TORRANCE MAKES GOOD START IN BID TO
END 2007 SENIORS TOUR WITH VICTORY

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Sam Torrance says a positive result in the final European Seniors Tour event of the season – The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, Seniors Tour Championship – will help redeem his 2007 campaign when he sits back at his home in Wentworth over the winter break and analyses his golfing year.
The 54 year old from Largs is competing at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club in the elite 42-man field, 54 hole event that runs until Saturday, seeking to capture a second title of 2007, after his victory at the Bendinat London Seniors Masters in June.
“It’s not been a great year for me,” conceded the 2005 and 2006 Order of Merit winner. “I’ve been a carrying an injury to my right arm for most of it, and although it hasn’t really hindered me, it hasn’t helped.
“People always ask me now I’m older, if I’m going to concentrate on the TV work and commentary, and while I enjoy it, it’s not that I want to do. I’ve always been a player – so I want to keep playing well and winning golf tournaments.
“But sometimes you need a kick in the pants – and that’s what I’ve had this year. I’m certainly going to work hard over the winter and come out ready to play well in 2008.”
Not that Torrance is finished with 2007 yet. He carded a four under par 68 at the Buckinghamshire to end round one today just a shot off the lead set by compatriot John Chillas and Argentina’s Adan Sowa, who both shot 67.
“Apart from one hole – I messed up the 10th when I bladed a 60-yard chip through the green – I played very well, and four birdies in the last five holes was very pleasing,” came the Scot’s verdict.
Like most of his fellow seniors, Torrance has been left in awe by the accomplishments of England’s Carl Mason, who has won five times in 2007 en route to his third Order of Merit crown, which he will collect on Saturday after the tournament’s completion.
Torrance said: “Carl’s been fantastic. I don’t think even if I played my best I’d have got near him this year – he’s been that good. He deserves to be the No 1 this year, without question.”
And speaking of Number 1s, Torrance was delighted to see England’s Justin Rose win the Volvo Masters and European Order of Merit at Valderrama in Spain last weekend.
Torrance said: “I am really glad he won it. Justin’s a top boy and has been playing great this year.”
And although Torrance cannot win the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit for a third consecutive year, he is determined to close 2007 in positive fashion and claim a second win.
“Winning in June, with Daniel my son caddieing for me, made it extra special, and he’s done well for me this year as my caddie. As I said, apart from that, it’s not been a great year – but it’d be nice to finish off with a win to round it off and make it a much better one. I’ll certainly be trying hard over the next few days to do it.”
Aberdonian John Chillas and Argentina’s Adan Sowa co-lead the final event of the European Seniors Tour season on five under par 67.
Both players recorded identical bogey-free scores around the John Jacobs-designed course.
Chillas, winner of the Scandinavian Senior Open in September, said: “I’ve struggled with my first rounds a lot this year. I’ve had lots of poor ones and it’s put me out of the reckoning – but today was very solid and sort of makes up for a few. I kept myself out of trouble and had a good run through 12-13-14, which I birdied.
“Evaluating the year, I’d give myself a seven out of ten. There’s plenty of room for improvement, as there always is, but if I win this week, I might give myself a nine.”
Chillas and Sowa are being hotly pursued by Torrance and American Doug Johnson, who are both on 68, while South Africa’s John Bland, Australian duo Stewart Ginn and David Merriman, plus England’s Andrew Murray, are all one further back after scoring 69.
The Order of Merit winner is already known – England’s Carl Mason – following his five victories in the year. He will collect the John Jacobs Trophy on Saturday night upon the tournament’s completion, and in his chase for a sixth win of a prolific season, fired a level par 72.
Other Scottish scores at the Buckinghamshire saw Bill Longmuir shoot two under par 70, while Ross Drummond and Martin Gray each shot level par 72.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
67 J Chillas (Sco), A Sowa (Arg).
68 D Johnson (US), S Torrance (Sco).
69 J Bland (SAf), S Ginn (Aus), D Merriman (Aus), A Murray (Eng).
70 T Allen (Eng), N Job (Eng), T Johnstone (Zim), B Longmuir (Sco), J Quiros (Spa), C Rocca (Ita).
Other scores:
72 R Drummond (Sco), M Gray (Sco), C Mason (Eng) (jt 21st).