Noel Ratcliffe wins Aussie Seniors title

Noel Ratcliffe has been crowned Australian PGA Seniors Champion, finishing with a six-stroke victory at Byron Bay Golf Club.
Ratcliffe pulled away from the field and finished the 54-hole tournament at four under-par 212.
Under tough conditions Ratcliffe’s even-par round was the equal best of the day as the Byron Bay course firmed under the strong westerly winds.
Ratcliffe played controlled golf in the trying conditions with rounds of 70, 70 and 72 to be the only player in the field to finish under par.When Ratcliffe pitched to within inches of the cup on the 16th, the lead stretched to five strokes and all but ended John Clifford’s race to catch the leader.
Ratcliffe ended the tournament with two regulation pars claiming his second Australian PGA Seniors title (first win 2001).
Defending champion David Merriman equalled Ratcliffe’s final-round 72 to finish tied second with John Clifford (78), Terry Gale (75) and Stuart Reese (75).
Ratcliffe earned $14,400 of the $80,000 purse.