated from par at only three holes - the first and 18th which he birdied and the fifth which he bogeyed.

Bill birdied the second, seventh, 16th and 18th, bogeying the fourth, 12th and 14th.

Steve Martin, a rookie on the Seniors Tour, having gained his player's card at the Portugal Q School late last year, had to settle for a 73. In fact it looked like being a 75 until he got a brilliant eagle 3 at the long last hole. Earlier the Dundee man had bogeyed the first, 11th and 13th.

Bill McColl was also on 73 but after 10 holes he was in contention to lead at the end of the day. The Anglo-Scot birdied the first, second, sixth, ninth and 10th and only a bogey at the eighth had knocked him back to four under par for the day. Then came a horrendous run of bogeys on the inward half when he didn't look the same player at all.

McColl bogeyed the 11th, 12th, 13th, 15 and 17th.

Mike Miller signed for a 78 after a mediocre outward half of 42 with five bogeys and no birdies. He continued to bogey his way round until birdies at the 16th and 18th brightened the day for the Glasgow man.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Gloria Golf Resort New Course (6,772yd), Belek. Par 72
67 Stewart Ginn (Aus), Tony Johnstone (Zim), Delroy Cambridge (Jam)68 Horacio Carbonetti (Arg), Bobby Lincoln (SAf).
69 Eamonn Darcy (Ire), Adan Sowa (Arg), Terry Gale (Aus), Bob Cameron (Eng), José Rivero (Esp), Sam Torrance (Sco), John Chillas (Sco).
70 Doug Johnson (US), Luis Carbonetti (Arg), Gordon J Brand (Eng), Juan Quiros (Esp), Andrew Murray (Eng), Guillermo Encina (Chi), Martin Gray (Sco), Martin Poxon (Eng), John Mashego (SAf).
71 Angel Fernandez (Chi), Pete Oakley (US), Bob Lendzion (US), Bob Larratt (Eng), Bill Longmuir (Sco), Denis O'Sullivan (Ire), Peter Teravainen (US), Giuseppe Cali (Ita), Ross Drummond (Sco), Nick Job (Eng), Emilio Rodriguez (Esp), David Creamer (Eng).
72 David J Russell (Eng), Jerry Bruner (USA), Bruce Heuchan (Can), Bill McColl (Sco), David Good (Aus).
73 Steve Martin (Sco), Ian Mosey (Eng), Simon Owen (NZ), Denis Durnian (Eng), Gavan Levenson (SAf), Carl Mason (Eng), Jim Rhodes (Eng), Gery Watine (Fra), David Merriman (Aus), Tony Charnley (Eng), Jim Lapsley (NZ).
74 Ray Carrasco (US), John Benda (US), Jean Pierre Sallat (Fra), Victor Garcia (Spa), Glenn Ralph (Eng).
75 Kevin Spurgeon (Eng), Tommy Horton (Eng), Manuel Piñero (Esp), Eddie Polland (NIr), Tony Allen (Eng), Alberto Croce (Ita).
76 Philippe Dugeny (Fra), Antonio Garrido (Esp), Bill Malley (US).
77 Jimmy Heggarty (NIr), Mike Ferguson (Aus), Noel Ratcliffe (Aus).
78 Mike Miller (Sco), Maurice Bembridge (Eng).
79 Malcolm Gregson (Eng), Tim Rastall (Eng).
80 Nigel Burch (Eng).
81 Bertus Smit (SAf).
92 Remzi Irier (Tur).